19 Weeks Pregnant

This is week 19 of your pregnancy and you are probably wondering what to expect this week. Every week through your entire pregnancy, your body goes through many changes as your child grows inside of you. As this week comes, you may start to feel what is called quickening, which is actually the baby moving. You will most likely have another check up or prenatal visit, where your doctor will want to check such things as your weight, uterus, blood pressure and also your urine. He or she will be looking to see if there is protein in your urine and to make sure that you are not showing signs of pre-eclamsia as well as the amount of sugar for other problems.

This is your half way mark and you may notice some changes in your body that may include stretch marks as well as itchy skin. You may also notice that you are starting to have back aches. This is due to the extra weight that your baby is adding to your body, but rest assured, it is only temporary. Your baby is around 5 to 6 inches in length and will most likely weigh about 7 ounces. Your precious baby can now do a few things on his or her own such as thumb sucking and he or she can also display involuntary muscle movements.

At your prenatal checkup you will get to hear your little ones heart beat. Some people say it sounds like a train as it beats so fast. That “pitter patter” sound is like music to a mother’s ears. This helps keep the magic alive and makes that baby seem more real to a mother. Be sure to have your doctor check you for anemia while at your checkup, especially if you seem more tired than usual, are experiencing fainting spells, find your heartbeat seems to be pounding or your skin appears pale.  If you suffer from iron deficiency anemia, you can treat that with some simple diet changes. You can cook your foods with iron cookware as well incorporate more green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, legumes and dried fruit

Here are a few tips that you can follow to help you deal with the changes you’re going through in this 19th week of your pregnancy. For the itchy skin and stretch marks, you can try one of the many lotions or creams that are out on the market today. If you are suffering from leg cramps, you can try eating a banana to help increase your potassium level. Be sure to keep the lines of communication open with your spouse to ensure that you are getting the support that you need as you can be having problems with your hormones and mood swings.