Sign out
At week 17, your baby is around 5.5 inches from the top of the head to the bottom of the spine, weighs close to 5 ounces, and is about the size of a pear. Your baby is growing quickly now, about an inch every month.
At this time, the placenta is providing nutrients and oxygen to your baby, while removing the baby’s waste. In addition, your baby’s:
- Eyes can move slightly from side to side.
- Bones continue to grow and harden.
- Sweat glands are forming.
- Body fat is developing.
Your baby can move their joints, such as knees, elbows, and knuckles. And their heart rate is about 140 to 150 beats per minute, about twice as fast as your own.