Fetal development in the 17th week of pregnancy

With each subsequent week of pregnancy, the baby, who is in my mother's belly, continues to grow and develop. By week 17, many different changes had already occurred in his body.

By this time of pregnancy, the body of the child is already quite well formed. In the baby, the proportions of the body are well distinguished. The baby looks slightly larger than in the previous weeks of pregnancy.

This is largely due to the fact that the child begins to form fatty tissue. It performs in the children's body a very important function. Through adipose tissue, the body is “protected” from exposure to adverse environmental factors, such as excessive overheating or overcooling.

With each subsequent week of pregnancy, the amount of fat in the child's body will gradually increase. For childbirth, it should reach the optimal value necessary for the birth of the child.

On the body of the fetus appears the original lubricant. In many ways, its appearance contributes to the intensive work of the sebaceous and sweat glands, which are abundant in the skin. Grease covers almost the entire body of the child. In addition to the secretion of the sebaceous glands, it is formed by desquamated epithelial particles, which are physiologically separated from the surface of the baby’s skin.

Original lubricant is very important for a child in this period of his fetal life. It protects the delicate skin of the child from the effects of negative external influences.

The contours of the child's face are already quite clear. The auricles are formed and are fairly close to the neck. The eyes of the baby are covered. The kid can turn away from the bright light directed towards him. The fetal hearing aid begins to function gradually.

To assess the position of the baby in my mother's belly, doctors use various methods. The most accurate of these is the ultrasound examination. With this simple method, you can determine the pelvic presentation of the fetus, as well as other options for the location of the baby in the uterus.

In case of multiple pregnancies, an ultrasound specialist must necessarily assess where each of the babies is. Bearing twins or triplets is usually accompanied by more exciting feelings in expectant mothers.

The size of the child at this period of its intrauterine development is very important. They allow doctors to assess how well the children's body is developing.

To carry out such an assessment, the height and weight of the baby must be assessed. How much a child weighs, you can determine when conducting ultrasound. The rates of the main clinical parameters of fetal development are presented in the table below.

Very important changes are taking place with the baby. He has the beginnings of all 32 permanent teeth. They will appear, of course, much later, but are laid already in the period of pre-natal development.

The cardiovascular system of the baby by the 16-17 week of its intrauterine life is already well formed. The heart of a child, like in adults, consists of four chambers and is capable of beating. It should be noted that the heart of the fetus beats much more often than in adults. During the day it can pump more than 28 liters of blood.

To assess the performance of the heart and blood vessels of the child, specialists use a special clinical criterion - heart rate (HR). The heartbeat is measured, as a rule, during the ultrasound. However, at this stage of pregnancy, the doctor can already determine the heart rate with a regular stethoscope. The rate of this clinical indicator for this period is 120-150 beats per minute.

The skin of the baby has an imperfect structure. Its density is insufficient. Through it, blood vessels are seen through well. With each subsequent day of pregnancy, it will change, becoming more dense and protecting the baby from the aggressive effects of the external environment.

Intensive work of the heart and active blood flow contribute to the fact that the skin of the child has a bright pink color. Outside, the skin is covered with original lubricant, which makes it more protected from the effects of negative external factors.

By the 17th week of pregnancy, the fetus is actively developing the nervous system. Significant changes begin to occur in the brain.

The number of convolutions gradually increases. This "tortuosity" of the cerebral cortex is very important. It determines the most important abilities of the brain - to speak, write, read, absorb various information. Neurons (brain cells) begin to actively interact with each other, forming special interneuronal contacts.

Nerve analyzers are also actively developing. Kids on this term of their prenatal development are already able to determine various shades of taste. This feature is due to the presence in the language of taste buds. A child can quite well determine the bitter, salty and even sweet tastes. He does this by swallowing the amniotic fluid. The taste of the amniotic fluid depends largely on the food that the expectant mother consumes at this time.

At the 17th week of pregnancy, the fetus is already able to distinguish sounds. The baby "hears" my mother's voice and can even react to it. Many specialists who observe pregnant women note that the maternal voice has a calming effect on the child.

By the 17th week of pregnancy, the child’s digestive tract was almost completely formed. The baby already has a liver and gall bladder.

The liver tissue is already starting to produce bile, which enters the baby’s intestines. With the participation of bile occurs the formation of meconium - the original calories. Truly, the organs of the gastrointestinal tract will begin to work only after the first portion of maternal breast milk has entered the body after the baby is born.

The intestine of the child at this period of its intrauterine development is already quite well reduced. This is necessary so that in the future food freely passes and is digested. Special villi have already formed on the intestinal walls.Through them, nutrients, being absorbed from the intestinal lumen, enter the bloodstream and are spread throughout the body.

A child in the 17th week of pregnancy is well enough sweat and sebaceous glands. Their secret is necessary for the formation of the original lubricant, which covers the body of the fetus.

The pituitary and thyroid glands have been formed and are already functioning. The first hormones begin to appear in the systemic circulation. In boys, even a special male sex hormone appears - testosterone.

By the 17th week of pregnancy, the fetus’s kidneys are already formed. Baby can independently urinate. Many future mothers are afraid of this and are afraid that the fetus may "poison". To worry about this they should not. This reaction is quite physiological and conceived by nature so that the urinary system of the child develops properly.

With the active ingestion of the amniotic fluid, the functioning of the muscles involved in the act of breathing also improves. Swallowing movements cannot be done without intensive lifting of the chest, which the fetus does. This contributes to the fact that the intercostal muscles begin to improve and develop more actively.

The baby continues to develop lungs and bronchial tree. They must be well formed before the birth of the child. This is necessary so that the baby can breathe independently after his birth without assistance and artificial respirators. The glottis and larynx at this stage of pregnancy are already formed and ready to perform their functions.

Every day the structure and density of the baby’s bone tissue changes. The bones of the fetus by the 17th week of pregnancy are already quite dense.

Mobility of joints improves. This contributes to the fact that the baby can already bend and unbend the arms and legs. Active kids can turn over several times. At this time, the fetus, as a rule, begins to actively “examine” its body.

A child can touch his face and the umbilical cord, close and open his mouth, swallow, yawn and even hiccup.

The active movements of the baby can lead to the fact that his mother feels the first movements. Typically, these symptoms at 17 weeks of gestation are more pronounced in miniature and fragile women.

Intensive development of the nervous system and facial muscles in the fetus contributes to the appearance on his face of various emotions. The kid can smile, grimace and even frown a little.

The baby has its own white cells of the immune system - leukocytes. They are necessary to protect the child's body from various pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Also, the baby in the bloodstream appears a small amount of its own interferon, necessary for good immunity.

One of the most exciting questions for future parents, of course, is the sex of the child. At the 17th week of pregnancy it is already possible to determine it. The fetus at this stage has already formed the main external sex characteristics. It is for him and determine the sex of babies ultrasound specialists. Moreover, in girls, the uterus is almost completely formed, and in boys, the testicles.

It is important to note that errors in determining the sex at this stage of pregnancy are quite possible. This, as a rule, happens when conducting research by an inexperienced ultrasound specialist or if the fetus turns away from the ultrasound sensor during the examination. In this case, you can determine the sex of the baby at the next scheduled ultrasound examination.

About what screening at week 17 shows, how sex is determined and why ultrasounds are performed, see below.