Baby’s on the grow this week, mama! S/he’s also developing a protective, lotion-y layer to keep in the warmth. Read on to learn more about what to expect from your little one and your body--did someone say leg cramps?--during the nineteenth week of pregnancy.
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Baby on the Grow
![a 19 week old fetus]()
One mini growth spurt, and your baby has positively plumped up! He or she is now a half pound in weight and 6 inches in length. Have you felt any flutters or kicks yet? If so, it's exciting to know that those movements are now coming from arms and legs that are finally proportionate and also more coordinated thanks to neuron development in the brain and cartilage that's changing to bone.
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Wrapped in White
![a newborn baby wrapped in a blanket]()
To protect baby's sweet, sensitive skin and prevent it from looking totally raisin-like at birth, your baby is now covered with a greasy, white protective coating known as vernix caseosa (translated directly from in Latin, this means "varnish cheese"). It's a mix of that fuzzy lanugo hair, oil from baby's skin, and dead skin cells—not the most pleasant-sounding moisturizer, but hey, it gets the job done. Babies shed most of it at birth, but you might see a little residual.
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Worst. Leg. Cramps. Ever
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Is nighttime turning into a nightmare of leg cramps and aching hips? One thing's for sure: It can be hard to sleep during pregnancy. No one knows exactly what causes those agonizing charley horse-like cramps in a pregnant woman’s calves come bedtime. Do try the standard prescription for cramps, it might help: stretch, drink a lot of water, and increase your potassium and calcium intake. If it’s aching hips that are keeping you up, try sleeping with a pillow between your legs. Or give up on rest for the time being and take advantage of your probably-raging libido. Some women say the best sex of their lives happened in their second trimester.
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Tip: Say No to the 3D/4D Ultrasounds
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Considering a trip to the 3-D ultrasound imaging shop at the mall? While those detailed images of your baby are tempting, they might not be all that safe for you or your little one. Rather than risk it, it's best to pass on these not-medically-necessary scans, says the Food and Drug Administration. We promise you will see your sweet baby soon enough!