Week 17 Size: Pomegranate
About the size of a pomegranate.
Relative Visual Scale
Solid circle represents your baby's size. Dotted circle shows the full-term week 40 size threshold.
Baby's Development
A layer of fat (adipose tissue) starts to form under the baby's skin to provide warmth. The sweat glands are developing, and the baby is practicing sucking and swallowing.
Weekly Milestones
- ✦ Fat Storage Begins
- ✦ Sweat Glands Form
Your Body & Symptoms
Your center of gravity is shifting, which can make you feel slightly off-balance. Your appetite might be robust, and you may experience sciatic nerve pain.
Common Symptoms this Week
Doctor & Care Recommendations
- ✓ Do gentle stretching or pelvic tilts to relieve sciatic nerve pain.
- ✓ Choose healthy snacks like nuts, fruit, and yogurt for your increased appetite.
- ✓ Be careful when walking; wear flat, stable shoes.
PregWeeks
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Weekly Health Guides & Resources
Second Trimester Guide
Read comprehensive clinical milestones, screening checklists, and developmental guidelines for this phase.
Track & Relieve Symptoms
Learn why symptoms occur, home remedies, and clinical indicators for this week:
Food Safety Checklists
Verify safety statuses, listeria and mercury risks, and safe alternatives for:
Frequently Asked Questions: Week 17
Evidence-Based Clinical Sources for Week 17
PregWeeks is dedicated to medical transparency. Every milestone, symptom tip, and fetal development guideline for Week 17 is sourced directly from clinical guidelines published by leading obstetric authorities. Read more about our editorial methodology on our Medical Sources page.
Prenatal Diagnostic Testing for Genetic Disorders (Practice Bulletin No. 162)
ACOGClinical recommendations for mid-pregnancy screening options, including the anatomy ultrasound scan commonly scheduled between weeks 18 and 22.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (Practice Bulletin No. 190)
ACOGPractice standards for screening and diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), typically scheduled between weeks 24 and 28.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Implementing a Gestational Diabetes Screening Protocol (Committee Opinion No. 798)
ACOGStandardized protocols for glucose screening tests to detect gestational diabetes and optimize maternal-fetal metabolic health.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Get weekly pregnancy updates
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