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2^nd Trimester (weeks 14-26)

Week 19

About You

Week 19 is the sixth week of the 2^nd trimester. The end of this week signals a halfway mark in your pregnancy. By now the top of your uterus may be reaching your belly button and your stomach will start to expand at the rate of about 1cm per week. You will look (and hopefully feel) gloriously pregnant!

The growth of your baby and uterus may cause some aches in your lower belly, due to the stretching of muscles and ligaments supporting your baby – but this is nothing to worry about. This is due to the hormone “relaxin” softening your ligaments in preparation for childbirth. It is normal for mums (especially new mums) to be anxious about the childbirth experience, but don’t be, as women have been giving birth for thousands of years.

About Baby

Baby is now about 15cm long and is approximately 240 grams. By this week baby has started to swallow amniotic fluid, kidneys continue to make urine and hair is growing on the scalp. Your baby will also be very active – kicking and somersaulting inside – sometimes keeping you awake at night, with the next 10 weeks being the most active time, when there is still enough room to move.

This is a crucial time for the development of your baby's senses. The nerve cells which will help your baby understand and react to the world are busily growing in particular areas of his brain - taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch, with sensory development reaching its peak this week. Nerve cell production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and make more complex connections. If you're carrying a baby girl, she already has roughly six million eggs in her ovaries. By the time she's born, she'll have about one million.

This week’s activities for the pregnancy to-do list

Start your childcare search. It may seem early to you, but the best centres often have long waiting lists and it's easier to go on tours now than when you have an infant in tow. You have many options, so review the pluses and minuses of daycare centres, nanny care, home day care, and relative care . Put your name on a few lists even if you aren't sure what you'll do. When the time comes, you will be grateful for the options .

Note that this article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.

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