PREGNANCY WEEK 19 ~ HEALTH and FITNESS

19 WEEKS PREGNANT

So what do you think: is it a boy or a girl? At 19 weeks pregnant, you’re probably getting psyched for your mid-pregnancy ultrasound. Most parents-to-be think of this test as the chance to find out baby’s gender, but you will actually see a lot more than baby’s boy or girl parts. You’ll see all of baby’s body—inside and out—and you’ll be amazed at all the development going on in there at week 19 of pregnancy. That’s exciting!

How Big Is Baby at 19 Weeks?

Baby is as big as a mango at 19 weeks of pregnancy. At about 6.0 inches long and weighing in at about 8.5 ounces, your 19-week fetus continues to get bigger!

19 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?

19 weeks pregnant is four months and about one week pregnant. In another week, you’ll be halfway through. Can you believe it?

19 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS

Normal 19-weeks pregnant symptoms aren’t severe—they’re more like annoyances. Of course, that doesn’t mean that dealing with them is easy. These are a few of the not-so-fun symptoms you may be feeling at 19 weeks:

Abdominal aches and pains. Round ligament pain is that discomfort in your lower 19-week pregnant belly. It’s caused by your muscles stretching to accommodate baby. Let your OB know if any ache or pain concerns you, but as long it’s not intense or accompanied by other symptoms, these are just growing pains.
Dizziness or lightheadedness. Feeling faint? We’ve been witness to more than one pregnant woman passing out—if it happens to you, know you’re not alone. Lightheadedness during pregnancy can happen because your growing uterus puts pressure on your blood vessels. Plus, baby is crowding your lungs, so there’s less oxygen for you! But there are other things that contribute to lightheadedness, including dehydration and hunger, so take care of yourself and eat and drink regularly! If you find yourself getting dizzy or lightheaded often, your OB may want to check you for anemia and/or preeclampsia.
Leg cramps. Ugh—we feel your pain! One way to ease these ouchies: stretching. Extend your leg and flex your ankle and toes toward your knees. (Some prenatal yoga might help too.) Or enlist your partner for a calf (and back!) massage.
Hip pain. If hip pain bothers you at night, try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees. Those giant body pillows might seem big and dorky, but we can’t sing the praises of them enough—especially if you’re 19 weeks pregnant with twins. Cave in and get one.

19 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

Whoa! Did you feel that? At 19 weeks pregnant, baby’s movement inside your belly is probably becoming noticeable to you. Of course, like with showing, this phenomenon happens earlier for some women than it does for others. Right now, these tiny movements probably feel more like taps or flutters—or even gas—but they’ll grow stronger over the next few weeks. Of course, it will be a bit more time before your partner or anyone else can feel those kicks. Until then, enjoy this little thing that’s just between you and baby. You two are bonding already.

At 19 weeks pregnant, weight gain might start to concern you, since you’ve probably put on between 8 and 14 pounds so far. (Or 20 to 30 pounds, if you’re 19 weeks pregnant with twins.) If your weight gain to date is higher or lower than that, talk to your doctor about whether or not it’s cause for concern. Sudden or rapid weight gain could be a sign of preeclampsia—which needs to be treated ASAP—and inability to gain weight could mean that baby’s not getting enough nutrients.

19 WEEKS PREGNANT ULTRASOUND

Your 19-week fetus is developing a protective coating over his or her skin called vernix caseosa. It's greasy and white and you may see some of it at birth. Baby at 19 weeks is also working on his or her on five senses. Yep, nerve cells for sense of taste, hearing, sight, and smell are all developing in baby's brain.

At your mid-pregnancy ultrasound, which is coming up very soon, the technician will scan pretty much all of baby’s body—including the brain, spine, and heart—to make sure everything’s developing properly. It’s so cool to see all that up close! And, if you want to know baby’s gender, the technician will probably be able to tell you. Don’t leave without getting some printouts from the scan to take home with you and show off.

Of course, going in for your ultrasound isn’t the only thing you should be planning ahead for around week 19 of pregnancy; you should also probably start the search for a pediatrician. Start by asking some family and friends for recommendations and then make a few appointments to meet with the staff. Ask a lot of questions to find out which doctor you most jibe with. It’s important to find someone you trust, since you’ll be seeing a whole lot of each other in baby’s first year.