Pregnancy

Pregnancy Week 19

Baby Development

By this time, your baby is about 6 inches long or the size of a mango. The development this week is mainly focused on the brain. The baby has already developed millions of motor neurons. These motor neurons are the nerves in the brain that allow the brain muscles to function normally and make movements. These movements are often involuntary, like sucking the thumb, moving the head, and others. The hearing has been developed enough for the baby to hear outside sounds. Hence it’s a good time for you to say something for the baby to listen to, or you can even sing or hum to the baby. The baby is now covered in vernix, a waxy, white covering that protects the skin. Lanugo, or fine hairs, have started growing under the vernix. The kidney is now functioning normally. The waste is first collected in the amniotic sac and ultimately removed via the placenta.

Changes in mother

You would now feel the baby kick more prominently during this time, and they can manifest in different manners – a mere flutter, kick, small slug, or even a gas bubble. This different kick feeling has to do with your muscle tone and size. A thin mother will feel movement faster. The same is true for mothers who are having their second pregnancy. Once the baby mastered the kick in the coming weeks, the mother would feel it correctly.

There would be cramps in the leg, particularly the night after you come to rest from a long exhausting day that would cause sharp pain shooting up and down your calves. It might be due to the pressure your pregnancy weight puts on the leg or blood vessels compressed by the growing uterus. It might also have something to do with your diet or water intake.

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Pregnancy Week 19 symptoms

A few symptoms that a mother experiences this week are listed below.

Funny face:- Dark areas have been developed in and around the nose, cheeks, and forehead. These are formed due to a pregnancy condition known as chloasma or, as it is called in layman’s terms, a ” mask of pregnancy .”Chloasma, along with linea nigra, a dark line formed across the belly and pubic bone, is formed due to the pregnancy hormone. These conditions can aggravate due to exposure to the sun. Hence, stay covered and keep sunscreen handy. These dark areas typically disappear after delivery.
Increased appetite:- Your appetite and craving for certain foodstuffs would have improved this week. Remember to keep your eating habits in check and fill yourself with nutritious food if you are healthy.
Stretch Mark:- As your body expands, it does leave a few stretch marks. There is no cure for the stretch mark, but a few moisturizers, such as cocoa butter, can decrease any itch or dry feeling in that location.
Stuffy nose and constipation:- The mother might feel constipated and have a stuffy nose during this time

Important Tips

What to do

Relax and lie down when you feel dizzy.
Keep your eating habits in check by trying to have healthy and nutritious food to cope with your increased appetite.
Apply sunscreen with complete UV protection if you must go out in the sun.
Do some light leg exercises when you feel leg cramps.

What to avoid

Avoid going outdoors.
Avoid any strenuous exercise.

When to Consult a Doctor

If the pain is unbearable.
If you feel faint and dizzy for an extended period.

Takeaway

At 19 weeks, the mother would be feeling the baby’s kick. The baby is now 6 inches long and the size of a mango. The mother would have leg cramps, increased appetite, stretch marks, dizziness, ligament pain, and a stuffy nose. Do relax when feeling dizzy, stay indoors, keep eating habits in check, and do light leg exercises.

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