Your pregnancy at 17 weeks

This song comes to mind this week, particularly the lyrics ‘don’t know if I elated or gassy but I’m somewhere in that zone’, and you are definitely not alone as it is probably baby making you feel like you have butterflies or gurgling in your tummy.

These movements will get more obvious and pronounced over the next few weeks and months and something that many mums look forward to. Baby Baby is looking a lot more human now with their head and body now in proportion. They are the size of cantaloupe melon, approx. 12cm head to bottom and weigh about 150g, similar to a mango.

Amazingly your baby now has their own unique fingerprints and even their nails are growing. If you have been lucky enough to feel your baby move then it’s an exciting milestone, if not then don’t worry as it is still early, but you should feel them move over the next couple of weeks. Mum By now your bump will be getting more obvious and you may need to move into maternity wear if not already.

Some mums-to-be love this transition while others struggle with their changing body shape, take a look at our maternity wear edit for advice on what to wear and help you make the leap to more comfortable clothing. You may also notice your hair is thicker as your hair loss slows during pregnancy and if you are lucky you may also be ‘glowing’ as all that extra blood flowing around your body can have positive effects on your skin. Others however may be feeling anything but glowing as pregnancy can affect mums differently and you may be experiencing acne and greasy skin - yep those hormones again.

If you are suffering then it can be difficult to find a treatment as many aren’t suitable when pregnant, try using a sensitive face wash and limit washing to twice a day and try not to touch your face too much and hopefully it won’t last lon.

This article has been written using the latest guidance and information from trusted sources, primarily the NHS. This information should not replace the advice from professional medical advice.