19 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Development, Symptoms and Tips
Short Answer: At 19 week pregnancy, your baby is about 15 cm long, roughly the size of a mango, and weighs around 240 grams. The senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight are developing in the brain, a thick white coating called vernix is protecting the skin and your baby is moving a lot. You may feel more kicks and flutters, and your belly is round and growing. This is the week to make sure your anomaly scan is booked for the next one to three weeks, to check your blood pressure and hemoglobin, to plan calcium from week 20 and to protect your skin, teeth and back. Call a doctor for heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, fluid leaking or a severe headache with blurred vision.
Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period, not from conception. Nineteen weeks pregnant means about seventeen weeks since conception. You are in your fifth month with about 21 weeks to go, and you are nearly halfway. For the week before, read our guide to 18 weeks pregnant, for the next, 20 weeks pregnant, and to follow the whole journey see our pregnancy guidelines week by week.
Week 19 at a glance
| Detail | At 19 weeks |
|---|---|
| Trimester | Second |
| Months | About 4.5 |
| Baby’s length | About 15 cm (6 inches) |
| Baby’s weight | About 240 grams |
| Heart rate | About 120 to 160 beats per minute |
| Weeks to go | About 21 |
| Size comparison | A mango |
Your baby at 19 weeks
Senses. The brain is setting aside specific areas for each of the five senses. The nerve cells for smell, taste, hearing, vision and touch are linking up. This is why your baby reacts to your voice, a loud noise or pressure on your belly. Your baby can taste the flavours of the amniotic fluid, which change a little with what you eat.
Hearing. The ears are in their final position and hearing is improving. Your baby can probably hear your heartbeat, your voice, your digestion and loud sounds from outside, though everything is muffled by fluid and tissue.
Vernix. A thick, white, creamy coating called vernix caseosa covers the skin. It protects the delicate skin from the amniotic fluid and helps with temperature control and, later, with birth. You may see it on newborns.
Skin and hair. The skin is thin and see-through, but fat is building up underneath. Fine hair called lanugo covers the body. Hair on the head, eyebrows and eyelashes are growing. Fingerprints and toe prints have formed.
Fat. Your baby is laying down fat, including a special type called brown fat. Newborns use it to keep warm because they cannot shiver well.
Bones and teeth. The bones are hardening, especially the long bones in the arms and legs. Tooth buds for both the baby teeth and the permanent teeth are forming inside the gums. Your calcium intake helps, and so does your vitamin D.
Movement. Your baby is very active, with kicks, rolls, turns, hiccups, yawns and thumb-sucking. Sleep and wake cycles are starting, so you may notice your baby is busier at certain times, often when you lie down in the evening.
Genitals. In girls, the womb and fallopian tubes are formed, and the ovaries already contain millions of egg cells. In boys, the genitals are visible. The anomaly scan often shows the sex, if your baby is in a good position and you want to know.
Organs. The lungs have branching airways but no working air sacs yet. The kidneys make urine. The liver and pancreas work, and the gut is practising by swallowing fluid. The heart beats strongly, and a sonographer can see all four chambers.
Your body at 19 weeks
Womb. Your womb is about the size of a large melon, and the top sits about 1 cm below your navel. Next week it reaches the navel. A bump is visible for most people. If it is your first pregnancy, the bump may still be small, and your height, build and muscle tone all affect how you show.
Weight. A person of normal weight usually gains about 0.4 to 0.5 kg a week. Gain is not perfectly steady, and your doctor tracks yours at each visit.
Blood pressure. It often dips a little in the second trimester, which can cause dizziness. After about 20 weeks it can start to rise, so every visit includes a blood pressure check.
Energy and appetite. Most people feel well, with good energy and appetite. You need about 300 extra calories a day. You do not need to eat for two.
Breathing. The womb pushes up and your hormones make you breathe deeper. Mild breathlessness is common. Call a doctor if it is sudden, severe or comes with chest pain.
Senses and mood. Smells may still seem strong. Mood swings, vivid dreams and forgetfulness are common and usually ease with rest and a routine.
Ligaments and joints. The hormone relaxin loosens your joints and ligaments to prepare for birth. That can cause aches in the back, hips and pelvis, and you may feel less steady on your feet.
Common symptoms and what helps
| Symptom | Why it happens | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Backache | Growing womb, loosening joints, posture | Flat supportive shoes, good posture, side-sleeping with a pillow, gentle stretches |
| Round ligament pain, a sharp pull in the lower belly or groin | Ligaments stretch as the womb grows | Move slowly, rest, warm bath |
| Leg cramps, mostly at night | Circulation and mineral changes | Calf stretches before bed, drink water, ask about calcium |
| Stuffy nose, nosebleeds | More blood flow to the nose lining | Saline spray, a humidifier, lean forward and pinch the nose for a bleed |
| Bleeding gums | More blood flow to the gums | Soft brush, gentle flossing, dental check |
| Headaches | Hormones, tiredness, dehydration | Rest, fluids, ask your doctor before taking medicine |
| Dizziness | Blood pressure changes, low blood sugar | Eat regularly, stand up slowly |
| Heartburn | Relaxed valve at the top of the stomach | Smaller meals, avoid spicy and oily food, stay upright after eating |
| Constipation | Slow gut, iron tablets | Fibre, water, daily movement |
| Increased vaginal discharge | Hormones | Cotton underwear, no douching |
| Itchy, stretching belly skin | Skin stretching | Moisturiser, loose cotton clothes |
| Swollen feet and ankles | Fluid retention | Raise your feet, avoid long standing |
| Hip and pelvic pain | Loosening joints, sleeping position | Pillow between knees, change position often |
| Mild breathlessness | Growing womb, hormones | Rest, good posture |
| Clumsiness | Shifting centre of gravity, loose joints | Slow down, avoid heels, hold stair rails |
Do not take any medicine, including painkillers and herbal products, without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Paracetamol at the recommended dose is generally considered safe. Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin and diclofenac unless your doctor prescribes them.
When to call a doctor
| Usually normal | Call a doctor soon |
|---|---|
| Short, sharp pulls in the lower belly | Severe or constant abdominal pain |
| Mild cramps after activity that settle with rest | Bleeding that soaks a pad in an hour, or with clots |
| Milky white discharge | Watery fluid leaking, or foul, itchy or coloured discharge |
| Occasional headache | Severe headache with blurred vision, flashing lights or upper belly pain |
| Tiredness, mood swings | Fainting, chest pain or sudden breathlessness |
| Mild swelling of feet late in the day | Sudden swelling of the face and hands |
| Occasional nosebleed | Any fever, burning urination or pain in one calf |
From about 20 weeks, a severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling and pain under the ribs can be signs of pre-eclampsia, a serious blood pressure condition that needs urgent care. Call straight away for fluid leaking from the vagina, regular tightening of the belly that does not stop or any fever. In Bangladesh, a fever can also mean dengue, so do not treat it at home. If you feel sad, anxious or hopeless for more than two weeks, tell your doctor. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, seek help right away.
Your anomaly scan and what comes after
If you have not had the anomaly scan, book it for the next one to three weeks. The usual window is 18 to 22 weeks. It checks your baby’s brain, face, spine, heart, stomach, kidneys, limbs and the umbilical cord, as well as the position of the placenta and the amount of amniotic fluid. It takes 20 to 40 minutes. If the sonographer cannot see everything, you may be asked to come back for another look, which is common and not always a cause for worry. If you do not want to know the baby’s sex, tell the sonographer before the scan starts.
Here is what comes next in your care.
| Test or step | When | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Anomaly scan | 18 to 22 weeks | Detailed check of your baby’s organs and growth |
| Hemoglobin check | Every trimester, or as advised | Looks for anaemia |
| Blood pressure and urine check | Every visit | Screens for pre-eclampsia and infection |
| Glucose test | 24 to 28 weeks | Screens for gestational diabetes |
| Anti-D injection | About 28 weeks, if you are Rh negative | Protects future pregnancies |
| Whooping cough vaccine | About 27 to 36 weeks | Protects your newborn |
| Tetanus-diphtheria vaccine | During pregnancy, as your doctor advises | Protects you and your baby |
| Growth scan | Later, if advised | Checks the baby’s size and fluid |
Ask your doctor about all of these, and about the cost, at your next visit.
Calcium, iron and food
Calcium. The World Health Organization advises calcium supplementation from about 20 weeks in places where people’s diets are low in calcium. Calcium helps your baby’s bones and teeth and helps reduce the risk of high blood pressure in pregnancy. Ask your doctor about a supplement and the right dose. Take it at a different time from iron, since they compete for absorption.
Iron. Keep taking iron-folic acid tablets as prescribed. Take iron away from tea, coffee and milk, and with something sour such as lemon, to help absorption.
Eat more of:
- Protein: eggs, well-cooked fish, chicken, lentils (dal), beans and milk
- Iron-rich foods: leafy greens (shak), lean meat and lentils, with lemon or guava for vitamin C
- Calcium-rich foods: milk, yogurt, and small fish such as mola eaten with the bones
- Fruit and vegetables: a variety of colours every day
- Whole grains and fibre: brown rice, whole wheat roti and oats
- Healthy fats: well-cooked oily fish, nuts and seeds
- Water: about 8 to 10 glasses across the day
Limit: caffeine to about 200 mg a day, which is one or two cups of tea or a single small coffee, and sugary and fried snacks. Eating a lot of sweet food and drink raises the risk of gestational diabetes, so be careful with sweets, juice and soft drinks.
Avoid: alcohol, all tobacco (including zarda and jorda), raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs, unpasteurized milk and cheese, unwashed produce, large predatory fish such as shark and swordfish, high-dose vitamin A supplements, unripe papaya and herbal tonics your doctor has not approved.
Weight gain. Total gain over the whole pregnancy depends on your weight before pregnancy, and Asian-specific BMI ranges may apply, so ask your doctor.
| Weight before pregnancy | Recommended total gain |
|---|---|
| Underweight | 12.5 to 18 kg |
| Normal weight | 11.5 to 16 kg |
| Overweight | 7 to 11.5 kg |
| Obese | 5 to 9 kg |
Skin, hair and teeth
Skin. Pregnancy hormones can darken patches on the face (melasma) and a line down the belly (linea nigra). Sun makes melasma worse. Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, wear a hat and avoid peak sun hours. Moisturise your belly, breasts and thighs to ease itching. No cream can fully prevent stretch marks, which depend mostly on genetics and the speed of weight gain.
Skincare products. Avoid retinoids such as retinol and tretinoin, and high-dose salicylic acid. Safer choices for acne include azelaic acid and benzoyl peroxide in small amounts, but ask your doctor or dermatologist. Hair dye is considered low risk in the second trimester when used in a ventilated room.
Hair. Hair often looks thicker because less of it falls out. Most of it falls out a few months after the birth, which is normal.
Teeth and gums. Hormones make gums swell and bleed. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss gently and have a dental check. Dental treatment, including cleaning and fillings, is safe in pregnancy, and this trimester is the best time for it. Tell your dentist you are pregnant before any X-ray or medicine. Gum disease is linked to early birth, so do not skip it.
Back pain, sleep and exercise
Back pain. The womb grows forward and pulls on your lower back, while loosened joints add to the strain. Wear flat, supportive shoes, avoid standing for long periods and sit with your back supported. Lift by bending your knees, not your back. Gentle stretching, swimming and warm baths can help. A support belt can ease pain, so ask your doctor. Tell your doctor if the pain is severe, comes with fever or burning urination or spreads down your leg.
Sleep. Sleep on your side, ideally your left, with a pillow between your knees and another under your belly. After about 20 weeks, doctors advise against sleeping flat on your back. A long body pillow helps. Keep a regular bedtime and avoid screens at night.
Exercise. The standard advice for healthy pregnancies is about 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking on most days. Swimming, prenatal yoga, stationary cycling and pelvic floor exercises are good choices. You should be able to talk while you exercise. Avoid lying flat on your back during exercise, contact sports, heavy lifting and anything with a risk of falls. Stop and call your doctor if you have pain, bleeding, dizziness or trouble breathing.
Pelvic floor. Squeeze and lift the muscles you use to stop urine flow, hold for a few seconds and release. Do a few sets a day. Strong pelvic floor muscles help with bladder control during and after pregnancy.
Travel and daily life
Travel. The second trimester is the most comfortable time to travel. Check with your doctor first, carry your prenatal records, drink water and move around on long journeys. Avoid bumpy roads where you can, and wear your seat belt with the lap strap below the belly. Check the airline’s rules if you fly, since many ask for a doctor’s letter after 28 weeks.
Heat and dengue. Hot and humid weather can dehydrate you. Drink water through the day, wear loose cotton clothes and rest in the shade. Remove standing water around your home, use a mosquito net and a pregnancy-safe repellent and see a doctor straight away for any fever.
Work. Most people can keep working. Tell your doctor about night shifts, chemicals, heavy lifting or long standing. Take breaks to sit, eat and drink.
Sex. It is safe for most healthy pregnancies unless your doctor advises otherwise. Use comfortable positions as your belly grows.
Clothes. Switch to loose, comfortable clothes, a supportive wire-free bra and flat shoes. You do not need a full set of maternity wear.
Feelings. Many people feel closer to the baby once they feel movement or see the anomaly scan. If sadness or worry lasts for two weeks or more, tell your doctor. Partners can help by coming to appointments, sharing chores and listening.
Planning and preparing
- Maternity leave. Under Bangladesh’s labour law, working mothers in the private sector are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, eight before and eight after the birth. Government employees receive six months. Check your own contract and plan when to tell your employer.
- Place of birth. Choose a hospital or clinic with a qualified doctor or midwife, a way to handle emergencies and a blood supply. Ask what the delivery package covers and what an emergency would cost.
- Mode of delivery. Many births in Bangladesh are by C-section, and some are not medically needed. Ask your doctor when a C-section is recommended and what a vaginal birth involves.
- Money. Start a simple budget for prenatal care, delivery and baby costs.
- Classes. Ask about classes on labour, breathing, newborn care and breastfeeding.
- Support. Decide who will be with you and who will look after children or the home.
- Baby shopping. You do not need to buy anything yet. Make a list, and wait for sales, hand-me-downs and advice from other parents.
Checklist for this week
- Book your anomaly scan if you have not had it, and decide whether you want to know the sex
- Ask for a hemoglobin test and blood pressure check, and take iron-folic acid as prescribed
- Ask about calcium from week 20 and when to take it
- Ask about the glucose test, anti-D and the tetanus-diphtheria vaccine
- Learn the signs of pre-eclampsia and know who to call
- Use sunscreen, and book a dental check
- Keep a list of your medicines and share it with your doctor
- Cut caffeine, alcohol and tobacco
- Switch to side-sleeping and buy a long body pillow
- Save your doctor’s number and the nearest hospital’s emergency number
FAQ
How big is the baby at 19 weeks?
About 15 cm long and 240 grams, roughly the size of a mango. Sizes vary a little between babies.
Can I feel the baby move at 19 weeks?
Many people do. First-time mothers usually feel the first movement between 18 and 22 weeks. Movement is irregular at this stage, so do not worry if you feel it one day and not the next.
Can the baby hear at 19 weeks?
Yes, probably. Your baby can hear your heartbeat, your voice and loud sounds, though everything is muffled. Hearing keeps improving over the coming weeks.
What is vernix?
A thick, white, creamy coating that forms on your baby’s skin. It protects the skin from the amniotic fluid.
Should I have a bump at 19 weeks?
Most people do. First-time mothers may still look only slightly rounder. Both are normal.
Why do I feel dizzy at 19 weeks?
Blood pressure often dips in the second trimester. Stand up slowly and eat regularly. Call your doctor if you faint or feel dizzy with a headache or vision changes.
Is it safe to dye my hair at 19 weeks?
Most doctors consider hair dye low risk in the second trimester, particularly in a ventilated room. Ask your doctor if you are unsure.
Should I start calcium at 19 weeks?
Many doctors advise calcium from about 20 weeks. Ask your doctor about the right dose and time, and take it at a different time from iron.
Is it safe to exercise at 19 weeks?
Yes for most healthy pregnancies. Walking, swimming, gentle yoga and pelvic floor exercises are good. Avoid contact sports and heavy lifting.
Note: This article gives general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife. Every pregnancy is different. Call your doctor or go to a hospital if you have bleeding, severe pain, fever, fainting or any symptom that worries you.
