Although this isn’t the nicest thing to hear about the baby development at 17 weeks pregnant, you should know that this week is all about fat.
Now we’re not referring to the mother (although she is gaining some weight too), but to the baby who is looking more and more human-like.
Things to know
The baby needs more and more nutrients so it is no wonder that the umbilical cord is getting stronger and thicker than before. By this time, the weight of the baby is of about 5 ounces and he or she is already about 5 inches long. It is interesting to know that if the baby straightens out, he or she would be 9 inches long.
Although you might say regarding the baby’s development during the 17th week of pregnancy that the baby isn’t really aware of the world outside the womb, it is good to know that at this stage the retina is becoming sensitive to light. Also at this stage, the first stool starts to accumulate.
The meconium
When thinking about the baby development at 17 weeks pregnant, the babies recycle the amniotic fluid since they swallow about a liter of it on a daily basis. As a result, meconium (or stool) accumulates in the bowel. This is made of the products of cell loss, swallowed amniotic fluid and digestive secretion.
Fat
As it has been mentioned before regarding the 17th week of pregnancy and baby development, this is the time when fat cells start to form under the skin of the baby. This is important to keep the baby warm and to offer the baby energy.
Physical appearance
If you are thinking about the baby development at 17 weeks pregnant, it is good to know that although the eyes of the baby are already looking forward, they are still firmly closed. The cartilage that the baby had until now is turning into bones. However, these will stay flexible for a while to make birth easier.
It is just natural that during the baby development at 17 weeks pregnant includes the head of the baby being relatively large, compared to the rest of his or her body. At the later stages, the growth of the head will slow down, while the body will start to grow faster.
