Nineteen Week Of Pregnancy: Pregnancy Week By Week
You are now into your second trimester. At this stage of the pregnancy, a few more changes are going to be taking place in the mom to be. There will also be more changes in the baby as well. This week some count as the middle of the pregnancy and by now you will have completely adjusted to the ever-changing mental and physical state of pregnancy.
As the pregnancy progresses, there is more of a chance to develop vitamin deficiencies more commonly iron deficiencies. That is why is it is more important than ever before to continue taking the prenatal vitamins as well as iron supplement that your doctor can recommend for you. You may also experience some skin problems as well. There may be rashes and brown patches if you are exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period of time.
The baby is growing more and more every week, you will now start to be able to feel the baby punching and kicking as the week’s progress. Fetal movements are how most mothers gauge the normality of their pregnancy. If you believe that something isn’t right, contact your doctor; a sonogram may be needed to calm your fears.
Baby’s Development
By pregnancy week 19, your baby is starting to produce meconium, a substance that will become the baby’s first bowel movement. After your baby is born, he will start passing meconium in the first few days of life. Meconium is very normal but can sometimes turn dangerous. Typically, when your baby is still developing inside you, he ingests and then excretes amniotic fluid every day. Meconium is a combination of amniotic fluid, mucus, lanugo (the fine hair that covers your developing baby’s body), bile, and cells that have been shed by the baby’s intestines and skin. Typically, it is greenish-black in color and tarry upon excretion. Your baby will normally pass meconium after delivery, but your baby can pass meconium while you are still pregnant. Usually this is a sign of fetal distress. Meconium passed in utero can mix with amniotic fluid, and sometimes it can get into the baby’s lungs, which may cause complications after delivery, including pneumonia.
Typically, the only way to tell if the baby has passed meconium is after the birth. When your water breaks, if the water is clear, your baby should be fine. If your baby has passed meconium, the amniotic fluid may be yellowish or greenish. Your healthcare provider will use a DeLee suction to remove the meconium from your baby’s airway prior to their first breath, to prevent aspiration of the meconium in the respiratory system.
There is no way to influence whether or not your baby will pass meconium in utero. The good news is that most babies do not, so you shouldn’t worry about it. Your healthcare provider will be well equipped to handle the situation should it arise at delivery.
At 19 weeks pregnant, your baby is also producing vernix, which is a white sticky substance that covers your baby’s skin to protect it from it’s environment. Remember your baby is packed in fluid for nine months. The vernix will keep your baby’s skin looking soft and supple.
By pregnancy 19 weeks, your baby’s brain is also forming pockets to specialize in smell, taste, hearing, vision, and even touch. If you are having a girl, she already has produced six million eggs in her ovaries, though this number will decrease by 4 million by the time your newborn baby is born.
How Your Life’s Changing
Think you’re big now? You’ll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you’re resting or becomes severe.
You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about it’s from the extra estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they’re called chloasma, or the “mask of pregnancy.” You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or “dark line.”
These darkened spots will probably fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you’re outdoors. And if you’re self-conscious about your “mask,” a little concealing makeup can work wonders.
What To Expect
Your baby is starting to become aware of sounds outside the womb; they can be startled by sounds from the outside. They may respond to the mom and the dad’s voices but if there are siblings, you should encourage them to talk to the baby too. You don’t have to shout at the baby, nice smooth soft sounds would be best.
You should stay away from any over the counter medications as well as any herbal remedies. These herbal remedies tend to relax the muscles and they could be a risk to a miscarriage. At this point of your pregnancy, you can relax knowing you are past the danger spot but it still is possible for something to go wrong.
Talk to your doctors about any fears or concerns that you may have. This is really the best time for you to sit down with your partner and your doctor and have a talk about what to expect now and further down the line.
Tips/Advice
You may not remember any or all of the feelings that you had during this pregnancy. Try keeping a journal of every day of your pregnancy. Then after the baby is born and perhaps years later, you can look back and share these feelings with your child. Have your partner take pictures of you at every month of your pregnancy and make a scrapbook for your child. It will make them feel special, as they get older.
Make sure that you voice any concerns about how you are feeling to your doctor. You should be relaxing and enjoying your pregnancy. Sharing the experience with friends and family will mean a lot to them as well.
