Your baby is growing

At 19 weeks, your baby’s sensory development takes place. Touch, smell, taste, visionand hearing get their rightful place in her brain. Did you know Indian mythology statesthat Abhimanyu got knowledge in his mother womb by simply listening. Your baby too at thisstage can hear your voice.

Perhaps you should sing a song, read or talk aloud. Well, your baby is listening.

At this stage your baby measures around 6 inches. Her arms and legs grow to the proportionate length and size. Her kidneys are busy forming urine. On her scalp, tiny hair sprouts. Meanwhile, vernix caseosa, a waxy protective coating forms on her skin. This prevents the skin from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Your life at 19 weeks

At this stage, frequent aches in the lower abdomen is a sign that you are growing larger. If you experience a stabbing pain on both sides when you shift positions or when the day ends, is a round ligament pain. Your uterus is increasing in weight and the ligaments that support the uterus are stretching to bear the weight.

Extra estrogen can make the palms of your hand red. A temporary pigment increase may lead to dark patches on the skin. When these appear on the upper lip, forehead and cheeks, it is known as ‘the mask of pregnancy’ or ‘chloasma’.

These are not the only areas that darken. Nipples, scars, inner thighs, vulva and freckles undergo darkening too. A dark line called ‘linea nigra’ runs from your belly button to your pubic bone. Don’t get worried. These dark spots and pigmentation will disappear after your baby is born. When you step out in the Sun, always wear protective covering. The Sun will add the pigment changes in your body. So wear a hat, don some sun screen and step out confidently and safely.