Week 17 of Pregnancy: Baby’s Bones Strengthen & Skin Changes

WEEK- 17 of Pregnancy

Intro: 
Welcome to the week 17 of your pregnancy journey! I’m Dr. Heal, and today, I’ll guide you through what’s happening in this seventeenth week with you and your baby!

Key Information:
Your baby’s soft cartilages are hardening and turning into bones. They’re putting on some fat, which helps keep them warm by regulating your baby’s body temperature and boosts their metabolism as well. The umbilical cord is getting stronger, and the baby is developing a protective coating called vernix for their skin.
At 17 weeks pregnant, your body is adjusting to your baby’s rapid growth. You may notice an increased discharge of fluids like vaginal discharge and sweat. Itchy skin on your belly and breasts is common as they stretch. Weight gain upto 1kg per week is normal, but sudden or excessive increases should be discussed with your doctor.

Conclusion:
Keep your skin nourished by combining aloe vera gel with a moisturizer that has vitamin E or cocoa butter. Stay hydrated, and try limiting your sodium intake to keep both you and your baby healthy! If you have any questions or just need a little reassurance, our Apollo doctors and community are always here for you every step of the way! You’ve got this supermom!