What not to do at 19 weeks pregnant. Nineteenth week of pregnancy: play, hormone! Your baby is as big as

Here comes the middle of pregnancy. Week 20 completes the first half of a difficult and interesting journey, at the end of which a long-awaited meeting with the baby will take place. The woman is now at the peak of her well-being, she looks impressive and full of enthusiasm.

A few days between 19 and 20 weeks is the time of the amazing experience of the first movements of the fetus, the first "contact" of mother and baby. Let's talk about this in more detail.

How many months is this?

The beginning of the 20th week of pregnancy is 19 complete obstetric weeks. They are called obstetric because the countdown comes from the first day of the last menstruation. In fact, the baby exists in the mother's womb for about 2 weeks less - the 18th week has gone from the day of conception. About 16 weeks ago, the woman found out about the delay and probably took a pregnancy test for the first time.

In the usual calendar for everyday life, 4.5 months have passed. According to obstetrical standards, the fifth month of pregnancy is coming to an end. The same amount remains before childbirth, but now the woman will face a paradox - time will begin to flow more slowly, since the third trimester is perceived and experienced by expectant mothers somewhat harder than the second.

In the meantime, the second trimester is going on - the most favorable and calm period. Weeks 19-20 is an impressive period at which the fact of pregnancy can no longer be hidden, and there is no need for this. The expectant mother has already managed to get used to the fact that big changes await her soon. In the meantime, life flows quite measuredly. The pregnant woman is registered in the antenatal clinic, she takes the necessary tests, and the period from 19 to 20 weeks is no exception.

Feelings of the expectant mother

It may seem to others that little is changing at this time, because a woman continues to lead her usual way of life - to work, study, and engage in everyday household chores. However, only the pregnant woman herself now knows what deep and interesting processes are taking place in her body. A woman feels an upsurge of strength and vigor, she wants to do everything, do everything, because very soon another family member will be born, who will definitely become the main one.

At week 20, sensations are constantly updated, let's look at what they can be.

General well-being

In general, a woman who is on the 20th obstetric week of pregnancy feels good. There is no severity yet, which will be accompanied by the last trimester, and there is no painful toxicosis. The tummy, although growing by leaps and bounds, does not cause much inconvenience.

However, this week a woman may notice something new in her condition: from time to time, especially at night, she is thrown into a fever, then into a chill. These "hot flashes" are due to hormonal changes that occur from the first days of pregnancy.

perturbations

The vast majority of pregnant women at this time clearly feel the movements of their baby. This is certainly one of the most exciting and touching moments of the entire pregnancy. If the woman has not yet felt the movements of the baby, now she is in tense expectation: she is looking for an answer to the question of why she still does not feel them.

Movements are very individual. Much depends on what kind of pregnancy a woman has. If the second or third, then the walls of the uterus stretch faster, the movements become apparent earlier. If the birth of the first child is expected, then the woman will feel the first light tremors much later. Pregnant women with twins or triplets begin to feel the activity of their children before anyone else.

If the placenta is located on the back wall of the uterus, then there is a high probability of feeling fetal movements earlier. If the "children's seat" is located on the front wall, the sensitivity is reduced.

Women who do not sit still, constantly move, work, lead an active lifestyle, later begin to feel their baby, because they simply do not have time to focus on themselves and their feelings.

At 19-20 weeks, almost 90% of pregnant women declare that they already clearly feel how the baby is moving in the tummy. But there are those who still live only in anticipation of this miracle. In nulliparous women, the baby can only manifest itself in the next or 22 weeks. This is not considered something unusual or abnormal, you just need to be patient.

Those who already have movements note that babies are more active in the evening and at night. This does not mean that the baby is an avid night owl. Just in the evening and at night, a woman relaxes, rests, all the subtle touches of the crumbs from the inside in this state are perceived more vividly and distinctly.

Mood and emotional state

Due to calcium deficiency, a woman can now experience quite severe pain with cramps in the calf muscles. Brings legs together most often at night. Due to physiological hypocalcemia (the growing fetus takes most of this mineral from the mother), dental problems may also begin. Now, if a tooth hurts, it can be treated even with the use of anesthesia. This should be used, even if the teeth are not sick, a preventive examination and sanitation of the oral cavity will not interfere.

Headaches at the 20th week of pregnancy are usually not permanent or even regular. If the head hurts badly and often, this cannot be considered the norm, a woman definitely needs to control her blood pressure: most likely, the pain is associated precisely with its increase.

Changes in the body

It is impossible not to notice changes in the female body at week 20. The waist has not just increased in girth, its lines have almost smoothed out. Many pregnant women at the current time joke that they no longer have a waist. But for many, the navel begins to stick out funny, and this somewhat raises the mood of the future mother.

How does the uterus grow?

The main reproductive organ of a woman grows intensively, adding about 1-2 centimeters in height per week. The height of the uterine fundus at week 20 can be different for different women. Normally, it is in the range of 18-24 centimeters. Most often, this size, which is determined using a centimeter tape from a point in the center of the border of the pubic bone to the height of the upper part of the uterus, is equal to the number of weeks, so most pregnant women are “measured out” at the current time of 19-20 centimeters.

The uterus is in the abdominal cavity, its upper wide part, called the bottom, has now approached the same level as the navel. The belly is growing rapidly. If a woman visits the doctor several times a week, she will notice that the height of the uterine fundus at 19 weeks and 3 days will be about a centimeter less than at 19 weeks and 5-6 days. Now the uterus is comparable in size to a decent ball.

The length of the cervix this week for the first time is determined as an indicator of its viability. In total, four planned examinations of the cervix are carried out during pregnancy with a mandatory measurement of its length using ultrasound. The first such examination is carried out exactly at the 20th week. The average length of the neck is now normally 40.3 mm. If a woman is expecting her first child, a larger value is possible - up to 48 mm, if the pregnancy is not the first, the neck is somewhat shorter - 40.1 mm. A pathological condition is considered to be a shortening of the cervix at this time up to 30 mm or more.

A short neck is a threat of premature birth, and the baby will not be able to survive on its own yet. Therefore, when a pathology is detected, a woman is hospitalized and a decision is made - to suture the neck, use a pessary, or apply medication.

At week 20, all of the above methods are still technically possible; after 21 weeks, suturing is usually not performed.

A woman at week 20 usually feels her uterus well, she can determine her upper limit herself if she lies on her back. Also, almost all expectant mothers at this time are able to independently determine the tone of the uterus and even imagine the location of the fetus in it: the tummy is already asymmetrical, the baby can be located in its left or right lobe, and also regularly change the location.

Weight gain

Women will now be reminded of the need to control weight gain at every scheduled appointment with the doctor. Now an uncontrolled increase in body weight may be the only symptom of a dangerous condition for a woman and her baby - preeclampsia. Weight at week 20 arrives quite intensively, because the baby grows, the amount of amniotic fluid also increases.

The rate of increase by week 20 will depend on what build a woman had before pregnancy:

thin girls and women are now "allowed" to add up to 6 kilograms to their initial weight;
expectant mothers with normal weight and a slight excess should not gain more than 5.8 kilograms;
overweight women, women with varying degrees of obesity can afford to add no more than 3 kilograms to the initial weight by the 20th week.

Arterial pressure

Now in the body of a woman circulates about 40% more blood than before. All this creates a significant load on the blood vessels and the heart. It is now that a woman may begin to complain of bouts of dizziness.

Head spinning is usually due to changes in blood pressure. It most often decreases at week 20: systolic pressure decreases by 4-5 mmHg and diastolic pressure decreases by 15 mmHg. Due to the need to pump more blood, the pregnant woman's heart rate accelerates: the pulse becomes more frequent by about 8-15 beats per minute.

Such changes do not require medical intervention. However, if a woman begins to faint, suffers from nausea and severe dizziness, she should definitely inform her doctor about this.

Visual impairment

Often at the 20th week of pregnancy, women begin to complain of a slight deterioration in vision. If before there were no problems with the organs of vision, then there is no reason to worry: visual acuity will soon return. A slight decrease in visual function is associated with an increase in the amount of blood in the body of a pregnant woman. Due to pressure drops, the vessels of the retina slightly narrow, due to which visual acuity decreases.

For some, this process goes unnoticed. Women who now drive a car or work in positions that require good vision and precision work should be extremely careful.

Stretch marks

Unpleasant traces of stretching on the skin in medicine have a specific name - "stretch marks". With increased growth of the abdomen, buttocks, and mammary glands that occur in the middle of pregnancy, the skin “does not keep up” with the growth rate, microtears of elastin and collagen fibers occur, and coarse connective tissue forms in place of these tears. It is she who gives an unsightly cosmetic effect in the form of stripes of different colors - from pink to purple.

After childbirth, stretch marks are difficult to correct, striae for the most part do not sunbathe, since they do not contain malatonin. In order not to put up with such a cosmetic defect later, you need to take all measures to slow down the growth of stretch marks. To do this, a pregnant woman needs to monitor her weight: in women who have gained 20 kilograms during pregnancy, the likelihood of extensive stretch marks is much higher.

You can already use baby cream or other hypoallergenic gels and creams. The main thing is to prevent an allergic reaction, because the skin of a pregnant woman at 19-20 weeks is very sensitive.

Nosebleeds

Approximately 15% of expectant mothers complain about such a phenomenon as spontaneous nosebleeds. In the middle of the gestation period, due to changes in blood pressure, as well as increased fragility of the vessels of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages, their integrity is violated from time to time. As a result, the woman may start bleeding suddenly.

Doctors urge expectant mothers to distinguish between physiological and pathological nosebleeds. Natural occur most often with a sharp change in body position, with careless blowing your nose. Pathological nosebleeds are repeated with enviable regularity and have no apparent causes. In fact, they can accompany hypertension, impaired blood coagulation, and a lack of calcium in the body.

For such bleeding, you should consult a general practitioner and an ENT doctor.

Breast

The mammary glands of a pregnant woman at week 20 look very impressive: they have become noticeably larger, the nipples have become stronger, their sensitivity has increased several times. If colostrum begins to stand out at the current time, there is no need to be scared, nothing terrible happens. This is quite a natural phenomenon.

Colostrum is a highly nutritious substance rich in proteins, fats, carbohydrates and mineral salts. While it has a thick consistency and a yellowish tint. In the third trimester, colostrum becomes more transparent, and after childbirth, after a few days, it turns into full-fledged breast milk.

Most often, colostrum in the middle of pregnancy appears in women who have already given birth and breast-fed children: their ducts are dilated compared to nulliparous ones.

If colostrum is now quite disturbing, leaking and staining clothes, you should use a bra designed specifically for nursing mothers. Its cups on the inside have special “pockets” for liners that will absorb colostrum and prevent stains on clothes.

Now you need to properly care for your breasts: wear supportive bras, wash your nipples with warm water twice a day, use stretch marks.

Fetal development

Sometimes you can find information that at week 20 a soul appears in the fetus. Some peoples really believe this, while Orthodoxy is inclined to believe that a child has a soul from the moment of conception. The question is controversial, and the expectant mother, if interested in it, will be able to devote this week to exploring a variety of points of view.

One thing can be said for sure: the baby is already a feeling and even a thinking being, who feels his mother very subtly and is now beginning to comprehend the world around him.

In half the term, the baby has gone a long way from a fertilized egg to an embryo, and then to a fetus. Now the fetal period of its development is underway, which means that the baby is fully formed, now it only has to grow. At 18 embryonic weeks (this is 20 obstetric weeks), the baby reached the size of a papaya fruit. His height is about 24-26 centimeters, and his weight is approaching 350 grams. We will tell you more about how the baby is doing.

Appearance

The kid is getting better every day. He is no longer as thin as the expectant mother could see him at the first ultrasound, he is forming subcutaneous fat. Due to this, the baby’s body gradually acquires more rounded shapes, the cheeks and tummy are the first to “recover”. The arms and legs are still thin and therefore look somewhat awkward. The skin ceases to be bright red, because the subcutaneous fat layer gradually begins to separate the network of blood vessels from the thin skin layer. The skin itself from this week becomes four-layered, thicker and more durable.

From head to toe, the baby is covered with cheese-like grease. Its purpose is to protect the skin from constant exposure to amniotic fluid. Lubrication is securely held on the skin thanks to thin downy hairs - lanugo, they now cover the entire body.

Gradually, as the baby grows, it will get rid of both lanugo and original lubricant. Closer to childbirth, his skin will become smooth, and the lubricant will remain only where it is really needed - in places of physiological friction (in the folds of the skin, in the inguinal zone, in the bend of the elbow and in the bend on the legs under the knees).

The baby at 20 weeks looks more proportional than before. His legs have noticeably grown, which were originally shorter than his arms, his head has almost acquired the correct shape, its dimensions are gradually coming into line with other parts of the body. Therefore, the baby no longer looks like a tadpole - now it is a little man in everything, down to the smallest things.. So, he has eyelashes and eyebrows, fingernails and even his own unique fingerprints.

The baby's face will no longer undergo significant metamorphosis. The ears that were originally on the neck have long since fallen into place, at week 20 nature adds the final “touch”: the auricles acquire their final formed shape. The baby's eyes are still closed, but the eyelids become denser, at the current time the baby begins to try to open them slightly. This process is lengthy, it will take several weeks, but the blink reflex is being formed right now.

If a woman at week 20 decides to go not for a conventional two-dimensional ultrasound, but for a 3D ultrasound, then she can easily see all the facial features of the crumbs on the monitor: they are already unique, they have everything that the baby inherited genetically. He has his own special shapes of the nose, forehead, chin. He already looks like one of his parents, and perhaps his grandmother or grandfather.

sense organs

From the 20th week of pregnancy, the baby begins to better navigate in his environment. Now he distinguishes well the time of day - night and day, morning and evening. His daily routine may not coincide with his mother’s, for example, the period of wakefulness of the crumbs may fall exactly on the mother’s nightly rest, but so far this will not greatly disturb the woman, because the baby, even actively moving, does not cause her pain and discomfort. The night somersaults of the offspring may remain completely unnoticed for the sleeping mother.

The world for your child will no longer be the same, because from 19-20 weeks, his hearing organs begin to work to the fullest. Until this time, the baby also heard, but mostly only vibrations that created various sound waves and voices.

Now he enthusiastically begins to listen to the world as it is. His favorite sounds, without a doubt, are the beating of his mother's heart, her voice.

Right now, according to perinatal psychologists, his attitude to the world is being formed - optimistic or pessimistic. And here a lot depends on what kind of fairy tales and songs he will hear from his mother, how her relationship with his father will be built, what sounds will more often reach tiny ears inside the mother's womb.

The fetus cannot yet see, although all the receptors of the organs of vision are fully formed. Bright light and night darkness are two light effects that the fetus can perceive through closed eyes. But he achieved real perfection in the definition of tastes.

Since the papilla receptors on the tongue were formed earlier than other sense organs, now their work has already been debugged: the baby is well “versed” in what his mother ate, prefers sweet, is not too pleased with sour or salty. He swallows amniotic waters, they can have different flavors, which depend on what exactly the woman eats.

Tactile sensations are developed quite well, the baby, in the absence of the ability to see, perceives everything around him by touch, and this process of cognition gives him great pleasure. The baby's sense of smell will develop after birth, when he begins to breathe through his nose.

Immunity

From the 20th week of pregnancy, the baby's own immunity begins to work almost at full strength. Now he is more protected from various threats from outside. By this point, the baby walked for a very long time. The first cells of the immune system began to form for a period of about 4-5 weeks. The baby receives a sufficient amount of immunoglobulins from the mother's blood, they are passed by the placental barrier. In addition, the number of leukocytes in the blood of the fetus is approximately 2 times higher.

These cells are immature forms, they are unable to fully participate in the production of interferon and immunoglobulin, but so far this is not required: now and during the first months after birth, mother's immunity protects the baby. but all components of the fetal immune system are formed at this time.

Nervous system

This week, the formation of gray matter in the baby's body continues - the cerebral cortex with its convolutions and grooves. New nerve cells are dynamically developing. The largest number of neurons originate around the ventricles of the brain, as well as in the inner part of the cortex of the temporal regions of both hemispheres. This process will continue until childbirth and after them. Young neurons are found even in adults, and are thought to partially enable the brain to compensate for lost or impaired functions.

New neurons migrate to the cortex and deeper layers of the brain. This process is proceeding most intensively now and will remain the same dynamic until the 29th week of pregnancy.

Since the baby becomes “smarter” every second, this cannot but be reflected in his behavior. The movements of the arms, legs and head are already almost taken under the control of the central nervous system. Reflexes continue to develop. The baby already swallows perfectly, sucks, grabs what falls within the reach of his palms, knows how to push off with his legs from the walls of the uterus. He is improving every day.

Not much is known about how the psyche of the fetus develops. Some experts say that already at the 20th week the belly dreamer sees dreams, others are sure that this is impossible. However, there are several facts that are proven by doctors. So, more than 70% of babies in the middle of their mother's pregnancy suck their right thumb, and only a third - their left. In 99% of cases, those children who sucked their right thumb in the womb are right-handed, and left-handers already prefer the left one.

If the belly of the expectant mother is now affected by a loud sound passed through headphones, then in most children the temporal lobes of the brain are activated, and in rare cases, the frontal ones. These are the parts of the cortex that will subsequently process speech information.

Thus, the baby's nervous system is already developing "with an eye" on the future habitat of the new little man.

Internal organs, skeletal system

Understanding how a small organism works now will help the expectant mother to approach nutrition issues more competently, because her task at this stage is to provide her son or daughter with everything necessary.

At week 20, the most intense process is bone growth. Now the child really needs calcium and magnesium, as well as iron for heart function. If there is not enough calcium, then the baby will begin to “take away” the mineral from the mother’s bones, as a result of which their fragility will increase, problems with the musculoskeletal system, teeth, and hematopoiesis may begin.

The baby's heart has all departments, 4 chambers. The fetal heartbeat is not like the mother's: the baby's heart beats more often. Heart rate at week 20 is normally from 150 to 170 beats per minute. The kidneys of the crumbs are involved in the production of urine, and the bladder and urethra contribute to its removal from the child's body.

The intestines begin to accumulate the original feces - meconium. All glands work, including the thyroid and pancreas. All organs can already be seen on ultrasound.

Sex determination

Sexual characteristics, by which boys are distinguished from girls even before they are born, are fully formed. On an ultrasound, the doctor, if the baby allows you to examine his intimate places, will tell you with confidence who exactly to expect in the near future - a son or daughter.

In boys, the testicles are now beginning to move into the pelvic area, and from there into the scrotum. This is a rather long process, it will last until the end of pregnancy.

In girls, all components of the reproductive system are already in place, and there are more than five million eggs in the ovaries - this reserve will increase even more. It should be enough for a woman's life.

Sex hormones are synthesized in boys, and girls will begin to provide themselves with hormones a little later, while their hormonal background is akin to that of their mother, girls receive hormones from maternal blood.

Your child on ultrasound

When undergoing ultrasound at 19-20 weeks, not only the growth of the fetus is assessed, but also the features of the formation of all its organs, so as not to "miss" cases of genetic and chromosomal genetic pathologies. Already now, the doctor can see the anomalies in the development of the kidneys or heart of the child, if any.

The gestational age and the correspondence of the size of the baby to it are no longer determined by the KTR, there is a whole table of various parameters. This week is characterized by the following values.

Fetometric norms at 19-20 weeks

The presentation of the fetus, although it is determined, is not yet of great value. It is pelvic or transverse - information that is more important for the last weeks.

So far, neither of these should inspire sacred horror in the pregnant woman, since the baby is not yet big enough to take a fixed position. He moves and will change his posture many more times in relation to the exit from the uterus.

Dangers and risks

There are not so many dangers at week 20, but they cannot be ignored. The threat of miscarriage is now minimal, even if it was previously, the end of the fifth obstetric month is a fairly calm period at which spontaneous abortion is unlikely. However, other complications may develop, and a woman needs to be prepared for this.

The most common complication of the second half of pregnancy is preeclampsia. Its main symptoms are edema. They can be external and internal. A woman will notice the external ones herself: at first, the rings will no longer be easily removed from the fingers, and then the usual well-worn shoes can become cramped.

Internal edema is much more difficult to suspect. That is why it is now highly recommended to weigh yourself.(with swelling of the internal organs, the weight grows at a pathological pace), at week 20, a woman is recommended tests that will make it possible to judge the likelihood of developing preeclampsia.

Reduced immunity can now cause colds and infectious diseases. Immunodeficiency in a woman is now physiological in nature, the natural defense mechanisms of the body are suppressed by hormones so that there is no threat to the development of the child. But it is he who becomes fertile ground for SARS, influenza, cystitis and other ailments.

Medicines, including some antibiotics, such as Flemoxin, can now be prescribed to a woman, since they will not harm a child with a competent scheme and dosages. A much more formidable consequence of a cold can be a violation of the uteroplacental blood flow, which sometimes develops due to high temperature.

Problems with the functioning of the digestive system are quite common. In a woman, due to the fact that the uterus began to crowd the abdominal organs, constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn may begin.

Frequent constipation, in turn, increases the likelihood of developing hemorrhoids. They, according to medical statistics, suffer in the second half of pregnancy about 70% of expectant mothers.

Often, against the background of an increased load on all organs during pregnancy, old diseases again “declare” themselves, which a woman could already forget about: colitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer.

Polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios, established at this time, are not the final diagnosis, they only describe a tendency to increase or decrease the amount of amniotic fluid. Such a pregnant woman will be monitored more closely, she will have to take tests more often and visit her obstetrician-gynecologist.

The danger at week 20 lies both in hypocalcemia - calcium deficiency, and in anemia: an insufficient level of hemoglobin at the current time is diagnosed in approximately 20% of expectant mothers.

Analyzes and examinations

From this week, a woman will have to visit a gynecologist not once a month, as it was before, but twice. But it will be after the second screening. Usually, it is planned to be carried out in the period from 18 to 21 weeks; this week, about half of the registered women will have to be diagnosed.

A comprehensive study includes an ultrasound scan of the fetus and a biochemical blood test. "Triple test" - determination of the levels of hCG, free estriol and alpha-fetoprotein. These three substances and their concentration are important indicators of the health of the baby.

The results from the laboratory will be supplemented by an ultrasound protocol. The purpose of this comprehensive universal diagnosis is to determine the risk group for chromosomal abnormalities. This screening differs from the first one in that the range of diagnostic possibilities is expanding: now the doctor can draw conclusions about how the baby’s brain and spinal cord are developed, whether he has neural tube pathologies.

Mandatory at week 20 are general tests - blood and urine. If a high sugar content is found in them, then the doctor will suspect gestational diabetes, and if protein is found in the urine, then the woman will be at risk for the development of preeclampsia.

Recommendations for mothers remain the same - fresh air, high-quality food, a gentle work regime. However, now some adjustments are being made to it: long walks are now undesirable, evening promenades in a park or square should be limited in time to 10-15 minutes. Other tips that will be helpful in mid-pregnancy include the following.

Get a pillow for pregnant women: its special shape will make it easier for a woman to settle down for a night's rest on her left or right side, sleep better, wake up less.
To prevent stretch marks and relieve discomfort in the lower back and back, start wearing a prenatal orthopedic brace.
Do not hesitate to openly tell colleagues and friends that they do not touch your stomach, that this is unpleasant for you: there are now more than enough people who want to touch a woman's rounded belly.
It's time to learn how to get out of bed correctly: first you need to turn on your side, then lower your legs, sit down, and only after a short pause take a vertical position. This will prevent dizziness, fainting, nosebleeds.

Sex is not forbidden, especially since a woman's sexual desire begins to increase this week. The couple needs to make sure that there are no contraindications (check with the doctor), and then be careful - do not put pressure on the stomach, avoid poses with deep penetration.
If any alarming symptoms and “malfunctions” appear, a woman must definitely notify her attending physician about this, whether it is a runny nose, frequent urination or headache.
Now it is very important to adjust your diet - avoid foods that are undesirable, and "lean" on healthy and necessary foods. You need to eat fractionally, at least six times a day. Fresh vegetables and fruits are an excellent prevention of constipation and a source of vitamins. Fatty meat, carbonated drinks, flour, sweet, salty and smoked, as well as pickled foods and canned food are not recommended.

19 obstetric week of pregnancy is the end of the fifth month. A serious part of the journey is already behind, but there are many more discoveries ahead of the future mother.

In the 19th week, many for the first time feel the baby move and find out its gender. From this moment on, the bond between mother and child becomes especially strong, and pregnancy brings more and more joy every day.

Fetal size and development at 19 weeks gestation

At the beginning of the nineteenth week of pregnancy, approximately fetal weight increases to 200 grams, and its the size is 14-15 centimeters. The emotional connection between mother and child is strengthened. The baby continues to develop actively.

It is during this week that the body of the child acquires the proportions laid down at conception. There is an increase in adipose tissue. Now the vessels in the fetus are less translucent, and the skin tone turns from red to pink. The child's fingers acquire an individual pattern.

Location of the fetus at the 19th week of pregnancy, it can be anything: head, breech, transverse and oblique. The child has a lot of space and can change position at any time, therefore, any position is considered the norm.

To this moment the heart is already fully formed. The strengthening of the immune system, the development of the brain and nervous system continues. Baby already reacts to light and loud sounds. The length of the limbs allows him to bring his arms over his head. Gradually, the baby learns to consciously control the arms and legs, so it is in this week of pregnancy that many feel the first tremors of their baby.

If you pregnant with twins, then the growing belly at week 19 is already starting to give you serious discomfort. The urge to urinate becomes more frequent, occasionally there are painful sensations in the uterus. Starting this week, moms carrying twins are advised to wear a brace and pay special attention to back health.

What happens to mom at 19 weeks

The woman's tummy becomes clearly visible. You can see a photo of mothers' tummies at the 19th week of pregnancy above. On average, at this point, a woman gaining 3 to 5 kilograms. Interestingly, of this amount, the weight of the baby is only 200-250 grams. The rest of the mass falls on the amniotic fluid and the placenta. Also the buttocks and breasts of a woman.

The expectant mother notes that her skin becomes more sensitive, and her hair becomes thick and shiny. From the nipples can colostrum. In this case, it is important to use special breast pads or wipe the nipple area with a soft cloth. You should not try to express colostrum - this can cause uterine tone and, as a result,. More about colostrum...

The uterus has already descended 1-2 centimeters below the navel and began to put pressure on the internal organs, provoking frequent heartburn and unpleasant rumbling in the stomach. There may be mild pain in the navel area. They are caused by the growth of the child and pass quickly.

Many multiparous mothers notice baby's first movements. In primiparas, the movements of the baby will become noticeable a little later, so if you don’t feel the baby’s movements at the 19th week of pregnancy, don’t worry.

Most women have a slight decrease in blood pressure and general weakness of the body.

If you notice increased vaginal discharge 19 weeks pregnant, no worries. This is a natural physiological process caused by the restructuring of the body. It is important to monitor the nature of the discharge: if they have a pungent odor, a brownish or green tint, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Read more…

This week of pregnancy is usually accompanied by good health and high spirits of a woman. This is caused by the active production of estrogen. left behind, the expectant mother is filled with energy. It is recommended to spend it on the arrangement of life and the purchase of basic necessities for the baby. Psychologists also recommend spending more time with the second half.

Analyzes, examinations and ultrasound at the 19th week of pregnancy

During this period of pregnancy, doctors offer the woman to go through to identify chromosomal diseases. It includes biochemical blood test and ultrasound, where it will already be possible to see, to make sure that the development of the fetus is proceeding normally. Above you can see a photo of the ultrasound of the fetus at 19 weeks of gestation

It will be superfluous. Their list must be agreed with the doctor.

This week you need to start carefully take care of your skin. Regular use of tightening and moisturizing creams, oils and body lotions will help to avoid stretch marks. It's time to look after a special supportive bra and bandage.

Pregnancy is not a reason to give up. Instead of strength training and intense cardio training, which can increase the tone of the uterus, stop at softer sports. pay attention to yoga for pregnant women and water aerobics courses for expectant mothers. Dosed physical activity will help you stay in shape and prepare for childbirth.

Increasing load on the legs can become . Try to give up heels and buy compression stockings. If you have a sedentary job, be sure to do a light workout every half hour.

Sexual relations at 19 weeks

High estrogen production leads to increased libido in women. Increased sexual desire can pleasantly surprise a partner. The body of a pregnant woman takes on seductive forms - the buttocks are rounded, and the breasts increase. Therefore, the outbreak of passion will be mutual.

Many men are afraid to harm the baby during intercourse. In this case, a joint visit to the doctor helps, who will assure the future dad that at this time they do not pose any danger to the child.

Don't miss the chance to be alone- ahead of the last weeks, when you and your partner can enjoy each other. Regular sex in the first two trimesters of pregnancy strengthens the emotional connection of future parents and has a positive effect on the psychological state of a woman.

It's time to slow down the usual rhythm of life, give up rush jobs and delays at work. Rest more and try not to be nervous. To make the course of pregnancy easy and enjoyable will help compliance the following recommendations:

Take care of sound sleep. Doctors recommend sleeping on your left side. A special pillow for pregnant women also contributes to good rest. During the bearing of the baby, it guarantees a comfortable sleep, and in the future it will come in handy when feeding the baby.
Master the technique of breathing exercises. It will help to cope with shortness of breath, saturate the cells of the body with oxygen and prepare for childbirth.
Read good literature and listen to classical music. The calm and good mood of the mother favors the healthy development of the child.
Try to breathe fresh air more often. At the 19th week, the baby's brain and nervous system are actively formed. To avoid, you need to be in the fresh air for at least 30 minutes a day.
Do not miss the opportunity slowly study the literature on childbirth and newborn care. It's time to make a list of things that you will need in the hospital, and also start collecting a dowry for the baby.

Video about 19 weeks pregnant

Throughout pregnancy, a woman is surrounded by many prohibitions and prejudices. They say that while carrying a baby, you can’t knit, hang clothes and sit on the threshold. And the recommendation not to buy clothes for the child until he is born makes the life of the expectant mother much more difficult. After watching this video, you will not only know how a woman feels at the 19th week of pregnancy, but you will also be able to decide is it worth trusting common signs.

Pregnancy is a magical time in every woman's life. The expectant mother is overwhelmed with emotions that I want to tell the whole world about. Let's discuss these wonderful months together! Tell us how your pregnancy went or is going, share your experiences and feelings with other readers.

Waiting for the birth of a new life is an exciting period in the life of every woman. But any expectant mother is worried about how the pregnancy should go and how the baby should develop in her stomach. In this article, I will consider the basic facts about how the 19th week of pregnancy goes. Photos of the fetus will also be posted below.

Second trimester of pregnancy

From the first fetus, changes occur in a woman's body. But already in (from 13 - 14 weeks), the condition becomes more stable. The most common symptoms are morning sickness and dizziness. Pregnancy of 18-19 weeks proceeds more calmly, the fetus has already taken root in the mother's body and continues to develop actively. However, you should be responsible for your position, avoiding stress, physical exertion and injury. At this interval, there is a small risk of preterm labor.

How to correctly calculate the date of birth

Most of the ladies who first learned about their position begin to calculate the due date and date of birth. But you should know that there is also an obstetric gestation period, according to which the pregnancy lasts not nine months, but 41 weeks, that is, more than nine. The gynecologist begins the countdown of the course of pregnancy from the date of the beginning of the last menstrual cycle. Usually the difference between the obstetric period and mommy's calculations is about two weeks. Following these rules, it is quite easy to find out the approximate day the baby will be born.

19 weeks pregnant, how many months are left before delivery according to the obstetric calendar? After doing the calculations, it turns out that this is the end of the fifth month, therefore, there are four more left before the birth. However, it is determined by the embryonic period, that is, the countdown goes from the week when the conception occurred. The fetus must correspond to 17 weeks of development.

Pregnancy 18-19 weeks. Features of a growing belly

Before the start of the second period of fetal development, the abdomen is almost invisible, since the baby is still very small and the uterus has only slightly increased in size. The belly at the 19th week of pregnancy becomes already much larger, which limits the expectant mother in freedom of movement. It becomes difficult to bend over, stay in one position for a long time and sleep. The uterus begins to put pressure on the internal organs of the pregnant woman. Very often there are heartburn, constipation and the urge to urinate becomes more frequent. Much attention should be paid to the food consumed, since from this moment the doctor begins to strictly monitor the weight of the woman carrying the baby. It is important to take a responsible attitude to the position occupied during sleep. It is undesirable to sleep on the stomach or back, because this can harm the fetus. In the position, there is a risk of damaging the fetus, and in the “lying on the back” position, there is a high probability of pressing down on the aorta through which oxygen enters. You should rest, lying on the side where the baby is located.

At every physical examination, starting in the second trimester, the doctor should measure the abdomen. Its volume directly depends on the size of the fetus, uterus and the amount of amniotic fluid. Of course, every woman during childbearing has her own individual characteristics, depending on her physique and body weight before pregnancy. But there are certain acceptable standards.

The abdomen at the 19th week of pregnancy, when measured vertically, reaches 18-20 cm. The uterus is already beginning to rise to the navel. These data are provided only for singleton pregnancies.

If the doctor notices deviations from the norm, then the pregnant woman is sent for additional examinations. Since the cause of an increase in the abdomen may be too much amniotic fluid or other deviations.

What changes occur in the fifth month of pregnancy

A woman who is expecting the birth of a child is already getting used to her condition by the fifth month. Time flies, the first period is over, the 19th week of pregnancy has come. What happens to the child's body at this moment?

Within five months, the fetus developed from an embryo to a little man. At this time, the baby has already formed arms, legs, fingers, auricles, the shape of the head and parts of the face. The respiratory, digestive and nervous systems, the subcutaneous layer, and the rudiments of teeth also continue to form.

If before this period, mommy has already felt the first movements of her child, now his movements will become more confident and clear. And some future mothers will only have to rejoice at the first pushes and kicks. The child's brain is already actively developing. The embryo begins to move in the abdomen, very often changes its position. In connection with the beginning of brain activity, fetal movements become more concentrated. There may be a reaction to the sounds of the voice of the parents and the touch of hands on the stomach.

Second fetal ultrasound

As a rule, in the second trimester of pregnancy, in addition to all the already familiar examinations, an ultrasound examination of the fetus is also performed.

At the first planned examination, the doctor confirms the presence of a normal pregnancy (not intrauterine or frozen), clarifies its duration, determines the age of the fetus and the sex of the child (the probability of determining the sex of the fetus is very low).

An ultrasound procedure at the 19th week of pregnancy is performed to identify possible pathologies in the fetus and examine its anatomical development. This study also determines the position of the fetus in the womb, which plays a big role in how the birth will take place. Also, using the apparatus, the doctor performs fetometry, that is, determines the size of the circumference of the head and abdomen, bones of the arms, legs, hips, shoulders. The symmetry of external and internal organs is visible. The determined sex of the child has a probability of up to 90%.

Based on the data recorded by the specialist, it is concluded that the development of the fetus corresponds to its embryonic age. In addition to studying developmental parameters, the doctor examines the condition of the uterus and placenta. If pathologies are detected, the gynecologist, based on the results, makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

Ultrasound indications.

BPR - from 40 mm to 50 mm;

LZD - from 53.5 mm to 60.5 mm;

exhaust gas - from 140 mm to 180 mm;

DB - from 25 mm to 35 mm;

DG - from 23 mm to 31 mm;

DP - from 20 mm to 26 mm;

coolant - from 125mm to 155mm;

NK - from 5.2 mm to 8.0 mm;

Height - about 22.1 cm;

Weight - from 230 gr to 320 gr.

During the second ultrasound examination, the 19th week of pregnancy comes to an end. A photo of the child can be obtained from the doctor. The picture already shows a formed little man, all parts of the body are clearly visible. Modern technology allows you to take a 3D photo of the fetus.

Pregnancy 19 weeks. Fruit size

When the pregnancy of 19-20 weeks passes according to the relevant standards, the embryo already reaches a height of 20-22 centimeters. It's about the size of a banana. The weight of the crumbs is 240-300 grams. The baby grows all parts of the body.

As described in the norms of the ultrasound results, during the period when the pregnancy is 19 weeks, the size of the fetus has already increased significantly. The circumference of a small head is on average 160 mm, the length of the thigh is 30 mm, the length of the lower leg is 25 mm, and the length of the shoulder is 24 mm. Abdominal circumference approximately 140 mm. The length of the nasal bone is also very important, it measures about 8 mm. Fingers and toes grow. The foot is already formed. Its length reaches 2.5 mm, and from this stage its size will remain so until birth.

From the 20th week of pregnancy, the fetus begins to actively gain weight and grow. By the time of birth, the average weight of the baby is 3000 grams, and the height is 50 centimeters.

Fetal development

By the end of the fourth month after conception, the baby has not yet opened its eyes. However, he already distinguishes between light and darkness, he can turn to a strong light source. By this time, the baby knows how to move knives and handles, he begins to eat, roll over, constantly changes his position. In a few weeks, mom will be able to see how the heel, elbow or butt of her miracle protrudes on her stomach. The fetus is able to raise and turn its head, its sleep is developed for about 18 hours. During wakefulness, he learns the world around him. From now on, thumb sucking will be your favorite pastime. This is remarkable for the 19th week of pregnancy. An ultrasound photo can capture this amazing moment. Pregnancy of 19-20 weeks is calm, but the expectant mother should be attentive to the state of her health and limit physical activity.

It is very important that the mother's body has enough calcium and iron. For normal growth of the bones of the fetus, a pregnant woman should use vitamins prescribed by a gynecologist, under whose supervision she is.

Role in the process of the upcoming birth

For a woman carrying a child, at 19 weeks of pregnancy, the location of the fetus becomes no less important than its growth and development. There are three options for the position of the baby in the womb.

At 19 weeks of gestation, the location of the fetus is not permanent. Since the size of the embryo is not yet large enough, it has enough space in the uterus in order to periodically change its position. Therefore, at this stage, the doctor will not worry.

At 19 weeks of gestation, the location of the fetus can be transverse, angular and pelvic. But before the birth of the child, there is a lot of time and the baby is able to roll over at any time and more than once.

head presentation

The head is located towards the birth canal. This option is considered the most favorable, since the head is the largest part of the body of the developing embryo and is the most difficult to get out during childbirth. After the head exits, the body easily leaves the womb. If the fetus has taken this position closer to birth, then this is 90% of successful births.

breech presentation

In this case, during childbirth, the pelvis comes out first, and then the whole body. Since, as mentioned above, the head is the largest part of the baby's body, the birth process becomes more complicated. Very often, with pelvic diligence, the doctor decides on a caesarean section.

If at 19 weeks of pregnancy the location of the fetus is pelvic, then you should not worry too much. At the age of 17 weeks, the child does not yet occupy the entire uterine cavity, and this gives him complete freedom in the possibility of changing his position.

Transverse presentation

In this situation, the head and butt of the fetus are located on the sides of the uterus. That is, it lies across relative to the birth canal. This case is the most difficult. Since with such a diagnosis, the process of natural childbirth is impossible. The baby is born only by caesarean section.

Until the pregnancy has reached 30 weeks, the expectant mother should not worry about how her child lies. At 19 weeks of gestation, the location of the fetus is unstable. And until the third trimester, no effort should be made to change the situation. A baby can take head diligence even a couple of weeks before birth.

While carrying a child, a woman should take care of her health with special attention. The body of a lady in position needs constant replenishment with useful substances. Therefore, the diet must include cottage cheese, liver, meat, eggs, fish, fruits and vegetables. In no case should you smoke, drink alcohol and antibiotics. Every morning should start with a light workout.

To feel great, you should take daily walks in the fresh air, relax several times a day and do what you love. Positive emotions and calmness play an important role. Throughout pregnancy, from the moment of registration, you should regularly visit a gynecologist and follow all the instructions. In case of any complications, you should immediately contact a specialist for help.

19 weeks - almost the middle of pregnancy. The first months of anxiety and discomfort are over. However, soon the expectant mother will begin to experience physical inconvenience caused by the increased volume of the abdomen.

How does the baby develop

At the 19th week of pregnancy, the baby is actively growing and developing. Now its size can be compared to a mango. The body length of the fetus is 13-15 cm, and the weight is 200-240 g. The following changes occur with the child during this period:

The blood supply to the lungs improves.
The arms and legs continue to grow in length. The child becomes more proportional.
The neck of the baby is strengthened and allows him to move more actively. The child often turns his head.
The intensity of movements in the womb increases. Women who have not yet felt the unborn child before, can finally feel his stirring.
The movements of the child become more coordinated. The kid trains muscles.
There is an intensive accumulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue. It especially accumulates a lot on the neck, around the kidneys and a number of other internal organs.

If the girl still does not feel the child, do not worry. For some expectant mothers, especially those expecting a baby for the first time, the period can fit up to 20 weeks. If a girl already feels a child, she must control the frequency of his movements. The baby will be monitored for the rest of the pregnancy.

You can find out how many fetal movements are the norm at an appointment with a specialist. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions. It will allow you to get rid of all emerging problems and take action in advance to prevent the development of pathologies, if they occur.

Changes in a woman's body

The body of a woman continues to change, adjusting to a rapidly developing child. At the 19th week of pregnancy, you can notice the following changes:

Symptoms of toxicosis are long gone. A pregnant woman can eat any permitted foods. However, spicy, too salty and fatty foods should be excluded from the diet.
The uterus continues to grow. At the 19th week of pregnancy, she is 1.3 cm below the navel. Her rise continues.
The girl's gait becomes less stable. There is a risk of falling. To prevent problems, it is strictly forbidden to wear high-heeled shoes. Avoid uncomfortable clothing as well.
The load on the spine increases. Expectant mothers often experience lower back pain. Unpleasant sensations that arose in this area earlier may worsen.
Active weight gain continues. For the 19th week, its volume should increase by 300-550 g. The total increase varies from 3.8 to 6.2 kg. Expecting twins can lead to significant deviations of the indicator from the norm upwards.
The expectant mother may experience heartburn. The girl is able to influence an unpleasant symptom. To get rid of the problem, it is worth adjusting the organization of the diet. Food should be taken in small portions, and the frequency of meals should be increased.

At the 19th week of pregnancy, you should be attentive to your health. If there is pain in the lower abdomen, you should immediately contact a specialist. The symptom is alarming and may indicate an increased tone of the uterus.

The condition of a woman during pregnancy directly depends on the hormonal background. If a girl becomes irritable or depressed, you should immediately do a blood test. It will help determine the level of hormones. At the 19th week of pregnancy, doctors recommend more rest. This will allow the expectant mother to get rid of a number of pain caused by increased stress. During rest, special pillows must be placed under the back and legs.

Symptoms of the 19th week of pregnancy

The 19th week of pregnancy is not associated with special phenomena. The breasts and belly of the expectant mother continue to actively increase in size. There is a shift in the center of gravity, which leads to a change in gait. She can become "duck" or "proud". You have to sleep only on your side. An enlarged belly puts pressure on other internal organs. If the girl sleeps on her back, the uterus can compress the inferior vena cava. This is fraught with the occurrence of sharp pains and impaired blood circulation in the body of the child and mother.

Experts note other symptoms of the 19th week of pregnancy. The expectant mother may experience:

Constipation. The problem is caused by increased pressure of the uterus on the internal organs. The intestines are squeezed, which causes excessive gas formation and other problems.
The appearance of age spots. Experts advise pregnant women not to be exposed to direct sunlight.
Nosebleeds. The volume of blood in the body increases, which leads to a problem.
Pain in the back. The growing uterus puts a lot of pressure on the spine. To ease the discomfort, experts advise monitoring your posture. The back should be kept straight.
Vertigo. It usually appears when the expectant mother changes position too quickly. The problem is caused by low blood pressure. To get rid of dizziness, it is worth drinking more fluids and changing position more slowly.
Nasal congestion. The increased volume of blood affects the mucous membranes. The problem will disappear on its own a few days after delivery.
Leg cramps. The phenomenon usually occurs at night. The growing uterus puts pressure on the veins that return blood to the heart. Cramps can be painful. To avoid them, you can try doing a relaxing foot massage before bed.

Feelings at 19 weeks pregnant

The most striking sensation at the 19th week of pregnancy is the baby moving. Most mothers can feel the active movements of the baby. However, the lack of movement should not cause concern. If the girl is quite full and expecting a baby for the first time, the movement of the fetus may not be felt until 20-22 weeks. The period is also associated with a number of other sensations:

The expectant mother may begin to feel plump. Active weight gain leads to the fact that the girl recovers by 4-6 kg. Women who are expecting twins can score significantly more. Losing weight during pregnancy is strictly prohibited. Weight gain is normal. You should not attach special importance to this if there are no significant deviations from the established parameters.
The skin of a woman becomes more sensitive, and her hair becomes thick and shiny.
Pigment spots may appear. It is worth protecting yourself from spending a lot of time in the sun.
The skin on the abdomen may itch. The sensation usually occurs due to stretch marks that have appeared. They need to be dealt with immediately. After childbirth, getting rid of the problem is difficult. However, the use of cosmetics that allow you to remove stretch marks should be carried out only under the strict supervision of a specialist.
Blood pressure may rise. A slight change in the indicator is normal. It is caused by weakening of peripheral vessels. In parallel, there may be a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
The girl may experience increased heart rate and increased sweating.
Colostrum may come out of the breast. You should not attach special importance to this. Experts recommend simply wiping your nipples with a clean, soft cloth.
Vaginal discharge remains profuse. The girl must follow their color. Whitish or should not cause concern, but bloody or brown - an occasion for an immediate visit to a specialist.

In general, the 19th week of pregnancy is considered favorable. The expectant mother feels comfortable and practically does not experience discomfort.

Analyzes and examinations

If the pregnancy proceeds normally, and the girl does not experience discomfort, special studies are not carried out at week 19. The doctor only controls:

for the body weight of the girl;
blood pressure;
the size of the circumference of the abdomen.

In pregnant women, diseases of the urinary tract are often exacerbated. In this situation, it may be necessary to carry out.

If a girl is too pale and gets tired quickly, this may indicate the appearance of iron deficiency anemia. In this situation, the doctor will prescribe an adduction to determine hemoglobin levels. If the problem is confirmed, the girls can be prescribed a number of drugs. In addition, you will need to follow a diet.

If a second prenatal screening has not yet been performed, it will be required at 19 weeks of gestation. The girl will have to take a blood test for hormones and undergo an ultrasound examination of the fetus. At week 19, a specialist with almost 100% probability can reveal the sex of the unborn child. However, if the parents do not want to know this information immediately before the baby is born, the doctor will not report it. At week 19, you can determine the sex of the child in the case of multiple pregnancy.

Possible dangers at 19 weeks pregnant

At week 19, the likelihood of a missed pregnancy decreases, but the risk of a problem still remains. Pathology can occur as a result of the following factors:

infectious diseases of a woman, including the flu;
dysfunction of the placenta;
the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus;
low placentation.

The presence of a problem is indicated by the appearance of brown or spotting and. Some women feel that they are pulling in the lower back. Girls who used to feel the movements of the fetus cease to feel them. Treatment in this situation is possible only radical. The fetus is surgically or otherwise disposed of.

At 18-19 weeks of gestation, oligohydramnios may occur. The approximate volume of amniotic fluid can be determined during ultrasound, starting from. The problem often appears due to metabolic disorders or pathology of the placenta. A number of other factors may also have an impact. If oligohydramnios is moderate, pregnancy can proceed normally. With a pronounced problem, the girl will have to undergo a detailed examination and treatment.

Timely detection of violations will help more likely to prevent negative consequences. Do not delay a visit to a specialist.

If a girl wants the pregnancy to proceed without complications and unpleasant consequences, the following recommendations should be taken into account:

While working or relaxing, the expectant mother should change her body position as often as possible.
During pregnancy, it is better to take only a shower. If you use a bath, there is a possibility of infection in the vagina and uterine cavity. This can lead to diseases. In addition, the effect of warm water on the body of a girl can increase the tone of the uterus and provoke a miscarriage.
Beware of crowded places. A pregnant girl in a crowd can become unwell. In addition, careless movement or pushing can lead to problems with the fetus.
Worth a wardrobe change. Tight clothing and high-heeled shoes should be avoided. Consider changing your bra as well. Do not squeeze the enlarged chest too much. It is better to give preference to products made from natural fabrics.
It is necessary to carefully observe all the rules of personal hygiene. At the 19th week of pregnancy, there is a risk of occurrence or bacterial diseases. It is better not to use daily synthetic pads. They prevent the penetration of air into the intimate area.
If you have a cold, it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate. Habitual drugs can be harmful to the health of the baby. Only a doctor can choose the right medicines.
If experts recommend starting taking vitamin preparations, you should not refuse to use them. The lack of necessary substances can adversely affect the development of the child.
It is now worth preparing for the usual events in advance. Going to the cinema or traveling on public transport can lead to respiratory illness. It is worth taking only reasonable actions.

The 19th week of pregnancy does not differ in special changes. The baby continues to actively develop, begins to move more, trains muscles. Mom during this period is resting from the negative manifestations of pregnancy. Nausea is gone, but the girl may face problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Changing your diet will help get rid of them.

Each time period of pregnancy is a unique event, and the 19th week of pregnancy is no exception. At this stage of intrauterine life, quite important transformations take place in the baby's body. Many of the internal organs have already formed, while others continue their active development.

Musculoskeletal apparatus

The structure of the bones undergoes significant changes. The small bones of the fetus become less fragile. Intensive development of bones leads to the fact that the child continues to lengthen the arms and legs.

The muscles of the baby also undergo a number of changes. Improves their elasticity and ability to stretch. Such changes contribute to the fact that the fetus increases the number of possible movements it makes. The motor activity of the baby becomes more and more intense.

Babies can move by pushing against the walls of the uterus, and they are already able to turn their heads. The latter occurs due to an increase in physiological mobility in the cervical spine.

The child bends and unbends the arms, can touch his fingers to the umbilical cord or face. If twins develop in the uterus, then at this time they, as a rule, begin to actively “study” each other.

Heart and blood vessels

The circulatory system of the fetus at 18-19 weeks has a number of interesting features. So, a small heart of a child is capable of pumping almost 30 liters of blood. In its structure, it is quite reminiscent of an adult and consists of four chambers. Active contraction of the heart muscle contributes to the fact that the baby has a real heartbeat.

Doctors determine the heart rate, since this indicator is extremely important. During pregnancy, the work of the baby's heart is evaluated many times. The obtained values of the heart rate (HR) of the fetus must be recorded in the medical records of a pregnant woman. This allows doctors to track the dynamics and draw conclusions about the well-being of the intrauterine development of the baby.

The fetal heart rate should remain within normal limits. This indicates that the child's heart is working normally, and his body does not experience hypoxia - oxygen starvation of tissues and internal organs.

There are many ways to determine the heart rate of a baby in this segment of its intrauterine life. The most accurate, perhaps, is the calculation of the heart rate during an ultrasound examination.

An obstetrician-gynecologist can also determine this clinical indicator by listening to how the small heart of the fetus works with the help of a special device - a stethoscope. The best point for listening to the heart rhythm is selected individually. It largely depends on how the fetus is located in the mother's womb.

Often the heart rhythm is heard near the navel or just below. If a woman is carrying twins, then the heartbeat should be heard from each baby individually. Determining the heart rate is an essential skill that every experienced obstetrician-gynecologist should master.

The baby's heart rate helps doctors timely identify various pathologies of intrauterine development at the earliest stages of their formation. Each period of pregnancy is characterized by its own norms of fetal heart rate. For the 19th week of pregnancy, an indicator of 140-160 beats per minute is considered normal.

Active changes at this stage begin to occur in the blood vessels. So, their diameter gradually increases, and hence the clearance. The veins and arteries of the fetus are perfectly visible through its thin and delicate skin.

Kidneys and urinary organs

Interesting changes are beginning to occur in the urinary system. The baby's kidneys are already formed, as are the main urinary tract.

The child, being in the amniotic fluid, can swallow it, and in the future - and allocate it. This feature is not only very important for the development of the entire urine excretion system, but also leads to regular renewal of the baby's "aquatic" environment. So, amniotic fluid can change several times during the day.

Nervous system

The number of special contacts between the cells of the brain in the crumbs begins to increase. This contributes to the fact that the baby has the first unconditioned reflexes, and also significantly complicates behavior.

The first vivid emotional manifestations, as a rule, are detected during an ultrasound examination. The kid can already smile at his mother and the doctor, frown his forehead a little or make a grimace. Such emotions cause expectant parents, as a rule, quite a lot of bright positive feelings. It is important to remember that their baby is not doing it on purpose. Some children turn away from the ultrasound probe during an ultrasound scan, so it is impossible to notice their emotional manifestations.

It also happens that during an ultrasound it seems as if the child is sleeping. At the same time, he is in a calm state and does not make active movements.

At this stage of pregnancy, the development of the spinal cord continues. This development contributes to the fact that the active movements of the baby become more and more coordinated and orderly every day.

First movements

The rapid activity of the baby in the mother's stomach and its already rather large size contribute to the fact that the expectant mother has the first sensations in her stomach. This event for a woman is very touching and, as a rule, is remembered for the rest of her life.

It is important to note that not all expectant mothers can feel their babies at this stage of pregnancy. It depends on many factors. Usually quite active and mobile kids are pushing, calm children at the same time may not cause any concern to their mother.

Every pregnancy is a unique event. Absolute similarity of symptoms in this case never happens. So, for example, during the first pregnancy, the baby begins to push at the 18-19th week of pregnancy, and during the second - after 22. It is important to remember that this is a very individual feature that cannot be predicted in advance.

Body parameters

The size of the baby is a very important clinical sign; doctors who monitor the development of a particular pregnancy must be guided by it. Indicators of the growth and weight of the baby allow specialists to track the intensity of its intrauterine development in the mother's womb.

Each period of pregnancy is characterized by certain norms. These clinical parameters are usually determined during ultrasound. The obtained values are reflected in the medical report of a specialist, which is issued to the hands of a pregnant woman after the test is completed. The main studied parameters and their norms are reflected in the table below.

It often happens that after an ultrasound, a pregnant woman panics or begins to worry very much about the fact that her baby weighs a little less than it should be by this time. Immediately it is worth noting that this should not be done. The weight of the baby, like his height, is an individual parameter.. Not all children develop within the established age limits.

If the weight or height of the child is less than the values \u200b\u200bset for a given period, the doctor will definitely pay attention to this. After that, intrauterine development of the fetus requires more careful monitoring. As a rule, the weight of the child returns to normal after a few weeks of pregnancy.

Location

The position of the baby in the mother's belly can be very different. To determine how the baby is located in the uterus, you can use ultrasound or clinical obstetric examination.

It is important to remember that the position of the fetus during this period of its intrauterine life is usually unstable.

It often happens that an active and rather mobile fetus changes its position in the uterus. The child may be positioned in different ways. Doctors consider head presentation to be one of the most functionally advantageous locations of the fetus in the uterus. In this case, the baby's head is located towards the internal os of the uterus.

Head presentation allows the fetus to move properly through the birth canal during childbirth. In this case, the baby's head, which has the largest size for childbirth, moves first, which is more correct, according to experts. After passing the head through the birth canal, the rest of the baby's body is "born" much easier.

In addition to the normal head presentation, there are other, less favorable fetal positions. So, the baby may have a transverse position in the uterus. In this case, his head is no longer located towards the internal uterine os. In this case, the independent birth of a baby without any consequences is difficult.

Appearance of the child

The configuration of the baby's body at this period of its intrauterine life changes somewhat. The body of the child becomes longer, the arms and legs are also extended. The proportions of the head change somewhat. The baby already looks like a person, but only in miniature.