19. WOP

In the 19th week of pregnancy you are heading with big steps towards the halfway point of your pregnancy. Your baby is about 15 cm tall and 220 g heavy. We show you what exciting developments are in store for you in the 19th week of pregnancy.

Important facts about the 19th week: What you should know

The baby is about 15 cm long and weighs 220 g.

The organs are gradually starting to work and the sexual organs are also now fully developed. It is possible to determine the sex of the baby.

You will start to experience exercise contractions as your body prepares itself bit by bit for the birth. Don’t worry: the baby will not be disturbed by the contractions.

This is what happens to you

Baby bump

From the 19th week of gestation, the belly continues to grow in size and is almost impossible to hide. But why should you? The pregnancy is in the second trimester and therefore the risk of miscarriageis low. You can proudly show your belly to the world and be happy about it.

From now on, the uterus grows about one centimeter per week. You can even feel the upper edge of the uterus near your belly button.

Practice contractions

Since your body needs to have excellent control over contractions until delivery, it practices them as early as the 19th week of pregnancy in order to prepare for birth.

During these exercises, the abdomen contracts in continuous contractions. Your baby is not in danger during these exercises. These exercises are quite normal and you do not have to worry about them. Most of the time, you will feel abdominal pain and slight discomfort.

However, it is important that the contractions do not last longer than 45 seconds and do not occur more than 3 times an hour. The abdomen should not contract without rhythm throughout the day.

If this is the case and the exercise contractions come at irregular intervals, the abdomen becomes hard and bleeding occurs, then you should contact your gynecologist. It may be real contractions and they would need to be prevented with labor inhibitors.

Swollen hands and legs

The veins and vessels in your body are more stressed than usual due to the high blood demand. For this reason, it may take more time for the blood to return from your hands, legs, and feet, causing it to pool in your limbs.

In addition to swelling, your legs and arms may become warm and you may feel a slight tingling sensation. Rubbing the swollen areas with oil can relieve the symptoms and help you fall asleep, for example.

Child movements

Your baby’s strength and size continue to increase and the baby’s movements become more noticeable to you.

Women who describe the baby movements compare them to fluttering butterflies in their belly, or popcorn popping in their belly.

Cravings

First you like things you didn’t like before, and now you’re craving sweets in the middle of the night?

Don’t worry – this is completely normal during pregnancy and happens to most mothers-to-be. A small piece of chocolate will not leave any permanent damage to your baby, but try to compensate for your cravings with fruit or other healthy foods.

Also interesting:

For outsiders, the movements are not yet noticeable. However, by the 25th week at the latest, your partner will also be able to feel your baby’s movements for the first time.

Whether for you or your partner – feeling the baby for the first time is one of the most beautiful moments of pregnancy and a very special moment.

Tip for fathers-to-be

Whether on Spotify or YouTube: There are many podcasts or helpful videos that clarify pregnancy issues you might not have thought of. Some are even designed just for fathers – just listen and let yourself be surprised.

Pregnancy symptoms in the 19th week and what you can do about it

Pregnancy hormones

From the 19th WOP, the pregnancy hormones make themselves felt again and often trigger cravings or thirst.

Therefore, make sure that you drink up to 3 liters per day. Non-carbonated drinks and herbal teas are best.

To ensure that your baby continues to receive all the necessary nutrients, make sure you eat a balanced diet despite the cravings.

Due to the hormones, dry skin or cracked fingernails may occur more frequently during the 19th week of pregnancy. Then treat yourself to a few good skin care products or a visit to a beautician if it helps you feel good in your skin.

It is not necessarily the case that you will experience these complaints. For many women, the radiant skin and the full head of hair remain as a positive side effect of pregnancy.

What can be seen on the ultrasound during the 19th week of pregnancy?

Between the 19th week of gestation and the 22nd week of gestation, the second major screening examination with ultrasound is due. From now on, the sex of your child can be identified.

Provided you want to know the sex before the birth, you are certainly looking forward to this moment. If you do not want to know before the birth whether it will be a boy or a girl, it is best to tell the doctor directly before the examination.

However, it may be that your baby does not want to tell you its gender yet. If it turns away or pulls its legs together, it is not possible to tell the sex.

What is the risk of miscarriage in the 19th week of pregnancy?

You are in the 5th month of your pregnancy. Since the 14th week of pregnancy, the high-risk period of early pregnancy is over and the risk of miscarriage has decreased to a minimum of 0.5%. It will remain like this until the 24th week.

There is no need to worry. You can relax and enjoy your pregnancy in peace.

What happens with the baby

Your baby has been practicing swallowing for some time and is taking in amniotic fluid every now and then. The digestive tract is already functioning. Therefore, residues of the metabolism are stored in the intestine and only excreted after birth. These are referred to as puerperal secretions.

The puerperal sputum is your baby’s first bowel movement and is also called meconium. It has a greenish black color and is excreted about 12 to 48 hours after birth. It is usually tough and odorless.

Your offspring is very active and moves around a lot. In the 19th week of gestation, he can run wild in your belly, because there is still enough space.

This slowly changes in the 29th week. By then your baby is so big that it no longer has much room to move and becomes calmer.

Your everyday movements calm the baby so that it falls asleep again and again during the day. As a result, it is particularly active in the evening when you slowly settle down, because then it wakes up without the rocking movements.

Your baby’s sense of touch is already well-developed. If it touches the wall of the uterus with its hands or feet, it immediately pulls its hands away again.

Your baby’s sense of hearing also becomes more and more pronounced during the 19th week of gestation and your baby can distinguish sounds better and better.

How your baby develops in the 19th week of gestation

In the 19th week, your baby is 15 cm tall, the size of a corncob, and weighs around 220 g.

His skin is getting thicker and thicker and it is possible that the first head hairs will grow.

At the latest in the 19th week, the baby’s sexual organs are fully developed.

In a little girl, there are 6 million eggs in the ovaries, but 5 million of them die again by the time she is born. From now on, no more eggs will grow.

In a boy, with a little luck, the penis was already visible from the 15th WOP. Now the scrotum can also be seen. The testicles themselves are still in the boy’s abdomen and only come into place shortly before or shortly after birth. At the same time, the testicles are already producing testosterone.

The internal organs are also continuing to form. The brain continues to develop. The liver and spleen begin producing bile and white blood cells. The baby’s kidneys, urinary system and bladder are fully developed and hard at work.

Thus, your baby’s immune system is also slowly developing. However, it is not fully functional until some time after birth.

This is important now

Preventive examination with ultrasound

The second major check-up is scheduled between the 19th week and the 22nd week.

You probably haven’t seen your baby since the first ultrasound in the first trimester and you will be amazed at how big it has become.

During the ultrasound examination, the biometric data of the fetus are recorded. The heart activity as well as the position and movement of the baby are important. In addition, the doctor can safely determine the sex of your baby.

The amount of amniotic fluid and the functioning and position of the placenta are also measured.

In addition, your offspring will be measured from head to toe and this data will be entered in your maternity record.

Your maternity record contains all the important information about your pregnancy and the development of your child. It is very important in case of emergency. Therefore, you should always carry it with you.

In addition, the doctor will check your health. He measures your weight and blood pressure, checks your urine for germs, sugar, protein and iron and looks at the position of the uterus.

This is how you can support your body in the 19th week of pregnancy

Maternity fashion

With the 19th WOP the abdominal girth increases significantly and at the latest now the purchase of maternity fashion becomes necessary. That means it’s time to store. There are several options for you to buy maternity fashion.

On the Internet and also in many local stores you can find a large selection of modern and beautiful maternity fashion. If it should be a little cheaper, then you can also find beautiful parts second hand or with family and friends who have their pregnancy behind them and therefore no longer need the things.

In any case, keep in mind that you will not wear the things for a long time and therefore do not need so much. Nevertheless, it is of course very important that you feel good and comfortable in the clothes.

Also, your belly should have enough space and the pants should have a wide and elastic waistband. Then they do not cut in so quickly and can be worn longer.

Because your breasts are also growing, you need new underwear. Since your breasts are very sensitive during pregnancy, the bra with lace is not the right choice for you at this time, because the lace can irritate the skin very easily.

It is better to resort to cotton underwear : The fabric is cuddly, gentle to your sensitive skin and also prevents vaginal infections.

Nursing bras can already be the optimal solution in the 20th week of pregnancy. They have wide straps and adjustable closures and therefore relieve the connective tissue of the breasts and the back.

In addition, you can prevent neck pain and back problems by wearing them. Practically, you need nursing bras after birth anyway and have no unnecessary purchase.

Midwife Tip

It is never too early to start thinking about how you want to have your baby. Maybe you are afraid of the birth and it helps you to plan its course, because it gives you security.

Consider the different options, such as cesarean section and natural birth, in water or dry, with or without painkillers, and get advice from your midwife.

The sooner you know your options and the sooner you have found your favorite, the more relaxed you can approach the birth.

FAQ

WOP 19: How do fetal movements feel?

Infant movements are often described as fluttering, as if butterflies were fluttering through your belly. Others describe them as gentle tickling, sliding along the abdominal wall, or like popcorn popping in your belly.

How big is the baby at 19 weeks gestation?

The baby is 15 cm tall at 19 weeks gestation, the size of a corncob.

What happens in the 19th WOP?

In the 19th week of gestation, other organs start working and the sexual organs are fully developed, so that the sex of the baby can be determined. The expectant mother experiences exercise contractions as the body prepares for birth.

What does my baby look like at 19 weeks gestation?

Your baby already looks like a tiny human being in the 19th week. The proportions have been coordinated since the 18th week and the basic development of the organs and body parts is complete.

19 WOP: Fetal movements how often?

It is not possible to make a blanket statement about how often you feel your baby’s movements. How much your baby moves varies from baby to baby. Basically, your baby is very active in the 19th week of gestation when he is awake. He or she sleeps for about 20 hours during the day and usually becomes active in the evening when you come to rest. If you usually feel baby movements and then no movements are felt for 24 hours, you should see your doctor.

WOP 19: Gender for girls, what does the ultrasound look like?

If the legs or body do not block the view of the baby’s sex, the clitoris and labia can be seen in a girl.

Outing in the 19th WOP: how safe?

Coming out in the 19th week of pregnancy is usually no longer necessary, since your baby bump can no longer be hidden from others. However, if you have kept it a secret until now, it is the right time to share the happy news, as the risk of miscarriage is very low and your belly can no longer be hidden for long.

Video about the 19th WOP

Charlotte takes you into her 19th WOP.

The best products for you and your baby.

Baby monitor

With a baby monitor, you can use your time flexibly, sleep peacefully at night and still know at all times that your baby is doing well.

Nursing pillow

A good breastfeeding pillow has several advantages, because it helps you not only to breastfeed, but also to fall asleep and is also suitable as a nest.

Diaper bags

A diaper bag offers you a lot of storage space, so that you have everything you need for your baby on the go - from the changing pad to the bottle.

Pucksack

A pucksack gives your baby the feeling of security, like in the womb, and thus supports a peaceful and restful sleep.

Bicycle trailer

Bicycle trailers can be used in combination with a baby seat shortly after birth. They are not only safer than child seats but also more comfortable.

Playpen

A playpen can be very practical in everyday life! Which model is suitable for your needs, you can read in my guide.

Baby bed

The first bed accompanies your child for years. Fortunately, there are beds that grow with your child. I have made for you on the search for the best baby beds.

Stroller

A stroller is a worthwhile purchase. But there are the most diverse models on the market. Find out which is the right one.

Radiant heater

Radiant heaters provide your child with the necessary warmth when changing diapers or after bathing.

Extra bed

Side beds are very practical and offer both mother and baby a lot of advantages, because for babies, especially in the first months of life, it is reassuring to be able to sleep next to their parents.

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