How Big Is Baby at 17 Weeks? Having a baby at 17 weeks is a special time in your life. Not only are you experiencing many new things, but your baby is also growing and becoming bigger. Here are some things you should know about your baby’s growth at 17 weeks.
Umbilical cord strengthening
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord connects the mother’s placenta to the fetus’s abdomen. Its primary function is to provide oxygen and nutrients to the fetus during development. A short cord can damage the placenta and cause injury to the baby during birth. A tangled cord is called a knot, and it’s generally not dangerous.
However, structural abnormalities in the umbilical cord can have clinical importance. This can be determined during prenatal ultrasound. It’s a simple measurement that has high reproducibility. It’s also used as a predictor of fetal macrosomia.
Combined measurements of cord area and amniotic fluid volume improve the diagnosis of fetal macrosomia. They also facilitate better management of the condition. The area of Wharton’s jelly is also a factor.
Wharton’s jelly is a protective layer of amnion membrane that forms on the fetus’s umbilical cord. Its surface cross-sectional area is calculated by subtracting the cross-sectional area of vessels from the umbilical cord.
Taste buds developing
During the 17th week of pregnancy, the unborn baby is a svelte 5 ounces in weight. He has rounded bumps on his palate and the first of his teeth has begun to form. Unlike before, the baby is able to move freely.
His heart is pumping several quarts of blood through his body every week. He is developing the reflexes to yawn, turn his head and frown. His vocal cords have also fully developed. He is also practicing breathing, as his lungs have not yet formed.
A baby’s sense of smell is also quite functional at this stage. His nose has developed to the point that he can recognize different flavors in amniotic fluid. He also starts to cough. He is also starting to recognize his mother’s breath.
Skeleton hardening into bone
During the first few weeks of life, the baby’s skeletal structure begins to take shape. Although the baby’s body may be only a few inches long, its bones are actually quite large. As the fetal skull grows, a solid skeleton is finally in sight. At the time of conception, a baby’s head is a mere two inches in diameter, but the cranium is much larger. If you want to learn How Big Is My Baby, you can click on it for answer and more info.
The baby’s skeletal structure is made up of a complex matrix of connective tissue membranes, osteocytes, and osteoblasts. This matrix is composed of an elastic collagen fiber, a ground substance, and calcium phosphate. This matrix is capable of hardening by binding calcium phosphate. In addition to its role in preventing fractures, it serves as an anchor for the skeletal muscles.
The baby’s skeletal system isn’t fully finished until well into adolescence. The fetus uses two osteogenic pathways to form its skeleton, the most common being the endochondral and intramembranous pathways. During the third month after conception, the periosteum is infused with osteoblasts and blood vessels. In the fourth month, the fetus begins to develop cartilage, which eventually hardens into a bony structure.
Movement
During pregnancy, your baby is developing and growing rapidly. Your baby is now 13cm long and weighs 5 ounces (150 grams). You are gaining about 1-2 pounds a week.
Your baby’s body is growing rapidly, which will be evident on your ultrasound pictures in the coming weeks. Your baby is developing a layer of brown fat under the skin that will help your baby keep warm after birth. This fat also provides energy to your baby.
Your baby’s head is still very large. At about 17 weeks, your baby’s head and neck have started to grow and develop. You can see a baby’s ears start to emerge from the sides of the head. They are about to reach their final position.
Your baby’s eyes are also beginning to move around. The eyelids still close, but your baby can move them slowly. You may be able to see your baby’s eyelids move when you shine a light on your belly.
