During pregnancy week 17 the baby is 5 inches long and about 3 1/2 ounces in weight. The development is more and the cartilages of the skeletal frame are forming into bones. Once you are at 17 weeks pregnant, the baby’s movements are more pronounced though some women cannot make out, but for others they can discover the pleasure of the baby’s movements. The baby can now hear and playing music is a great way to allow the child to discover the various sounds on the outside world. The link between the muscles and the nerves is being formed as the cerebral cortex has formed. The pregnancy stages have advanced and the foetus is well formed by now.

At 17 weeks of pregnancy, the belly will protrude about 2.5 inches in front of the uterus near the lower abdomen. The uterus occupies more space in the pelvic area and abdomen and presses the other organs to a side in pregnancy week 17. However, the protrusion of the belly differs from one woman to another and may show more at different pregnancy stages for each one. If the woman has any doubts regarding her pregnancy and birth she should consult her physician instead of asking all and sundry and getting more confused instead of clearing the facts.

Stress during pregnancy can bring on a preterm labor. The mother should remain relaxed for the rest of the pregnancy from the health point of view of herself and the baby. Mother’s who are overstressed and get into a condition which raises the amount of corticotrophin can go into preterm labor because of the release of hormones which induce labor. Vaginal discharge increases during pregnancy 17 week because of the increase in the progesterone levels, this is called leucorrhoea. 17 weeks pregnant sometimes marks for blood and amniotic fluid, similar to the signs of preterm labour. In case if excessive discharge continues then the doctor should be consulted as it should not be confused with preterm labor.