19TH WEEK OF PREGNANCY: HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS - PARENTHOOD

19th week of pregnancy for mother and baby - 5th month of pregnancy

You have reached the nineteenth week of pregnancy and this means that the fifth month of your journey has already begun, which will lead you to the moment of delivery and the meeting with your baby. surely you have already had the opportunity to see it with the ultrasound. But what else do you need to know for the expectant mother? Before reading further, here is a video with the things not to do during pregnancy.

Symptoms of the 19th week of pregnancy

Before discovering in detail everything that the expectant mother needs to know for the correct continuation of her pregnancy, here are the most common symptoms that could appear in these weeks.

leg cramps at night
appearance of the linea nigra
chloasma gravidarum
shortness of breath
lightheadedness and tiredness
swollen or bleeding gums
pain in both hips due to the growing uterus
pain in the round ligament of the uterus
pain in the hips and joints
pain in the pelvis and coccyx
constipation
flatulence
heartburn
indigestion
weight gain
mood swings
nervous hunger
itchy skin in the nipple area

19th week of pregnancy: health and changes in the woman's body

In the fifth month, the belly becomes even more accentuated and your weight could go up by about 250 grams per week. It all depends on the initial build: if at the beginning of pregnancy you had a few extra pounds, the doctor or midwife will help you to keep your weight under control.
By the nineteenth week of pregnancy, the top of the uterus has now reached the navel, completing half of its journey up the abdomen.
The increase in blood pressure may cause the first changes in temperature to appear, making you feel warmer and sweating more often than usual.
Meanwhile, your body is preparing for breastfeeding: the production of colostrum, the first fluid your breasts excrete, and you may also notice thick, yellowish fluid leaking from your nipples.
Many women and future mothers in the nineteenth week of pregnancy begin to feel their baby move, but if this does not happen there is nothing to worry about, the first movements will come when you least expect it. It all depends on the position of the fetus in the uterus: those who have the uterus on the front of the abdomen will probably feel their baby move before those who have the uterus positioned on the back of the abdomen.

Have you already chosen the name for your baby? If you run out of ideas, get inspired by our list of names for all tastes!

The growth and development of the baby in the nineteenth week of pregnancy

The size of the baby in the fifth month of pregnancy is as follows: the fetus is about 15.24 centimeters long, and weighs 240 grams.

The nineteenth week of pregnancy is of vital importance for the development of the fetal nervous system, as the nerve cells responsible for the 5 senses are developing in the respective brain areas: taste, touch, sight, hearing, smell. The future baby begins to memorize some sensations, starting a real learning of the flavors linked, of course, to what the mother eats. If you are planning to breastfeed your baby, it is good to know that he will find some of these substances in your milk.

This trimester also slows down the production of nerve cells, as existing ones begin to get bigger, creating complex connections between them.

In this month the arms and legs of the fetus have almost reached their final proportions, while the bones of the extremities continue to grow ossification and hardening.
The baby is now able to better control his limbs, this is because the neurons have established connections between the muscles and the brain.
The skin of the fetus in these weeks is still transparent with visible blood vessels, but it has already begun the formation of a layer of fat.

The vernix, a substance that covers the whole body of the child, with a consistency similar to that of cheese. It contains epithelial cells mixed with a fatty substance secreted by the sebaceous glands and is retained on the surface of the skin also thanks to the presence of fluff, with the aim of protecting the skin.

The internal organs in the nineteenth week are functioning perfectly: the kidneys produce urine which constitutes most of the amniotic fluid; the heart is beating twice as much as yours, and the beat gets stronger each week.

Around the internal organs a special substance called brown fat, which is able to produce heat, and has the purpose of protecting vital organs from the damage that can cause temperature changes in childbirth and post-partum.

The ultrasound in the 5th month of pregnancy

During this period it will also be necessary to carry out fetal morphological ultrasound, a routine examination of the second trimester, usually performed between the eighteenth and twentieth week.
In this way, the doctor will be able to check both the external and internal parts of the child's body, coming to define the sex of the unborn child.
The main purpose of this examination is to evaluate the growth and heartbeat of the fetus, checking for the presence of congenital anomalies.
This exam is also known as screening for fetal abnormalities, as it can identify malformations of internal organs, such as spina bifida, lack of development of the brain, defects of the kidneys and limbs, cerebral palsy, and any heart defects also linked to Down syndrome.

How to avoid the stress accumulated in the 19th week of pregnancy

Pregnancy causes major hormonal changes that can cause anxiety and stress. Be on the alert, as stress can have consequences for the baby, increasing the risk of premature birth.
Don't panic, then: try to find your calm again. To make sure your pregnancy doesn't make you feel too tired, breathe and adopt good habits:
- Treat yourself to pleasant moments (dinners with friends, shopping trips or classes in the gym ...).
- Share your emotions and fears with other mothers during birth preparation sessions.
- Pregnancy often awakens forgotten emotions, linked to distant experiences in time. If you are in pain, talk to a counselor or someone who can help you.
- Eat "anti-stress" foods (based on vitamin B, complex carbohydrates ...).
- If it's not your first pregnancy, you need to organize yourself well. You need to continue to take care of your children, make them feel pampered and take care of their needs. Your partner will likely have less time to care for you and pamper you.
- Don't go beyond your limits.
- Ask for help from your loved ones, your friends ...
- Eat and get enough sleep.
- Put aside the housework and give your children more time, so that they can have a good time with them before the new birth, an event that is likely to be upsetting for them.

Tips for a good rest in the nineteenth week of pregnancy

In the nineteenth week of pregnancy it often happens that you suffer from insomnia. The baby takes more and more place and you have difficulty relaxing, you probably have cramps and are afraid of childbirth. And often, at night, you find yourself brooding ... What to do then?

Eat something light for dinner
Avoid exciting drinks (tea, alcohol, coffee ...).
Breathe deeply or do the relaxation exercises you learned in your childbirth preparation classes.
Drink a cup of lime tea or warm milk, but avoid sleeping pills.
In case of chronic insomnia, ask your doctor for advice: he can prescribe a homeopathic sedative.
Pay attention to your diet. Insomnia can be caused by a lack of vitamin B. You may also be awakened by hunger cramps or nausea due to a "hypoglycemia."