Second trimester · roughly month 4 · about 23 weeks to go

17 weeks pregnant

Everything Hello Belly has for week 17 — how your baby is developing, what your body is doing, and the small things that are easier to know in advance.

Your baby at 17 weeks

17–18 weeks

Just look at your baby: he’s grown so big! While constantly swimming in his environment, which totally involves his muscular system and enhances brain activity, he squeezes and unclenches his fists. So don’t mess around with this guy! (Though he still fits entirely in your palm).

It’s not just he grew up, he also became much more massy. Thanks to the first fat layer, which began to form under the skin. By the way, the skin has become thicker, it consists of several layers and is covered with creamy white grease that protects the baby. And he already has hair on his head. And crotches and cilia on his face. Cutie, in a word.

The baby seems to be so small and naked, but he has already become more independent of you: the immune system has formed. Now your infections are not so terrible for him (but for sure this is not a reason to fall ill right away!)

This week's open tip

Read it in full right here — no account needed.

And who is overgrown with fat?
Your baby’s skeleton is becoming more dense and strong, and the umbilical cord — the main "thread" connecting the fetus with you — is getting thicker.
Read the full tip →