Second Trimester · Week 17
17 Weeks Pregnant: Building fat stores
Baby development
Your baby at 17 weeks
Fat stores are beginning to develop under your baby's skin, which will matter more and more later in pregnancy. This is one of the quiet foundation-building weeks that helps your baby prepare for life outside the womb.
Your body this week
What you might be feeling at 17 weeks
You might start feeling flutters — tiny butterfly-like movements that are easy to miss, especially in a first pregnancy. Your belly is growing, and you might need maternity clothes soon. The wait for the anatomy scan can create anxiety, but you're getting closer every day.
From Shelbi
Shelbi Kohler · mother of seven · certified birth doula
If you haven't felt your baby yet, you might start feeling something this week. With my first, the movement felt like butterflies — tiny flutters that I almost dismissed as gas. By my fourth, I knew exactly what those little taps were. This is also the week where the anxiety can shift: instead of worrying about miscarriage, you might start worrying about the anatomy scan. I sat with a doula client last year who was terrified of her 20-week scan. She called me afterward, sobbing with relief. The odds are very much in your favor.
For you
This week is about getting through it
Scroll up to revisit your baby's development and Shelbi's encouragement for week 17. When you're ready, share this week with your partner.
Share this week
Save and share your week 17 card
Download a beautifully designed card with this week's illustration to share with family, friends, or on social media.
Card is 1080×1080 — save the image to share via iMessage, Instagram, or Facebook.
Common questions
17 weeks pregnant: your questions answered
What should I expect at 17 weeks pregnant? +
You might start feeling flutters — tiny butterfly-like movements that are easy to miss, especially in a first pregnancy. Your belly is growing, and yo...
Is my baby moving normally at 17 weeks? +
Movement patterns vary. If you notice a significant decrease in movement, contact your provider. When in doubt, always call.
Follow every week in the free app
Weekly baby updates, your birth plan, and doula-backed guidance — all free, all in one place.
Download the True Joy Birthing app