19 Weeks Pregnant: Expected Pregnancy Milestones

Fact Checked Medically reviewed by Tanja Premru-Sršen
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At nineteen weeks pregnant, you enter pregnancy month five, and you are in the second trimester of your pregnancy.

During the nineteenth pregnancy week and the upcoming weeks, you will experience some exciting pregnancy milestones, such as feeling the baby’s first kicks for the first time and having the 20-week ultrasound or anatomy scan.

During this scan, you will get to meet your baby up close. Here is what week nineteen will bring.

Physical Symptoms During The Nineteenth Pregnancy Week

Week nineteen of your pregnancy will bring some new physical symptoms while the ones from the few weeks before still stick around.

Here is are the most common pregnancy symptoms a pregnant person can expect during week nineteen of their pregnancy.

Skin changes

Pregnancy will bring a lot of skin changes, some of which you might not see coming.

For example, the palms of your hands might be extra red due to extra estrogen, you might notice patches of darkened skin on your cheeks and forehead (called melasma), a dark line going from your belly button to the pubic bone, and you might see more acne on your face and back.

No worries, all of these changes in pigmentation should fade away after pregnancy.

Nosebleeds

One in five pregnant women experiences frequent nosebleeds due to increased blood volume, which causes blood vessels in the nose to expand and burst more often. If you have a cold or experience allergies, you are more susceptible to nosebleeds.

If you get a nosebleed during pregnancy, pinch the lower part of your nose and lay down for five to ten minutes to get the bleeding to stop.

Shortness of breath

Many pregnant women report feeling out of breath and struggling to finish a sentence without feeling like they just ran a mile. If you find this relatable, you are not imagining it at all; shortness of breath is a very common pregnancy symptom.

Your body requires more oxygen during pregnancy, and it adapts to that need by inhaling and exhaling more air with each breath. On top of that, your growing uterus puts pressure on your diaphragm, which makes breathing even more laborious.

Pushing through will not work; if you get out of breath, sit down, relax, and slow down. If shortness of breath does not go away or worsens or is accompanied by other symptoms like cough, discomfort or pain behind the sternum, or fever, visit your doctor.

Baby’s Development During Week Nineteen of Pregnancy

At nineteen weeks pregnant, your baby has undergone a growth spurt; it is about six inches long and just over a half-pound in weight. At nineteen weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of an heirloom tomato, which means that the baby’s growth has been considerable since last week!

The baby in your belly is now covered in a protective coating called vernix caseosa. It is whitish, greasy, and made up of lanugo, oil produced in baby’s glands, and dead skin cells.

Your baby’s skin is very sensitive, and the vernix is there to protect your baby’s skin from the surrounding amniotic fluid. While on the topic of the skin, your baby’s fingers and toes have now formed permanent and unique distinct patterns, which are the baby’s fingertips.

At nineteen weeks pregnant, your baby’s sensory development is exploding. The baby’s brain is designating areas for smell, taste, touch, hearing, and vision. You are also very likely to feel the baby’s movements during week nineteen.

You will be able to feel the baby moving, as well as see the baby during your mid-pregnancy ultrasound in the coming weeks.

Pregnancy Checklist During Week Nineteen

Some essential items you need to check off your pregnancy to-do list during the week nineteen in order to prepare for the baby’s arrival are going to include:

Ask about yeast infections

Unfortunately, pregnant women are especially likely to have yeast infections during pregnancy, thanks in part to higher estrogen levels that cause yeast to get out of control.

If that was not enough bad news, another one is that yeast infections are harder to control during your pregnancy journey.

If you notice any signs of the yeast infection incoming, make sure to advise your healthcare provider regarding the best and most effective treatment option.

Think about childcare

If you know that you will need regular care for your baby, now is the perfect time to start looking around for the perfect childcare option for your situation.

You can search for recommendations online, as well as ask your parents’ friends; they will know firsthand.

Putting your name on waiting lists is brilliant if you live in an area where daycare centers are in demand.

Connect with other parents around you

Connecting with other expecting couples can be very helpful, especially if you are worried and stressed out about what is to come once the baby arrives into your life.

Joining an in-person mom’s group, going to a prenatal yoga class, or joining an online group can help you build relationships with other parents and parents-to-be and ease the transition into parenthood.

What To Avoid or Begin to Avoid?

Being pregnant means staying away from harmful things and activities to protect you and the baby inside of you. During week nineteen, make sure to stay away from:

  • Smoking, drinking alcohol, drugs, and being exposed to toxic substances.
  • Sleeping on your tummy.
  • Performing demanding workouts and carrying heavyweight.
  • Drinking an excessive amount of caffeine and carbonated drinks.
  • Getting tattooed as it poses a risk of infection.
  • Touching kitty litter or cat feces.
  • Eating junk food, deli meats, raw or undercooked meat, fish, chicken, eggs, cheeses from unpasteurized milk, unpasteurized dairy foods, high mercury fish, and unwashed fruits and vegetables.
  • Having close contact with anyone with rubella, chickenpox, or the Zika virus.
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