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19 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby, Your Body and What to Do
A protective waxy coat now covers your baby's skin, and the senses are developing.
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
A white, waxy coating called vernix now covers your baby's skin and protects it from the amniotic fluid. The fine hair (lanugo) helps to hold it in place. Areas of the brain linked to smell, taste, hearing, sight and touch are developing.
Your baby's arms and legs are now in proportion, and your baby moves in response to sounds and to your own movements.
How you may be feeling
Your skin might change, with darker patches on the face, a dark line down the tummy and more freckles. Leg cramps, especially at night, are common. You may feel an occasional dull ache in the groin when you move quickly or sneeze.
Your to-do list for week 19
- Use sun protection every day. Pregnancy makes skin more likely to darken in the sun.
- If you get leg cramps, stretch your calf muscles before bed and drink water through the day.
- Book antenatal classes if you have not already.
- Ask your midwife whether your iron levels need checking.
When to ask for help
Tell your midwife if you have very itchy skin, especially on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet. It can be linked to a liver condition that occurs in pregnancy, so do not wait for your routine 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 and baby shower planner.
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.