19 Weeks Pregnant

Key Takeaways

• Prenatal testing: If your provider has suggested an amniocentesis, it’ll probably happen in the next week or so (if it hasn’t already). During this procedure, a doctor will use ultrasound to guide a needle and extract a small amount of amniotic fluid. This is used for diagnosing genetic disorders.
• Baby’s development: Your mid-pregnancy ultrasound (aka anatomy scan) should be scheduled for the next week or so. Make sure you decide if you want to find out baby’s sex—if you haven’t already through non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) or other testing.
• Symptoms: As you get closer to the second half of pregnancy, you may feel increased back, hip, leg and stomach pain as your body accommodates a growing baby and uterus.
• Pregnancy sleep: You should be sleeping on your side at this point in the game to allow for optimal blood flow to baby. (Back sleeping can suppress blood flow to the vena cava, a major vein that carries blood to the heart—and baby.) To keep yourself comfy, you might consider investing in a maternity pillow!

During the mid-pregnancy ultrasound, you’ll see all of baby’s body—inside and out—and you’ll be amazed at all the development going on at week 19 of pregnancy. FYI, this can be a lengthy appointment. As excited as you are, baby isn’t particularly fazed and may not cooperate. This happened with my first! He didn’t feel like putting on a show during my 20-week scan and made the ultrasound tech (and me!) work hard for our angles and anatomical checks. I had to get up, walk around, get a drink of water and try again! Guess what? He’s still just as stubborn today!

Video Highlights at 19 Weeks

Baby at Week 19

What's baby up to at 19 weeks in the womb? At 19 weeks, baby is working on their five senses. Yep, nerve cells for their sense of taste, hearing, sight and smell are all developing in baby's brain. A 19-week fetus has already learned to suck and now has added swallowing to their bag of tricks. (While they’ve been swallowing amniotic fluid for a while now, this new type of swallowing is closer to what we think of when we drink something.) And, of course, baby is very busy moving around!

Baby begins developing brown fat right about now, which will keep their body warm when they leave the cozy confines of your womb. Like white fat—the most plentiful kind found in your body—brown fat stores energy. But it takes up less volume and serves a number of other purposes, including regulating your metabolism and insulin levels. Brown fat gets activated when you’re in cool temperatures, helping the body to burn calories (in the form of sugar and fat) before you actually feel cool.

Already picturing your child’s toothy smile? Baby’s getting ready for their first close-up too. By week 19, adult teeth are beginning to form. When baby is born, all 20 of their baby teeth—and part of their permanent teeth—will be nestled under those nubby gums. Baby’s first tooth will come in between 6 and 12 months of age, while the first baby tooth will fall out at around 6 years of age. (All kids are different, so there’s no way to predict exactly when your little one will hit either of these milestones!)

How big is baby at 19 weeks?

Baby is as big as a pomegranate at 19 weeks of pregnancy. They measure an average of 9.5 inches and weigh an average of 9.6 ounces, getting bigger every day!

What does baby look like in the womb at 19 weeks?

Your 19-week fetus is developing a protective coating over their skin called vernix caseosa. It's greasy and white, and you may see some of it at birth. Baby also has lanugo, a downy dusting of hair all over the body, and hair is coming in on their head too. At the next ultrasound, you’ll see baby’s nose, ears and lips—how exciting! (And your doctor will likely be able to tell you if you’re having a boy or a girl—doubly exciting!)

On that note, if you’re carrying a baby girl, her vagina and cervix are taking shape. Until about week 10 of pregnancy, sex organs are the same whether baby will be born with male or female parts. All babies start out with the same pair of urogenital “ridges,” which will eventually differentiate to become distinct boy or girl reproductive organs. Baby’s sex is determined by their genes. For baby girls, two X chromosomes tell the body to build a uterus and vagina. For baby boys, a Y chromosome directs the body to create testes, which pump out hormones to form the penis and other parts of the male anatomy.

19 weeks pregnant is how many months?

Nineteen weeks pregnant is four months pregnant, but remember, doctors track your progress through pregnancy by week, not month. In another week, you’ll be halfway through. Can you believe it?!

19 week ultrasound

At your mid-pregnancy ultrasound, which is coming up very soon, the technician will scan pretty much all of baby’s body—including the brain, spine and heart—to make sure everything’s developing properly. It’s so cool to see all that up close! And, if you want to know baby’s sex and didn’t find out earlier, the technician will probably be able to tell you. Don’t leave without getting some printouts from the scan to take home with you and show off.

Of course, going in for your ultrasound isn’t the only thing you should be planning ahead for around week 19 of pregnancy; you should also probably start the search for a pediatrician. Start by asking some family and friends for recommendations and then make a few appointments to meet with the staff. Ask a lot of questions to find out which doctor you most jive with. It’s important to find someone you trust, since you’ll be seeing a whole lot of each other in baby’s first year.

Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 19

Normal 19 weeks pregnant symptoms aren’t severe—they’re more like annoyances. Of course, that doesn’t mean that dealing with them is easy. These are a few of the not-so-fun symptoms you may be feeling at 19 weeks:

Abdominal aches and pains

Round ligament pain is that discomfort in your lower 19-week pregnant belly. It’s caused by your muscles stretching to accommodate baby. Let your OB know if any ache or pain concerns you, but as long it’s not intense or accompanied by other symptoms, these are likely just growing pains.

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Feeling faint? We’ve been witness to more than one pregnant woman passing out. If it happens to you, know you’re not alone. Dizziness during pregnancy can happen because your growing uterus puts pressure on your blood vessels. Plus, baby is crowding your lungs, so there’s less oxygen for you! But there are other things that contribute to lightheadedness, including dehydration and hunger, so take care of yourself and eat and drink water regularly.

Leg cramps

Ugh—we feel your pain! One way to ease these ouchies: stretching. Extend your leg and flex your ankle and toes toward your knees. (Some prenatal yoga might help too.) Or enlist your partner for a calf (and back!) massage.

Hip pain

If hip pain bothers you at night, try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees. Those giant body pillows might seem dorky, but we can’t sing the praises of them enough—especially if you’re 19 weeks pregnant with twins. Cave in and get one.

Your Pregnant Belly at 19 Weeks

At 19 weeks pregnant, weight gain might start to become more noticeable, since you’ve probably put on between 8 and 14 pounds so far—that’s totally normal. During a typical pregnancy, women should gain about 1 to 5 pounds in the first trimester, then add half a pound to 1 pound a week in the second trimester. If your weight gain to date is higher or lower than that, talk to your doctor about whether or not it’s cause for concern.

Can you feel baby move at 19 weeks pregnant?

Whoa! Did you feel that? There’s nothing like feeling your baby kick for the first time! That special moment, called the quickening, usually takes place sometime between weeks 16 and 22. With baby at 19 weeks, you’re definitely ready to feel some fluttering, if you haven’t already! It won’t be time yet for your partner or anyone else to feel those kicks, so savor this bonding time between you and baby.

Tips for 19 Weeks Pregnant

You’re almost at the halfway point. Here’s what you can do to prioritize your health and wellness in this exciting stage of pregnancy.

Baby your belly

Ease round ligament pain in your 19 week pregnant belly by applying warm compresses, resting when you can and gently stretching with cat-cow poses. If you experience pain that doesn’t go away or makes it difficult to get through your day, talk with your doctor to rule out other causes.

Take things slow

You’re almost at the halfway point of your pregnancy, so you may be trying to get a lot done before baby comes. But rushing around can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness. Move slowly if you feel tired or out of sorts, especially when you're standing up from a seated or prone position. Everything will get done, so take it easy!

Add superfoods to your diet

Eating well throughout pregnancy is key for both you and baby. Incorporate nutrient-packed foods into your meals, including eggs, salmon, leafy greens, nuts, yogurt and oatmeal. They’re nutritious and delicious!

Strike a pose

Prenatal yoga is a great antidote for pain from leg cramps, backaches and hip issues. Don’t try it without clearing it with your doctor first, though, and make sure you find a prenatal class with modified poses for pregnant women.

Wins, Challenges and Wisdom

You’re almost at the midpoint of pregnancy—congratulations! As you start to prep for birth and baby’s arrival, don’t forget to take some time to really celebrate all the milestones along the way, like learning baby’s sex and feeling them kick for the first time. To help you along, real moms from The Bump community share their tips and words of advice.

• Win: “I felt her move for the first time around 19 weeks. It was a weird flutter, like a goldfish was flopping around below my belly button. It was faint, but noticeable… They move around all the time, we just don't always feel it that early on. Once you feel baby actually kick or punch you the first time, you'll know it!” - Linds1027

• Challenge: “I'm 19 weeks pregnant… My main concern is I'm not really showing. And every time I think I'm showing, it's just gas and then it goes down. What does this mean?! I'm trying not to get too concerned, but for my friends at 18 or 19 weeks you could definitely tell that they were pregnant.” - marionleigh313

• Wisdom: “You are strong… Surround yourself with friends and family who care and support you. Baby is going to be the center of your world—start enjoying them and enjoying yourself. You only go through your first pregnancy once.” - shortybob