Now may be a good time to take a little trip somewhere. It can help relax you and give you a much needed change of scene. Besides you are probably feeling rather good right now – more energy, fewer mood swings and a manageable belly size.
Dry eyes, restless legs syndrome and strange dreams may be among the unusual pregnancy symptoms that some women have. If you haven’t done so already, you may want to start a pregnancy journal that helps you keep a record of all the weird and wonderful things that are going on with you right now. It can make for some very interesting reading later. Also it is something that will help you compare notes during any subsequent pregnancies.
Changes in the baby
Your baby keeps growing and growing becoming more able to survive independently outside the womb when the time comes. Practicing sucking, swallowing and hiccupping keeps baby busy about now.
- Baby is about 5 inches long now.
- He or she is moving about quite a lot but most moms to be will still not be able to discern this.
Changes in the mom to be
Your weight gain should be steady – gaining weight too quickly or too much of it is not a good idea. Remember all you need is about 300 extra calories a day, so you certainly should not be eating for two.
- Women with restless legs syndrome may have trouble sleeping, but exercise could help.
- Over the counter eye drops could help with dry eyes, but make sure they are pregnancy safe.
- As for the strange and vivid dreams, there isn’t much you can do about those except learn to enjoy them!
Tips for the 17th Week
If you’re busy decorating in anticipation of the little one, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- If you’re decorating the nursery, pick low maintenance fabrics in colors that will not show stains easily and have surfaces that are easy to clean.
- Buy stuff that will grow with your child.
- Make sure that there is plenty of storage space apart from the basics such as baby’s cot, changing table, etc.
- Also consider getting a rocking chair for yourself, so you can get comfy as you breastfeed. It can help rock baby to sleep or give you a place to sit if you just want to spend some quiet time as baby takes a nap.