Your Pregnancy at Week 19

You’re nearly halfway there! 

You may finally feel entirely pregnant... and people can probably tell you are, too! Your uterus has outgrown your pelvis, and you might feel a little discomfort in your lower belly. This round ligament pain is caused by your muscles stretching to house your growing baby. Don't worry too much about this discomfort. But if you are worried, you should tell your midwife or doctor about any pain or discomfort.

Regarding pain, compression socks might be your next favorite thing if your legs are cramping in the middle of the night. Many pregnant individuals go through this and lose out on a good night's sleep because of it. Stretching your legs - specifically, your calves, thighs, quads, knees, ankles, and toes - right before bed at night may help reduce these cramp-waking sleep disturbances.

This week, your skin could feel itchy, dry, or flaky. You might be sporting a gorgeous linea nigra. You could even wake up one morning and recognize the mask of pregnancy (blotchy patches on your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin). These hormone-related skin changes should gradually disappear after childbirth. In the meantime, just drink a lot of water and eat a healthy, balanced diet. Now that you're well into the second trimester, you should gain about one pound weekly.

As your body grows to make more room for your little one, it also produces more blood to support all systems on the go. This extra blood flow can lower your blood pressure, so if you stand up too quickly, you might feel dizzy or lightheaded. This is called postural hypotension and is just one more way your body is reminding you to slow down.

At 19 weeks, you might feel a few, or every single one, of the pregnancy symptoms below.

Leg cramps: increased blood volume and stress from increasing weight can put pressure on your leg muscles, causing cramps. Dehydration or low calcium may also be to blame, so check your prenatal vitamin to be sure you are getting enough!

Dizziness and/or Faintness: hormonal changes will continue to affect everything in your body during pregnancy. That, and increased blood flow, may  be responsible for headaches and/or dizziness that you may experience. Take time to be sure you are well-hydrated and getting enough rest. Talk to your healthcare provider if headaches and dizziness is frequent, especially if accompanied by additional symptoms such as blurred vision or heart palpitations. 

General discomfort, aches and/or round ligament pain:  aches and pains are an uncomfortable, albeit normal, part of pregnancy. Avoid staying in the same position for too long, stay hydrated, and talk to your doctor about safe pain relief options that may offer some comfort.

Increased appetite: hungry? Growing a human being takes a lot of energy! Your second trimester is prime-time for eating and enjoying foods between the first trimester nausea and the crowded digestive system during the third trimester.

Skin changes: there may be many skin changes during pregnancy from stretch marks, hyperpigmentation, and even rashes. Stay hydrated, avoid extended sun exposure, and talk to your doctor about any sudden changes or concerns you may have.