Week 17

Your Baby's Development

At about 5.1 inches (13 cm) from crown to rump and weighing 4.9 ounces (140 grams), your baby is still very tiny.

The placenta, which nourishes the fetus with nutrients and oxygen and removes wastes, is growing to accommodate your baby. It now contains thousands of blood vessels that bring nutrients and oxygen from your body to your baby's developing body.

Your Body

You may notice that your breasts have changed considerably since your pregnancy began. Hormones are preparing your breasts for milk production — more blood is flowing to the breasts, and the glands that make milk are growing in preparation for breastfeeding. This can increase your breast size (many women increase 1–2 cup sizes) and make veins become visible. Buy supportive bras in a few different sizes to manage your breast growth during pregnancy.