Week 17 of pregnancy
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Your baby this week
About the size of a pear
Source: Vinmec – Bảng cân nặng và chiều dài thai nhi theo tiêu chuẩn của WHO
Your baby's development
Your baby is about 13cm long and weighs about 140 grams, the size of a pomegranate. Your baby is now constantly moving their arms and legs. You will feel your baby move more and more over the next few weeks. Surprisingly, your baby is starting to practise sucking and swallowing to prepare for their very first breastfeed.
The layer of fat under your baby's skin is starting to develop, like a warm coat put on early. If you imagine winter, your baby looks really warm and adorable.
Your baby's fingerprints and footprints are starting to form. Learning how to read fingerprint and footprint patterns to get ready for later could also be a nice idea.
Your body
From this week your appetite will grow, which is good for you and brings more nutrition to your baby.
Stretch marks may start to appear on your tummy. If you don't gain weight suddenly and your gain is steady, stretch marks may not appear much more, so choose a correct and balanced diet.
Heartburn and indigestion, dizziness, headaches and bleeding gums still appear from time to time, bringing you some discomfort. But you will get through it soon.
Advice for you
See a dentist if you notice problems with your teeth or gums. Stay out of the sun as much as you can, because your skin is now very sensitive to sunlight; you can use a sunscreen that is safe for pregnant women.
At this stage your uterus is large. When you lie on your back, the uterus presses on the vena cava, reducing blood flow back to the heart and causing a feeling of lack of oxygen and breathlessness. Practise lying on your left side; you can tuck a pillow under your bump and raise your legs on a pillow to sleep better.
Exercises or yoga poses that focus on the back can help ease back pain and limit stretch marks. Oh, and don't forget that at this time you may find your partner becomes “a great errand boy” thanks to your cravings, but don't forget that on legal paper he is still your husband. Thank him when he gets up to bring you something to eat, or shows care for you and your baby; this will encourage him a lot.
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Signs that need a doctor now
If you notice any of the signs below, please go to the nearest health facility to be checked by a doctor.
Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy
This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now. If the bleeding is heavy or comes with severe pain or faintness, call the emergency number 115.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Convulsions (fits)
A convulsion in pregnancy is an emergency. Family members should call 115 at once, lay the mother on her side in a safe place and get her to the nearest hospital.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Fever in pregnancy
A temperature above 38°C counts as a fever. Please go to a health facility so a doctor can find the cause and advise on safe ways to bring it down; do not take medicine on your own.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Leaking fluid or waters breaking
Fluid leaking from the vagina may mean the waters are leaking or have broken and needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to a health facility soon, lying with your head low while travelling.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Severe headache, blurred vision, sudden swelling
Headache with blurred vision, or sudden swelling of the face, hands or eyelids, can be a sign of high blood pressure in pregnancy or pre-eclampsia. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Reduced or no fetal movement
A clear drop in the baby's movements, or no movement, needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now rather than waiting until tomorrow.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Severe or worsening abdominal pain
Abdominal pain that keeps getting worse, does not ease, or is severe needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now. If the pain is severe with sweating, faintness or bleeding, call 115.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Sources
Content advised by our doctors.
- Bệnh viện Từ Dũ (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- NHS (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- Vinmec (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- Source for fetal size: Vinmec – Bảng cân nặng và chiều dài thai nhi theo tiêu chuẩn của WHO
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
This article helps you understand and prepare. It does not replace a check-up. For an answer about your own situation, please ask the doctor who is caring for you.