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You continue to gain weight at 19 weeks pregnant. Your pregnancy weight gain may be between 7 and 10 pounds at this point. As your uterus continues to rise above your belly button, you will notice that you don't have the grace or balance that you used to have.
That's because as your uterus expands during your pregnancy week by week, your center of gravity shifts upwards. If you aren't careful, you may have a hard time keeping upright. You may also trip and fall more easily.
Back Pain During Pregnancy
This change in your center of gravity will also change your posture. You may notice that you are leaning backwards more often. This puts more strain on your back muscles, and can lead to pregnancy backaches and back pain.
At pregnancy week 19, you can reduce your back pain by being more aware of your posture, bending and lifting properly, and by performing exercises to strengthen your back muscles.
To prevent or ease back pain at pregnancy week 19, you should also:
- Wear low-heeled (not flat) shoes that have good arch support.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects. Ask for help. Most people are more than willing to help a pregnant lady!
- If you have to stand for long periods of time, due to work commitments, place one foot on a box or stool. Alternate when you need to.
- Sleep on your side with a pregnancy pillow between your legs for support.
- Apply heat or cold to the area that hurts, or massage it. You may also want to ask your partner to give you a back massage.
When to Call the Doctor about Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common complaints of pregnant women. Usually, it is nothing to worry about. However, if you have severe pain or pain that lasts longer than two weeks, you should call your doctor or healthcare provider. Sometimes back pain is caused by other more serious problems. For example, back pain is a symptom of preterm labor.
If you have back pain that is accompanied with a fever, burning sensation when you urinate, or vaginal bleeding, call your healthcare provider immediately.
Dizziness During Pregnancy
Another common pregnancy symptom at 19 weeks pregnant is dizziness or light-headedness. Though you may have experienced this in the first trimester, some women continue to feel dizzy in their second and third trimesters. You might get dizzy when rising too quickly, or when you are lying on your back.
In the second trimester, lying on your back can cause you to feel dizzy, because your growing uterus compresses the inferior vena cava (a large vein that receives blood from your legs, pelvis, and abdomen and carries it to the heart), slowing down circulation to the legs.
In some cases, you may feel dizzy or light-headed at pregnancy week 19 because of low blood pressure (also called hypotension). Your doctor will check your blood pressure at your prenatal visits, so be sure to discuss any dizziness that you may have experienced at these prenatal visits.
To avoid any crashes, falls, or stumbles at 19 weeks pregnant due to dizziness or your shifting center of gravity, remember to take your time when sitting or standing up.
If you get dizzy to the point where you feel faint, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider.
Start a Baby Gift Registry
As you are struggling with these pregnancy symptoms this week, you may want to take it easy and relax. A good way to relax and keep busy is by starting an online baby gift registry for your friends! At 19 weeks pregnant, you won't actually be having a baby shower for several more months, but it's never too early to start shopping and dreaming of what baby wants and needs!
By 19 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs almost 8.5 ounces and is about half a foot long! Did you know that when your little one is born, he or she will have increased in size by 15 times? From this point of your pregnancy week and week on, your baby will simply grow, grow, and grow!
Your baby's identify is becoming more distinct this week. The pads on his or her fingers now have ridged patterns that will later become your baby's unique fingerprint!
At pregnancy week 19, your baby's eyes are still closed, but the eyes are making random movements underneath the eyelids. Your little one will not open his eyes for a few more weeks, around 26 or 28 weeks of pregnancy.
This week, fat is starting to cover your baby's body, but he or she still looks very skinny. Your baby continues to pack on the fat as your pregnancy week by week continues.
Around pregnancy at 19 weeks, your baby may start to hiccup. These hiccups are short, lasting less than a second, but they often occur in a rapid succession.
Doctors don't know why babies in the womb hiccup, but some theorize that it may be due to your little one's respiratory muscles preparing for breathing after birth. Others believe that it occurs after your baby swallows amniotic fluid and hiccups prevent the fluid from entering the lungs. Whatever the reason, hiccups are a very normal part of pregnancy.
The second trimester is often the best time to travel. You should be feeling better, (no more nausea or vomiting), and you aren't weighed down by a huge, bulging belly. At 19 weeks pregnant, you may want to take a vacation to spend some quality time with your partner or husband.
Traveling during pregnancy often poses no risk for a normal pregnancy. In the second trimester of pregnancy, you can choose any method of travel - air, car, and even sea travel. However, it's recommended that you talk to your healthcare provider before making any plans.
Tips for Traveling in Pregnancy
When you are traveling, you have to take certain precautions to ensure both you and your unborn baby's safety.
A few tips for travel during pregnancy at 19 weeks:
- Plan your trip carefully. Give yourself extra time to pack. Don't feel rushed or stressed when doing pre-vacation preparations. (Stress can have a negative impact on your baby, too!)
When packing your carry-on luggage for a flight during pregnancy week 19, try to pack light. You don't want to have to lug heavy bags with you, especially since your energy level may not be as high as it was pre-pregnancy.
- If by air, check with the airline before booking. Guidelines for pregnant women may differ with each airline. Although most airlines allow you to travel at 19 weeks pregnant, you should double-check your air carrier's guidelines to avoid any hassles.
- If by car, buckle up and take breaks. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of trauma in pregnant women, so you will want to buckle up with a shoulder-lap belt to protect you and your baby.
Frequent urination is also a complaint of many pregnant women at pregnancy week 19, so you will want to take lots of breaks to go to the restroom and to stretch your legs.
- When traveling abroad, keep hydrated. Drink lots of water when you are traveling. Keep bottled water handy. Say "no" to ice in foreign countries. Local ice tends to be made using tap water.
- If in the sun, don't forget the sunscreen. Your skin is more sensitive to ultraviolet rays during pregnancy, so you should lather your body in a high SPF sunscreen if you are going to be in the sun. You may also want to try to remain in shade, if possible.
Sun exposure may cause you to develop chloasma or melasma (more commonly called the mask of pregnancy.") Chloasma is dark, brown blotches that appear on sun-exposed areas of your face. To reduce your risk of these dark spots, you should protect your face from the sun at 19 weeks pregnant with a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
When is the Best Time to Travel?
According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the best time for a pregnant woman to travel is in the second trimester, between 14 weeks pregnant and 28 weeks pregnant. This is because a majority of common pregnancy emergencies occur in the first and third trimester.
During pregnancy week 19, if you plan to travel, make an appointment with your doctor for a prenatal check-up before you leave on your trip. Get the OK from your doctor that is safe for you to travel.
Read About Your Pregnancy Week by Week - 20 Weeks Pregnant
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