Pregnancy Week 19
Baby’s Growth During the 19th Week of Pregnancy
At 19 weeks pregnant your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and 6 inches long. Your baby’s arms and legs are now in the right proportions to each other and the rest of the body. The kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on the scalp is sprouting.
Sensory development in your baby’s brain is the name of the game this week. Your baby’s brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Research even suggests that your baby may even be able to hear your voice now so don’t be shy about reading aloud, talking to your baby, singing, or placing those head phones on your tummy.
A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa is beginning to cover your baby to protect the skin from the amnitoic fluid. Without this substance, your baby would come into the world wrinkled. The vernix sheds as delivery approaches, though some babies still have a bit of the coating at birth.
Body Changes in the 19th Week of Pregnancy
Though no one really knows what causes it, leg cramps during pregnancy is common and you may be experiencing some now. Your body’s swelling tissues are pressing on nerves which may be creating a tingling and numbness in your fingers and toes. It’s a strange feeling but again, completely normal.
If you’re feeling as though you’re a little big now, enjoy it, in the coming weeks you’ll start to grow even faster. As a result of your rapid growth, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. This is typically nothing to be alarmed about but if the pain continues even when you’re resting or becomes severe, call your doctor.
Extra estrogen may be changing the appearance of your skin too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about.
