Your baby is now putting on extra weight along with you too. Your baby will continue to suck on the thumb for a long, long time to come. Wondering why? Well, your baby is just preparing for the real world. Your baby is also practicing how to breathe and in the process he is inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid. Your baby is now about five inches big and weighs about 150 grams and can easily fit into your palms. The heartbeats are now controlled and monitored by the brain and sweat glands are also developing. Tiny indents have appeared in the chest which marks the first sign of nipples. At week 17, 'Myelin' is slowly covering your baby's spinal cord. Myelin is a white and fatty substance which is important and responsible for speeding up messages that your baby's brain is conveying to the nerves in the body. But that is not all that myelin does. It also insulates and protects the nerves.

• This close-up shows the baby-to-be's tiny right hand.
• You can see each bone within the delicate fingers.

• Vivid dreams Strange dreams are rather common during pregnancy and can be attributed to many things.
• It could just be the hormones or it could just be that you are feeling anxious and stressed.
• The fact that you remember these dreams so vividly is because your body is whirlpool of emotions and feelings all rushing in together.
• Sudden allergies Since your nasal passage is not as clear as it used to be, you are susceptible to developing allergies with simple things like dust, smoke, pollen fungus etc.
• This is a common symptom of pregnancy.
• Try to stay in hygienic surroundings and wear a face mask, if required. Increased appetite You can SERIOUSLY eat: Yes, of course you have had a dreadful few weeks of food aversions but now it is starting to catch up on you again.
• The fact that you are perpetually hungry is because your baby is speaking out to you.
• Your growing baby needs all the nourishment and nutrients it can get to grow.
• Again, we would like to remind you to eat healthy food on time and never overdo the eating.
• Snoring So, by now you know how 'the hormone party inside your body' leads to a stuffed nose and general nasal congestion.
• Ergo, blocked nose = loads of snoring.

• You just ate food enough for a family only an hour ago and you are feeling hungry again - which has left you wondering if this is normal, even for pregnancy standards.
• Is everyone around telling you to eat for two?
• Well, we would like to remind you that you should eat right, healthy and on time.
• You may have to control your cravings a bit if the weighing scale is moving a tad faster than required.