March 12, 2025 • 12 mins
EP 87:
Did you know that at 17 weeks pregnant, your baby is already learning how to breastfeed? 🤯 That’s right—your little one is practicing sucking and swallowing inside the womb! But that’s not all…
In this episode, we’re diving into:
 ✅ How your baby’s nervous system is developing at lightning speed
 ✅ Why your little one can now HEAR your voice (time to start talking to them!)
 ✅ The weird but totally normal pregnancy symptoms you might be feeling this week—like dizziness, clumsiness, and even a stuffy nose!
 ✅ Pregnancy symptoms to watch for and when to call your provider
 ✅ Easy hacks to feel your best during week 17
🎉 Plus, at the end of this episode, I’ll share a bizarre but TRUE pregnancy fact that most moms don’t find out until it happens to them!
✨ Links & Resources:
👶 Bump to Bundle Blueprint – Your Complete Birth & Breastfeeding Prep Course
 🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for weekly pregnancy updates!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founderand CEO of Birth Prep Academy.
I'm on a mission to helppregnant moms prepare for their
first hospital birth.
I'm sharing revealingconversations about what it
really takes to successfullytransition into motherhood.
So join me.
We're here to discover thingslike what to expect in
(00:26):
childbirth, how to prepare foryour birth.
We'll also talk aboutbreastfeeding and so much more.
I'm so grateful to share it allwith you right here on Oh, Baby,
the podcast created for pregnantmoms, preparing for their first
hospital birth.
Let's get started.
(00:50):
Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founderand CEO of Birth Prep Academy.
I'm on a mission to helppregnant moms prepare for their
first hospital birth.
I'm sharing revealingconversations about what it
really takes to successfullytransition into motherhood.
So join me.
We're here to discover thingslike what to expect in
(01:11):
childbirth, how to prepare foryour birth.
We'll also talk aboutbreastfeeding and so much more.
I'm so grateful to share it allwith you right here on Oh, Baby,
the podcast created for pregnantmoms, preparing for their first
hospital birth.
Let's get started.
(01:33):
Wait, did you know that at 17weeks pregnant, your baby is
already learning how tobreastfeed inside your tummy?
That's right.
I know.
It is crazy.
but your little one is sucking,swallowing, and even practicing
for their very first latch andyou won't believe what else
they're doing right now.
(01:53):
Their tiny ears.
Now they're starting to pick upsounds, including your voice.
Their nervous system isdeveloping at lightning speed,
making them even more activethan before, and your body.
Well, let's just say thatthere's some wild changes
happening that no one reallywarned you about.
Like no one warns you.
(02:14):
That pregnancy may suddenly makeyou clumsy.
I know it's a thing.
We're gonna talk about it in aminute, so sit tight.
They also don't tell you whysome moms may feel dizzy and
lightheaded during this week,and what's the real reason
behind that?
Stuffy noses when you're noteven sick.
Oh, and stick around because atthe end of this episode, I'm
(02:38):
gonna share one bizarre but truepregnancy fact that most moms
don't find out about until ithappens to them.
So as I always say, from week toweek, grab a snack, get comfy,
and let's dive into everythingyou need to know.
About 17 weeks pregnant.
All right, let's talk about yourbaby because at 17 weeks, some
(03:02):
big things are happening at 17weeks.
Your little one is about thesize of a pomegranate, roughly
five inches long from head tobottom and weighing about five
ounces.
That's about as heavy as a smalljuice box.
But what's really fascinating ishow quickly their nervous system
(03:24):
is developing.
Right now, your baby's brain ismaking connections like crazy,
helping them move their arms andlegs more purposefully.
So if you haven't felt thoselittle kicks yet, trust me,
mama, they're coming soon.
Here's a mind blowing fact.
By 16 to 17 weeks, your baby isalready practicing sucking and
(03:46):
swallowing.
Now get this, researchers havefound that babies in the womb
start developing their suckingreflex now, which is essential
for breastfeeding after birth.
So when you see those adorableultrasound pictures of them
sucking their thumb, that's notjust cute.
It's them training for theirvery first latch.
(04:08):
Now, this is one of my favoritethings to talk about.
By 17 weeks, your baby's earsare developed enough to start
hearing sounds.
That means they can hear yourvoice, your heartbeat, and even
outside noises.
Some studies suggest that babiesexposed to the same songs
repeatedly while in your tummymight actually recognize them
(04:32):
after birth.
So go ahead, talk to your littleones.
Sing to them or even read abedtime story.
It might feel silly at first,but this early bonding is super
powerful and can actuallycomfort them once they're born.
All right, so let's switch gearsbecause while your baby is busy
(04:53):
growing, your body is goingthrough a lot right now too.
Let's talk about some of thoseweird and sometimes annoying
changes happening right now.
First up, let's talk about theround ligament pain.
If you're feeling random, sharppains or weird pulling
sensations around your belly,well that could be because your
(05:14):
uterus is expanding, and thoseround ligaments that support the
expansion, they're stretchingpretty fast.
So.
Here's a pro tip.
If you feel sharp pains when youstand up or roll over, try
moving just a tad bit slowly andusing a pregnancy pillow at
night to support your belly.
(05:35):
All right.
Now, if you remember, I talkedabout pregnancy causing
clumsiness, so I wanna hop intothat.
Have you noticed that you seemto be dropping everything?
Or maybe you feel like you'rebumping into things more often.
Well, that's because pregnancyactually changes your center of
(05:57):
gravity.
Your belly is growing andshifting, and your weight is
moving or shifting forward,making you feel a little off
balance.
On top of that, pregnancyhormones are relaxing your
joints, which can make you feela little wobbly too.
So here's a pro tip for that.
(06:17):
Be extra careful going up anddown the stairs and consider
switching to, I like to call'emyour comfy shoes.
You know the ones with goodsupport.
All right.
Now let's talk about this stuffynose situation, especially
because you are not sick.
You just.
Can't get rid of this stuffynose, this congestion.
(06:39):
Well, this is called pregnancyrhinitis, and it happens to
about 30% of pregnant women.
Why?
Well, let me explain.
When you have extra blood flowplus increased estrogen, well
that pretty much equals swollennasal passages.
So that's why you might befeeling congested even though
(07:02):
you don't have a cold.
Well, here is an easy fix.
Try using a cool misthumidifier, and drink lots of
water because those two thingswill help to thin out the mucus
and keep your airways clear.
Now I wanna shift our focus abit to a few symptoms that I
(07:24):
want you to look out for.
Now, I don't want you to be onhigh alert or anything because
most pregnancy symptoms aretotally normal, but there are a
few things that you should keepan eye out on at 17 weeks.
First up, swelling in your handsand face.
Some swelling is totally normal,but if you have severe or sudden
(07:49):
swelling, then I want you tocontact your provider ASAP
because this could be somethingthat they potentially want to
check and monitor to make surethat everything is okay.
Next up, let's talk about severedizziness or blurred vision.
Now this could mean a lot ofthings, so again, I want you to
(08:11):
reach out to your provider sothat they can assess and see
what may be causing it.
It could be something as simpleas eating small meals like every
few hours.
That can help stabilize some ofyour levels in your blood.
But the best thing to do beforeyou do anything, if you notice
(08:32):
severe dizziness or blurredvision, please reach out to your
provider as soon as possible.
Okay.
The last symptom that I want youto look out for is intense back
pain.
So when I say intense back pain,I'm saying that based on the
knowledge that a little backdiscomfort is expected with
(08:53):
pregnancy.
So I don't want you to be tooalarmed, but if it's severe.
Or if it's persistent, those arethe two things I want you to
consider.
Severe, meaning that you can't,it's hard for you to function in
your day to day activities ofjust your daily life, taking
care of yourself, maybe takingcare of your family.
(09:14):
If it's so severe that it'simpairing you from doing that,
then you need to talk tosomeone.
also if it's persistent, so youare not really getting any kind
of relief.
Because it's just constant andongoing.
Then I want you to check in withyour doctor, for that and every
single point made here, theseare all reasons why you should
(09:37):
reach out to your providerbecause you may need some extra
support and treatment in thoseareas.
So on the lookout guys.
Alright now.
Okay.
We've gotten all of theimportant warning stuff out of
the way, the serious stuff, as Ilike to say.
So let's talk about how you canfeel your very best this week.
(09:59):
first up, I want you to be surethat you are eating iron rich
foods.
Why?
Because your baby is using a lotof iron to make those red blood
cells and low iron will equalfatigue and dizziness.
We don't want that.
So make sure you're supportingyour nutrition well.
Some things that are known forhaving high iron is, spinach,
(10:23):
lentils, eggs, and lean meatsalong with some other things.
So, keep that in mind.
Start to sleep on your side.
And left side is preferablebecause as your belly grows,
sleeping on your left side hasbeen found to improve
circulation, and it also keepsthe blood flowing to your baby.
(10:44):
So try to get in the habit ofsleeping on your side.
All right.
Now, I think you could probablyguess what I'm gonna say here,
but in case you're new, I'mgonna say it anyway, which is to
drink lots of water.
Staying hydrated, is superimportant because it helps with
energy, it helps with theswelling that we talked about.
(11:06):
It even helps with nausea.
So be sure to drink oftenthroughout the day.
So what's coming up next week?
by week 18, your baby's nervoussystem is exploding with new
growth, and you might even startto feel their first little
kicks.
Oh, and remember that bizarrepregnancy fact that I mentioned
(11:27):
at the beginning.
Well, here it is.
Your baby actually pees in theamniotic fluid and then swallows
it.
I know, but it's a real thing.
Y'all, you wanna know whathappens and how it affects their
development.
Well be sure to subscribe so youdon't miss next week's episode
(11:48):
because I'm gonna talk all aboutit there.
And if you're already thinkingabout birth plans, hospital
bags, breastfeeding, prep, allthe things, now is the perfect
time to start.
Just click the link below tocheck out Bump to bundle
blueprint so that you can feel ahundred percent prepared for
birth.
Alright mama, You're doingamazing.
(12:11):
I'll see you next week for week18, pregnancy updates.
Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founderand CEO of Birth Prep Academy.
I'm on a mission to helppregnant moms prepare for their
first hospital birth.
I'm sharing revealingconversations about what it
really takes to successfullytransition into motherhood.
So join me.
We're here to discover thingslike what to expect in
(00:26):
childbirth, how to prepare foryour birth.
We'll also talk aboutbreastfeeding and so much more.
I'm so grateful to share it allwith you right here on Oh, Baby,
the podcast created for pregnantmoms, preparing for their first
hospital birth.
Let's get started.
(00:50):
Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founderand CEO of Birth Prep Academy.
I'm on a mission to helppregnant moms prepare for their
first hospital birth.
I'm sharing revealingconversations about what it
really takes to successfullytransition into motherhood.
So join me.
We're here to discover thingslike what to expect in
(01:11):
childbirth, how to prepare foryour birth.
We'll also talk aboutbreastfeeding and so much more.
I'm so grateful to share it allwith you right here on Oh, Baby,
the podcast created for pregnantmoms, preparing for their first
hospital birth.
Let's get started.
(01:33):
Wait, did you know that at 17weeks pregnant, your baby is
already learning how tobreastfeed inside your tummy?
That's right.
I know.
It is crazy.
but your little one is sucking,swallowing, and even practicing
for their very first latch andyou won't believe what else
they're doing right now.
(01:53):
Their tiny ears.
Now they're starting to pick upsounds, including your voice.
Their nervous system isdeveloping at lightning speed,
making them even more activethan before, and your body.
Well, let's just say thatthere's some wild changes
happening that no one reallywarned you about.
Like no one warns you.
(02:14):
That pregnancy may suddenly makeyou clumsy.
I know it's a thing.
We're gonna talk about it in aminute, so sit tight.
They also don't tell you whysome moms may feel dizzy and
lightheaded during this week,and what's the real reason
behind that?
Stuffy noses when you're noteven sick.
Oh, and stick around because atthe end of this episode, I'm
(02:38):
gonna share one bizarre but truepregnancy fact that most moms
don't find out about until ithappens to them.
So as I always say, from week toweek, grab a snack, get comfy,
and let's dive into everythingyou need to know.
About 17 weeks pregnant.
All right, let's talk about yourbaby because at 17 weeks, some
(03:02):
big things are happening at 17weeks.
Your little one is about thesize of a pomegranate, roughly
five inches long from head tobottom and weighing about five
ounces.
That's about as heavy as a smalljuice box.
But what's really fascinating ishow quickly their nervous system
(03:24):
is developing.
Right now, your baby's brain ismaking connections like crazy,
helping them move their arms andlegs more purposefully.
So if you haven't felt thoselittle kicks yet, trust me,
mama, they're coming soon.
Here's a mind blowing fact.
By 16 to 17 weeks, your baby isalready practicing sucking and
(03:46):
swallowing.
Now get this, researchers havefound that babies in the womb
start developing their suckingreflex now, which is essential
for breastfeeding after birth.
So when you see those adorableultrasound pictures of them
sucking their thumb, that's notjust cute.
It's them training for theirvery first latch.
(04:08):
Now, this is one of my favoritethings to talk about.
By 17 weeks, your baby's earsare developed enough to start
hearing sounds.
That means they can hear yourvoice, your heartbeat, and even
outside noises.
Some studies suggest that babiesexposed to the same songs
repeatedly while in your tummymight actually recognize them
(04:32):
after birth.
So go ahead, talk to your littleones.
Sing to them or even read abedtime story.
It might feel silly at first,but this early bonding is super
powerful and can actuallycomfort them once they're born.
All right, so let's switch gearsbecause while your baby is busy
(04:53):
growing, your body is goingthrough a lot right now too.
Let's talk about some of thoseweird and sometimes annoying
changes happening right now.
First up, let's talk about theround ligament pain.
If you're feeling random, sharppains or weird pulling
sensations around your belly,well that could be because your
(05:14):
uterus is expanding, and thoseround ligaments that support the
expansion, they're stretchingpretty fast.
So.
Here's a pro tip.
If you feel sharp pains when youstand up or roll over, try
moving just a tad bit slowly andusing a pregnancy pillow at
night to support your belly.
(05:35):
All right.
Now, if you remember, I talkedabout pregnancy causing
clumsiness, so I wanna hop intothat.
Have you noticed that you seemto be dropping everything?
Or maybe you feel like you'rebumping into things more often.
Well, that's because pregnancyactually changes your center of
(05:57):
gravity.
Your belly is growing andshifting, and your weight is
moving or shifting forward,making you feel a little off
balance.
On top of that, pregnancyhormones are relaxing your
joints, which can make you feela little wobbly too.
So here's a pro tip for that.
(06:17):
Be extra careful going up anddown the stairs and consider
switching to, I like to call'emyour comfy shoes.
You know the ones with goodsupport.
All right.
Now let's talk about this stuffynose situation, especially
because you are not sick.
You just.
Can't get rid of this stuffynose, this congestion.
(06:39):
Well, this is called pregnancyrhinitis, and it happens to
about 30% of pregnant women.
Why?
Well, let me explain.
When you have extra blood flowplus increased estrogen, well
that pretty much equals swollennasal passages.
So that's why you might befeeling congested even though
(07:02):
you don't have a cold.
Well, here is an easy fix.
Try using a cool misthumidifier, and drink lots of
water because those two thingswill help to thin out the mucus
and keep your airways clear.
Now I wanna shift our focus abit to a few symptoms that I
(07:24):
want you to look out for.
Now, I don't want you to be onhigh alert or anything because
most pregnancy symptoms aretotally normal, but there are a
few things that you should keepan eye out on at 17 weeks.
First up, swelling in your handsand face.
Some swelling is totally normal,but if you have severe or sudden
(07:49):
swelling, then I want you tocontact your provider ASAP
because this could be somethingthat they potentially want to
check and monitor to make surethat everything is okay.
Next up, let's talk about severedizziness or blurred vision.
Now this could mean a lot ofthings, so again, I want you to
(08:11):
reach out to your provider sothat they can assess and see
what may be causing it.
It could be something as simpleas eating small meals like every
few hours.
That can help stabilize some ofyour levels in your blood.
But the best thing to do beforeyou do anything, if you notice
(08:32):
severe dizziness or blurredvision, please reach out to your
provider as soon as possible.
Okay.
The last symptom that I want youto look out for is intense back
pain.
So when I say intense back pain,I'm saying that based on the
knowledge that a little backdiscomfort is expected with
(08:53):
pregnancy.
So I don't want you to be tooalarmed, but if it's severe.
Or if it's persistent, those arethe two things I want you to
consider.
Severe, meaning that you can't,it's hard for you to function in
your day to day activities ofjust your daily life, taking
care of yourself, maybe takingcare of your family.
(09:14):
If it's so severe that it'simpairing you from doing that,
then you need to talk tosomeone.
also if it's persistent, so youare not really getting any kind
of relief.
Because it's just constant andongoing.
Then I want you to check in withyour doctor, for that and every
single point made here, theseare all reasons why you should
(09:37):
reach out to your providerbecause you may need some extra
support and treatment in thoseareas.
So on the lookout guys.
Alright now.
Okay.
We've gotten all of theimportant warning stuff out of
the way, the serious stuff, as Ilike to say.
So let's talk about how you canfeel your very best this week.
(09:59):
first up, I want you to be surethat you are eating iron rich
foods.
Why?
Because your baby is using a lotof iron to make those red blood
cells and low iron will equalfatigue and dizziness.
We don't want that.
So make sure you're supportingyour nutrition well.
Some things that are known forhaving high iron is, spinach,
(10:23):
lentils, eggs, and lean meatsalong with some other things.
So, keep that in mind.
Start to sleep on your side.
And left side is preferablebecause as your belly grows,
sleeping on your left side hasbeen found to improve
circulation, and it also keepsthe blood flowing to your baby.
(10:44):
So try to get in the habit ofsleeping on your side.
All right.
Now, I think you could probablyguess what I'm gonna say here,
but in case you're new, I'mgonna say it anyway, which is to
drink lots of water.
Staying hydrated, is superimportant because it helps with
energy, it helps with theswelling that we talked about.
(11:06):
It even helps with nausea.
So be sure to drink oftenthroughout the day.
So what's coming up next week?
by week 18, your baby's nervoussystem is exploding with new
growth, and you might even startto feel their first little
kicks.
Oh, and remember that bizarrepregnancy fact that I mentioned
(11:27):
at the beginning.
Well, here it is.
Your baby actually pees in theamniotic fluid and then swallows
it.
I know, but it's a real thing.
Y'all, you wanna know whathappens and how it affects their
development.
Well be sure to subscribe so youdon't miss next week's episode
(11:48):
because I'm gonna talk all aboutit there.
And if you're already thinkingabout birth plans, hospital
bags, breastfeeding, prep, allthe things, now is the perfect
time to start.
Just click the link below tocheck out Bump to bundle
blueprint so that you can feel ahundred percent prepared for
birth.
Alright mama, You're doingamazing.
(12:11):
I'll see you next week for week18, pregnancy updates.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!