19 weeks pregnant

What to expect this week

What's happening in week 19

At week 19 you are just a week away from being half way through your pregnancy!

Your baby at week 19

Your baby now weighs more that your placenta, but doesn't yet have much in the way of body fat. They’ll measure around 14cm long, weigh 240g and will be about the size of a mango. Although they’re still small, it’s possible you might start to feel small movements from your baby as they continue to develop.
Your baby’s arms and legs are now in proportion and moving with more limb control as the cartilage begins hardening to bone.
Their skin is now losing its translucent look and beginning to develop pigment which will determine their skin tone. They will now also be covered in Vernix Caseosa, a thin waxy like substance that helps protects your babies skin from the amniotic fluid.
It’s also possible begin to develop hair on their scalp, although it’ll be white and pigment free as hair colour is yet to be determined.
Your baby's body is working very hard to grow strong and healthy, particularly its little heart – you'll no doubt have noticed when your midwife uses the Doppler to listen to your baby's heartbeat how much faster it is than your own!
Their brain is also continuing to develop with the specialised areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision and touch. It’s actually possible that they might be able to hear your voice now.

You at 19 weeks pregnant

Your baby's movements may start feeling more like proper kicks now, and might occasionally take you by surprise! Best not use your bump as a convenient coffee table or lap tray!
You might even be able to identify a foot or an elbow at times, and your partner might enjoy feeling these movements as well, and getting to bond with your baby and feel more involved.
Your increased bump size could be causing you heartburn or indigestion by 19 weeks – speak to your midwife if this is bothering you.
The increase of hormones in your body could also leave you feeling a little breathless at times – this is usually harmless and normal in pregnancy, but do tell your GP if you are getting really out of breath.
Some mums experience blurry vision at this stage, too, most likely because of water retention – this usually corrects itself after birth, but again, flag it up with your GP or your optician if you are worried.

What to think about in week 19

As you are busy buying things for your little one's nursery and wardrobe, you might be having the great nappy debate with your partner or mum pals! The choice is yours of course, disposables or reusables, and both have their merits. Cloth nappies have come a very long way since the days of folding towelling squares into shape and pinning them in place!
Some local authorities even have incentives for parents to go green and use cloth nappies rather than land-filling disposables. It all comes down to personal preference of course, and what works for your family budget and your baby – and you might find it's a case of trial and error to discover what ultimately suits you best of all.