Pregnancy week 19

Feeling my baby's kicks through the baby bump is a magical moment for me and my partner, and it starts this week. Naturally at this stage I am bigger and feeling a bit less comfortable.

week 19

Not only is my baby bump growing, but there are other pregnancy symptoms popping up all over my body around this time.

• Hormones are loosening my joints and ligaments
• I start getting leg cramps as my body adjusts
• Gentle stretching and sitting down throughout the day can help

Me at week 19

Pregnancy symptoms in week 19 include lots of little aches and pains. As well as muscle pain in my lower back and round ligament pain in my lower tummy, this week I also got leg cramps. These feel like spasms up and down my calves, and although no-one's a hundred per cent sure what causes them, it's probably due to me carrying that heavy bump around. To get rid of the cramp, I stretch my leg out and gently flex my foot. On the plus side, this week I might feel my baby kick for the first time!

My baby at week 19

It’s all going inside my womb right now! My baby's senses are getting better, and they can taste the amniotic fluid. The flavour changes depending on what I eat, so if I munch plenty of broccoli while I’m pregnant I might find my baby has a taste for it when weaning time comes along. My baby's hearing is getting better too, so don't be shy about chatting (or singing!) to your bump. They are also covered in a waxy substance called vernix caseosa, to protect their delicate skin from the amniotic fluid.

Things to do in week 19

If you didn't have your anomaly scan last week, it'll be scheduled in for this week or next. This is just to check that the baby's developing as expected, and you might even get to find out if they're a boy or a girl!