The browser you are using is too old for our website. Please visit www.aptaclub.ie from Chrome and you will be able to browse normally.

Pregnancy

      17 weeks pregnant

      17 Weeks Pregnant

      17 weeks pregnant

      All systems go

      Even though you may only feel light flutters within your belly, your baby is becoming active and moving around more. Internally, your baby’s major body systems are becoming established by the time you’re 17 weeks pregnant. Vitamin D still forms a crucial part of your pregnancy diet to support your baby’s bone development.

      Ssw 17 embryo

      Your baby's development at 17 weeks

      Major developments and increased movement in week 17 of pregnancy

      Now weighing roughly 150g (just over 5oz) and measuring around 13cm from crown to rump, your baby’s body is growing bigger and becoming more in proportion with their head. 

      Their hair, eyebrows and eyelashes are growing longer, and they can also open and close their mouth and move their eyes, which are still shut. Although your baby is also putting on a bit of weight, they still don’t have much fat but their special fat-storing ‘adipose tissue’ is beginning to form.

      …they can also open and close their mouth and move their eyes...

      Internally, your baby’s major body systems are becoming established. By the 17th week of pregnancy, their heart may be beating around 140–150 bpm – much faster than the average resting adult, whose bpm ranges from 60–100. Their respiratory system is developing too, and their chest will rise and fall as they start practising how to breathe.

      The future benefits of vitamin D for your baby

      Vitamin D forms an important part of a healthy pregnancy diet. It regulates the levels of calcium and phosphate in your body and supports the growth and development of your baby’s bones. Vitamin D is especially important for normal bone development, as a deficiency can cause your baby’s bones to soften, which can lead to rickets, in extreme cases. Furthermore, the vitamin D you consume during your pregnancy will also help build up your baby’s personal store, which they will rely on in the first few months of life.

      It’s recommended that you get 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day during pregnancy.

      The most efficient way to get vitamin D is through exposure to the UVB rays in sunlight. However, in Ireland we only get around 6 months of effective sunlight each year during the summer. This means that getting enough vitamin D through skin exposure to sun alone may not be enough to support your baby during pregnancy.

      You can increase your vitamin D intake by making sure you eat certain foods, but the best way to make sure you’re getting enough is to take it as a supplement. It’s recommended that you get 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day during pregnancy.

      NEXT STEPS

      Make sure your pregnancy supplement includes vitamin D and if not, buy a separate one.

      You can also add some of the following vitamin D-rich foods to your shopping list:

      • Oily fish, including herring, mackerel, sardines, salmon or trout: it’s recommended that you limit your intake to two portions per week due to the toxins they may contain
      • Eggs – the yolk contains the vitamin D
      • Fortified foods – some brands of milk, margarines, low-fat spreads and some breakfast cereals have added vitamin D
      personal-pregnancy-journey-icon-circle.png

      Your baby, this week

      Discover the science behind your baby's developments, week-by-week

      Join now for free

      Related articles

      Questions about feeding and nutrition?

      Our nutritionists and feeding advisors are always on hand to talk about feeding your baby. So if you have a question, just get in touch.

      Your baby, this week

      Discover the science behind your baby's developments, week-by-week

      Join now for free

      Your privacy is important to us and therefore we would like to explain how we use cookies on this website. With your consent, we will use cookies to measure and analyse how our website is used (analytical cookies), to tailor it to your interests (personalisation cookies), and to show you relevant advertising and information (targeting cookies) we think you will like. For more information please read the cookie statement.

      Privacy Settings

      You can choose your preferences anytime for cookies and tracking. For more information please read our cookie policy.

      • Strictly necessary

        They are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services (setting your privacy preferences, logging in, filling in forms, etc.). You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.

      • Analytical cookies

        They allow us to count visits and traffic sources, to measure and improve the performance of our site. They show us which pages are the most and least popular and how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.

      • Personalisation cookies

        They enable website’s enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third parties whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.

      • Targeting cookies

        They may be set through our site by our advertising partners, to build a profile of your interests and to show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.