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Week 19

What's Happening To Your Body

Are you or your partner wondering if having sex during pregnancy will hurt your baby? The answer is no. Sex is usually safe during the entire 40 weeks as long as your pregnancy is normal. Of course, you may find that your desire for sex fluctuates through various stages of pregnancy, depending on your hormones, fatigue, growing size, anxiousness over the birth, and other factors. In fact, at this stage, you may get sexually aroused more quickly and frequently than previously due to increased blood flow to your pelvic region. Remember to communicate with your partner as issues around sexual intimacy come up.

Don’t worry if you develop the ”pregnancy mask” (called chloasma) and dry or flaky skin; these are common during pregnancy due to your changing hormone levels. Your skin will return to normal after pregnancy. A good facial moisturizer may help improve dry skin. Maintaining a healthy diet and drinking lots of water will also help your skin stay hydrated.

Now is a great time to look into childbirth classes. There are many types of classes, all of which can help you understand what is going on in your body and adjust to these changes.

What's Happening To Your Baby

Your baby is the size of a mango. Your baby measures about 5.5 to 6 inches (13.4 to 15.2 cm) long from crown to rump. At this point your baby weighs about 7 ounces (198.4 grams).

Your baby is covered in vernix caseosa, a thick, white, waxy substance that protects your baby’s fragile skin from becoming chapped or scratched.

Your baby’s permanent teeth buds are also forming behind the already formed milk teeth buds.

If your baby is a girl, her ovaries also contain primitive egg cells. Girls are born with all the eggs that they will have in their life. If the baby is a boy, the prostate will begin developing.

Your baby will also start developing more brown fat around the neck, chest and groin area. This will keep your baby warm when he or she is born.

Your baby also might start sleeping this week. Babies can find a “favorite” position. Usually, babies will have their chin tucked into the chest. Most babies can even dream when they reach the REM stage of sleep!

Read This Next: Week 20

In Case You Missed It: Week 18