At 19 weeks of your pregnancy, you are officially four months and one week pregnant, well into your second trimester and just a week away from the halfway point of your pregnancy. You may already be scheduled for your mid-pregnancy ultrasound, which can give you an idea if you're having a boy or a girl! You may also be surprised at how much muscle your little one had grown!
Pregnancy signs Week 19
At Week 19 of your pregnancy, you will show a significant baby bump as your baby grows. You're probably adjusting your posture and your walk to accommodate your growing tummy.
Lucky you if you still haven't noticed any skin discolorations and stretch marks on your tummy or other parts of your body. Applying moisturizer may keep stretch marks and the itchiness at bay. If you still do have them, seek comfort in the fact that they will eventually go away or lighten after childbirth.
Since you're pregnant and your body is working overtime, take necessary preventive measures to avoid getting sick. Moms-to-be can be at risk for developing urinary tract infections (UTIs). If you're experiencing painful urination, tell your doctor. Always consult your doctor before taking any medication, natural or otherwise.
The weight gain is to be expected, but don't indulge so much or else you can expose yourself to developing pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Both can endanger your life and your baby's life. And if you're not gaining weight, it could mean your baby’s not getting enough nutrients, so talk to your doctor about it.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWAs long as your doctor tells you otherwise, pregnancy exercise will be a good idea to help manage your weight gain. Low-impact exercises can do wonders for your energy and combat the not-so-great pregnancy symptoms!
Pregnancy symptoms Week 19
Almost midway into your pregnancy, make it habit to observe anything that's out of the ordinary. Every pregnancy is different as pregnancy symptoms may vary. If you notice any new or odd symptoms, always alert your doctor about it.
Hip pain
The increasing levels of pregnancy hormone relaxin may result in feeling some pain around your hip area as the hormone helps loosens your ligaments and joints all over your body in preparation for childbirth. Relaxin is also the same hormone responsible for backaches and round ligament pain characterized by sharp pain or jabs in the lower belly or groin area.
The American Pregnancy Association also cited increased pressure on your sciatic nerve, the two nerves on the body that runs from the lower back to both feet, as another reason for hip pain. The pressure your growing uterus puts on the sciatic nerves may cause you to feel pain, numbness, or a tingling sensation in the buttocks, hips, and thighs.
Sleeping on your side promotes better circulation of newly oxygenated air and using pillows make a huge difference to get you comfy and more shut-eye. If lying on your side worsens the pain on your hip area, try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees. Placing a pillow or folded blanket at the small of your back and leaning against as you sleep can also help. Tell your doctor right away if any aches or pains become more intense.
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Dizziness and shortness of breath
Apart from dehydration and hunger, another reason for lightheadedness during pregnancy is the pressure your growing uterus puts on your veins, which restricts oxygen distribution, especially to your brain. Add to that the fact that your lungs may also have less room for you to take in a full breath, which is why you're also often short of breath.
Remember to eat and drink regularly and take your time moving from lying down to sitting and standing up positions. If you find yourself feeling dizzy often, ask your doctor so he can rule our anemia or preeclampsia.
Leg cramps
The root of getting woken up in the middle of the night by painful cramps on the calves is still a mystery. It had been linked to diet and weight gain, as well as muscle fatigue. Prenatal yoga and doing calf stretches, such as stretching your legs and then gently flexing your ankle and toes back towards your knees, before bedtime can help ease and prevent leg cramps.
Constipation, bloatedness, burping, and gas
Expect to burp and pass gas more frequently, as well as being constipated The muscle contractions that usually move food along through the intestines are slower now that you're pregnant. Drink lots of water and eat fiber-rich food. Stay away from foods that produce gas, such as fried foods, broccoli, root crops, and beans.
Heartburn and indigestion
The relaxed muscle valve between the stomach and esophagus and your growing uterus pressing on your stomach are to blame for your heartburn. Eat slowly and drink after you've finished your meal. Avoid eating spicy, greasy, and fatty food.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWIncreased bodily fluids
Since your body is producing and circulating more blood, also have increased fluids tend to accumulate in your tissues, which is also the culprit behind increased vaginal discharge, vision problems, varicose veins, swollen ankles, feet, hands, and gums, as well as stuffy nose and nosebleeds.
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Your baby's development Week 19
At Week 19 of your pregnancy, your baby is as a mango, measuring about six inches long and weighing in at about eight and a half ounce. Your little one will only continue to grow, and his organs will continue to mature.
Your baby is building muscles and strengthening his limbs. His heartbeat is even stronger now and beats twice as fast as your heartbeat. Your little one's lungs are also developing, with the main airwaves (called bronchioles) beginning to form this week. His five senses are all fully operational by now, so he can hear you (talk to your baby!) and taste what you eat through the nutrients delivered via the placenta.
Your little one's skin color is also beginning to develop, and this will continue after he’s born and well into childhood. His skin is now covered with vernix caseosa, a greasy, white, cheese-like coating that protects it from being wrinkled at birth after being submerged in amniotic fluid for nine months. You may even see this protective covering at birth.
Between Week 18 to 22, you may already feel your baby move inside you, though they're more flutters than actual kicks. Don't worry, as your baby grows, you might soon see him move through your belly.
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Your to-do list on Week 19 of your pregnancy
Aside from managing your pregnancy symptoms, take time to relax. Stress is not good for you and your unborn baby. You may have things to cover, but try not to put so much pressure on yourself.
Schedule your CAS
Your mid-pregnancy ultrasound is your congenital anomaly scan (CAS), also sometimes called congenital anatomy scan or 20-week scan, is done in the second trimester, between 18 to 22 weeks. The International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) recommends that CAS be performed as part of the routine prenatal care for pregnant all women.
It's a typical 2D or 3D scan to check your baby's overall development. It's just more detailed to rule out 'fetus' grow abnormalities, such as anencephaly (absence of the scan top of the skull), heart defects and bowel obstructions, and congenital malformations, such as cleft lip and spina bifida.
Get comfortable
Make sure to wear comfortable clothes and get better support for your heavier breasts that are getting ready for milk production and breastfeeding. Get a prenatal massage, go on a date with your partner, or talk to your baby can help ease your worries about childbirth and your future parenting style. Arm yourself with information by scouting to birth and newborn classes. Don't forget to always look at the positive.
More on your week-by-week pregnancy:
Pregnancy Symptoms Week 18: Start Talking to Your Little One!
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWPregnancy Symptoms Week 20: Shortness of Breath Begins
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