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17 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby, Your Body and What to Do
Fat is beginning to build up under your baby's skin, and the umbilical cord is thickening.
Before you use this guide: Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period. Sizes are rough averages, and healthy babies vary. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor or midwife.
How your baby is growing
Your baby is starting to lay down fat under the skin, which will help with keeping warm after birth. The skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord is getting thicker so it can carry more blood.
The sweat glands are developing, and your baby can yawn, hiccup and make small sucking movements. Hiccups may feel like tiny rhythmic twitches in the coming weeks.
How you may be feeling
Your centre of gravity is shifting, so you may feel less steady. Dizziness when you stand up quickly is common because blood pressure is naturally lower in mid-pregnancy. Back pain and round ligament pain, a sharp pull on either side of your lower tummy when you change position, can begin about now.
Your to-do list for week 17
- Get up slowly from sitting or lying down.
- Wear flat, supportive shoes and use a pillow to support your back, bump or knees at night.
- Warm (not hot) baths, a maternity support belt and gentle stretching can ease aches.
- If you have not already, start looking at your birth options.
When to ask for help
Sharp pain that is severe, does not ease with rest, or comes with bleeding, a fever or leaking fluid needs urgent assessment rather than waiting for your next appointment.
For heavy bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, a severe headache with vision changes, or a baby who is moving less than usual, do not wait for your next appointment. Contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. Our guide to pregnancy warning signs has more detail.
Not sure which week you are in? Use the due-date calculator to estimate your due date and current week.
Useful at this stage: pregnancy weight gain calculator.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own care team and local health service.
- NHS: Pregnancy — Pregnancy care, common symptoms, screening and complications.
- NHS: Week-by-week pregnancy guide — Pregnancy development and care by week.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.