WEEK 17 DEVELOPMENT
Grit your teeth: many older women still tell pregnant women stories about teeth falling out during pregnancy. Good news: That is outdated nonsense! For some women, the bump is now showing. If you are very slim, or have had given birth before, it is more likely that there is something to see. In other words, no one can tell by looking. But this is the time when trousers or skirts get hard to fasten and waistlines are harder to discern.
As always, lots going on this week. Your child's skin is still very thin and quite transparent, with small blood vessels visible through it. Your child’s intestine continues to develop and is now in its permanent place in the abdomen. All is as it should be.
NUTRITION
Satisfying sugar cravings during pregnancy requires a little more creativity than it normally would, especially if yours seem stronger than usual. There is no harm in eating desserts, if you don’t overdo it. To satisfy your sweet tooth while meeting your nutritional needs, choose fresh fruits, desserts made with milk, plain yoghurt, and dried fruits. Moderation is key. Instead of ice cream, indulge in sorbets or frozen yoghurt with lower sugar content.
TIPS
Artificial sweeteners also known as ‘non-nutritive sweeteners’, ‘sugar replacements’, or ‘zero-calorie sweeteners’, commonly include aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame K, saccharin, and sugar alcohols (e.g. xylitol), as well as plant-derived compounds (e.g. steviol glycosides). Although they are increasingly consumed by pregnant women around the world, their long-term health impact has been questioned. Some nutrition authorities indicated that within acceptable intake limits, these types of sweeteners are safe for women, and their unborn child during pregnancy. Other evidence suggests that early-life exposure to artificial sweeteners may adversely affect body composition and cardio-metabolic health. As such, for the latest recommendations, check with your healthcare provider if you want to include these products in your diet.
Related articles
Morning Sickness in Pregnancy: Causes, Coping Tips, and When to Get Help
Despite the name, morning sickness rarely keeps polite hours.
4 mins to read
3-Week pregnant: Development and diet
3 weeks pregnant: what's happening at the cellular level, debunking eating for two, and the key nutrients and food safety rules for early pregnancy.
3 mins to read
20-Week pregnant: Development and diet
There’s so much going on in your belly this week that you may want to take a little nap after reading about it! Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
9-Week pregnant: Development and diet
9 weeks pregnant: understanding early exhaustion, your baby's heartbeat and growth, smart sugar swaps, and guidance on alcohol and hydration.
3 mins to read
14-Week pregnant: Development and diet
14 weeks pregnant: entering the second trimester, your baby's coordinated movements, healthy fats for brain development, and safe travel tips.
3 mins to read
8-Week pregnant: Development and diet
About the size of a robin’s egg, your little one measures about 30 mm long. Learn more about this week.
3 mins to read
7-Week pregnant: Development and diet
At 7 weeks, your baby is about 9–13mm long — roughly the size of a small blueberry.
3 mins to read
6-Week pregnant: Development and diet
At 6 weeks pregnant, your baby's major organs are already beginning to form, even though bump changes aren't visible yet.
2 mins to read
Noticing the early signs of pregnancy can help you plan ahead, whether you're trying to conceive or simply paying closer attention to your body.
2 mins to read
C-sections: What you need to consider
How you bring your junior into the world is a very personal decision, with different factors at play. Here are a few things to consider about an elective caesarean, also known as a C-section.
4 mins to read
3 Tips to Reduce Stress for Mothers
The journey of motherhood is a joyful adventure with ups and downs. Though it is rewarding, there are times when you will feel stressed.
3 mins to read
Not sure what to pack in your hospital bag? We have put together a simple hospital bag checklist with all the essentials. Forget packing light, it’s about packing right.
3 mins to read
Giving birth is less daunting if you have an easy birth plan in mind to help the day go as smoothly as possible. See our birth plan guide below.
2 mins to read
What exercise can I do and when?
Exercising while you’re pregnant is important for you and your child’s health. Physical activity can help you control your weight gain, lift your mood, and even help labour go more smoothly.
3 mins to read
5 ways to reduce your child’s chances of having allergies
Find out how breastfeeding from birth and beyond and taking certain probiotics may also help reduce your child’s allergy risks
5 mins to read
Questions to ask at your first prenatal appointment
Your very first prenatal appointment is here — you must be excited! With so much going on, it helps to have a list of pregnancy questions on hand to ask your healthcare provider.
2 mins to read
Pregnancy Symptoms Week By Week: Week 1 – 12
Pregnancy is a joyous (sometimes tiring) journey of your body’s development for your newborn to enter the world. At times you’ll be excited, at other times you’ll be tired.
3 mins to read
Pregnancy Symptoms Week By Week: Week 26 - 40
You’re almost there! This is the part where you’re really getting in the mood for motherhood.
5 mins to read
Pregnancy: The Start of Loving and Protecting
The moment you know another being is growing inside your body, your maternal instincts are awakened.
4 mins to read
Related tools
Determine when you are likely to ovulate can improve your chances of conceiving.
Search the perfect name for your child
Find out what changes you can expect in your body, your emotions, your life and your little one.
