17 weeks pregnant: bubbles, flutters and first choices
The week some people first notice a flutter and wonder if it was wind. Here is what to look for and what to start thinking about.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
At 17 weeks your baby is about 12cm long from head to bottom, can move their eyes behind closed lids and react to loud noises. You might feel a first flutter, though many people notice movements between 18 and 24 weeks. This week, start looking at where you would like to give birth: hospital, birth centre or home.
Where you are at 17 weeks
Cleveland Clinic counts weeks 17 to 20 as month five. Your waist is starting to disappear as your womb rises out of the pelvis, so you may look more obviously pregnant from now (NHS). Find your exact day with the pregnancy week calculator, or check your date with the due date calculator.
Your baby this week
The NHS gives a length of around 12cm from head to bottom and compares it to a pomegranate. Your baby can:
- move their eyes, though the lids stay shut for now
- react to loud noises
- open and close their mouth
Fingernails are starting to grow, and fingerprints are unique, even between identical twins (NHS). Cleveland Clinic adds that your baby starts to put on fat this week, and the skin is covered with a whitish coating called vernix.
The placenta grows too. By the end of pregnancy the NHS says it will weigh around 500g, feeding your baby and removing waste.
First movements
Many people first notice their baby moving between 18 and 24 weeks, and the NHS movements page gives 16 to 24 weeks, adding that in a first pregnancy you might not feel anything until after 20 weeks. Early movements feel like:
- bubbling
- fluttering
- rolling
You might notice more movement after a meal, while relaxing, when music is playing or when you rub your tummy and talk (NHS week 17 guide). There is no need to count anything yet; just notice.
Your body and common symptoms
Stretch marks. Depending on your skin colour, they can look pink, red, purple or brown, on your tummy, breasts, bottom or thighs. The NHS says they affect up to 8 in 10 women, are caused by hormones and stretching, and usually fade to silver after the birth.
Feelings. Around 1 in 5 women feel stressed or anxious in pregnancy, and hormones can make small problems feel overwhelming (NHS). Saying it out loud to your midwife or doctor is a good first step; support is there.
Other symptoms the NHS lists now: tiredness and sleep problems, sore or bleeding gums, bloating and constipation, heartburn and vaginal infections. If they stop being manageable, tell your midwife or doctor.
As your shape changes, clothes start to pinch: our maternity clothes sizing guide explains how sizes work.
Is this normal? When to call
Not feeling movements yet, feeling more emotional, and new marks on your skin are all normal at 17 weeks.
Call your midwife, GP or OB-GYN straight away for vaginal bleeding, fluid leaking, severe or lasting tummy pain, a temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above, or feeling so low or anxious that daily life is hard. In the UK, under 20 weeks your early pregnancy unit or maternity unit can help; call NHS 111 if you cannot reach them and 999 in an emergency. In the US, call your provider, or 911 in an emergency.
Appointments and tests around 17 weeks
- US: ACOG says you should have at least one standard ultrasound exam, usually at 18 to 22 weeks. Ask your practice when yours is booked.
- UK: The 20-week screening scan is usually done between 18 and 21 weeks. Depending on your area, you may get a letter, need to call the hospital, or book in an app. If you are between 18 and 23 weeks and have not had it, tell your midwife or GP (NHS).
Where to give birth
The NHS suggests deciding where you would like to give birth around now, and reminds you that you can change your mind later. In England the options include a hospital labour ward, a midwife-led unit (birth centre) or home. In the US, ask your OB-GYN or midwife which hospitals or birth centres they deliver at, and check what your insurance covers.
Your checklist for week 17
For your partner
Lay a hand on the bump in quiet moments over the coming weeks: outside kicks come later, but the conversation about where to give birth can start now.
Previous and next week
Week 16: the 16-week check · Week 18: the anomaly scan approaches
Read the full second trimester guide or see all pregnancy weeks.
Questions parents ask
What do first baby movements feel like?
The NHS describes bubbling, fluttering or rolling, and later kicks and jerky movements. They are easy to mistake for wind at first.
How many months is 17 weeks pregnant?
Cleveland Clinic groups weeks 17 to 20 as month five, so 17 weeks is the start of the fifth month.
Can stretch marks be prevented?
The NHS explains that stretch marks are caused by hormones and skin stretching and affect up to 8 in 10 women. They usually fade to silver after the birth. The NHS pages used here do not name a product proven to prevent them.
Sources
- NHS — Week-by-week guide to pregnancy, week 17 checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — Your baby's movements checked October 13, 2026
- Cleveland Clinic — Fetal Development, week-by-week stages checked October 13, 2026
- ACOG — How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy checked October 13, 2026
- ACOG — Ultrasound Exams checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — 20-week screening scan checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.