Pregnancy And Baby Care Articles Pregnancy Week By Week

This is the best time to start singing to your child as these will be the first sounds that he/she will ever hear. Your baby’s brain is developing rapidly and the songs that you sing will help to soothe your child after birth. Reading is also a good option as it gives you time to relax and rest and enjoy a little quiet time together.

By the 19 week of pregnancy, a baby’s muscles are developing very quickly. The baby starts to show the first signs of movement. Unlike the rapid kicking that you will experience later on in your pregnancy, these movements during this time are so feeble that they will go unnoticed. You will also notice that your palms seem unusually red and that your nipples may have darkened. Old scars may also become more visible and you may get a sprinkling of freckles. All of these are perfectly normal and are no cause for panic. Some women may start to develop darkened patches of skin above their upper lip and even on their cheeks. This is a condition called chloasma which is often referred to the mask of pregnancy. This is a temporary condition and you can cover it up with a little concealing makeup when going out.  

Your baby during your 19 week of pregnancy will measure about 6 inches. At this point, a waxy coating starts to form on her skin. This protective covering called the vernix caseosa, will help to shield her skin from the amniotic fluid and will keep the baby’s skin smooth and taut. Most of your baby’s organs are already functioning and her kidneys are already producing urine. It is about this time that a baby’s hair starts to come through the scalp. This hair is more like peach fuzz and will continue to develop through the weeks and your baby will be born will a full head of hair.

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