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​Pregnancy Week 17: Can You Feel Baby Kicking?
Pregnancy Week 17: Can You Feel Baby Kicking?

Pregnancy week 17 ​is when your baby begins to respond to external stimuli. This may cause your baby to move, which allows you to feel your baby's kicks. 

​Getting hairy

At pregnancy week 17, fine hair called lanugo is beginning to grow and coat your baby's entire body. These fine hairs will eventually shed close to term.

Legs now longer than arms

By now your baby's legs would have had some time to do some catch up growth. They should now be longer than its arms. 

Fat under skin

Also, big changes are taking place to your baby's skin at week 17. Layers of fat are gradually being deposited underneath its skin. It will be essential in helping your child maintain the body temperature after birth.

Feeling baby’s kicks

At pregnancy week 17, your baby is starting to respond to external stimuli. Loud noises on the outside could startle your baby and cause it to move. From next week onwards, the magic truly begins. It is then that its little twists and turns translate into actual kicks felt by you.

Ref: M19

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