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Welcome to week 19, Mom. You’ve already made it through almost half of your pregnancy! Here’s what’s happening this week.
How Big is Baby?
Getting bigger by the day! Baby is measuring 6 inches long this week, the length of a standard toothbrush.
What’s New with Baby?
Baby’s skin is now covered in a thick, cheesy white substance called vernix caseosa. It sounds a bit strange, but it’s very important—this substance protects baby’s delicate skin, keeping it from becoming wrinkled by amniotic fluid. Think of it like a little wetsuit of sorts. Also new this week: Bronchioles. These are the main airways in your baby’s lungs.
What’s New with Mom?
As your bump really gets growing you might be feeling some aches and pains around this time. Backaches and swollen feet can be common at week 19, as well as bleeding gums and nasal congestion.
Fun Fact
How’s this for amazing: If you’re having a baby girl, she already has 6 million eggs formed in her ovaries at this stage. Most will gradually fade away, and she’ll have about 1 million left at birth.
What to Know About Skin Changes in Pregnancy
You’ve heard of the pregnancy “glow,” and indeed, some women are positively radiant when expecting. But for others, all those hormones can wreak havoc on the skin—or at least bring about some puzzling changes.
If you find yourself with dark spots, bumps or stretch marks, you’re in good company, Mom. Nearly all women—90% in fact—will experience skin changes during pregnancy. These are normal, physiological changes and while some are welcome (thicker, fuller hair due to a prolonged growing phase, for instance), others are not so exciting.
Changes in skin pigmentation, changes in blood vessels such as varicose veins or leg swelling, and stretch marks are all common. But so are thicker, longer nails. “Some women may have worsening of skin conditions they already have, while others may actually see improvement,” says Dr. Melissa Mauskar, a dermatologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Melissa Mauskar, M.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Dermatology and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in inpatient dermatology including vulvar dermatology and lichen sclerosus.
Here are a few of the most common skin changes you might notice:
Melasma: Often called “the mask of pregnancy,” melasma is dark patches or spots, most often on the cheeks, chin, nose bridge, forehead, and above the upper lip. Genetics can make you more prone to developing melasma, as well as UV and visible light exposure and the increased hormones in pregnancy.
What can you do about it? “The most important prevention and treatment for melasma is vigilant application of sunscreen,” says Mauskar. “What does vigilant mean? I counsel patients to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher. This should be applied every morning to the face, hands and neck, and reapplied every two to three hours while outdoors. There are several different types of sunscreens, ones containing iron oxide (also used as a pigment in tinted sunscreens) are best for blocking visible light.”
For some, melasma will fade a few months after pregnancy. For others, over-the-counter treatments or prescription topical treatments can help.
Linea nigra: This is a dark line that develops from your belly button to your pubic area. “Like melasma, this develops in some women from an increased stimulation of melanocytes by estrogen,” says Mauskar. “It will often fade without treatment several months after pregnancy.”
Stretch marks: More than 60% of women will develop stretch marks during pregnancy, most often in the third trimester. Hormones, weight gain, genetics and the mechanics of the skin are the driving factors for these scar-like lines. They usually first develop as pink or purple depressed lines, then the color fades over time.
“It can be frustrating if you develop these marks, however many women look at these as a reminder of the amazing ability our bodies have to create a human!” says Mauskar.
You can slather your belly in all the olive oil or creams you want, but there’s no real evidence that topical agents can prevent stretch marks (despite the marketing claims.) But younger women and those with a lower pre-pregnancy weight may be less likely to develop them.
Acne: You may look in the mirror and feel like you’re living your teen years all over again. “Acne is very common in pregnancy,” says Mauskar.
To zap the zits, try over-the-counter face washes and creams that contain benzoyl peroxide. “This is great if you have pustules, or white heads,” says Mauskar. “It can be very drying but is great for acne on the back and chest. Usually using this every other day is good.”
If your acne is particularly severe, talk to a dermatologist about other treatment options.
Itchy skin: With the way your skin must stretch to accommodate an entire human, it’s no wonder it might itch. Some moisturizer should help; cooling lotions with menthol work quite well. But pay attention for signs of something more serious. “When this primarily involves your hands and feet, cannot be controlled with moisturizing lotion, or if it affects your sleep or interrupts normal daily activities it can be a more concerning sign that you should discuss with your OB,” Mauskar advises.
Keep in mind, this all doesn’t end at birth. A few months postpartum, be prepared for another change—hair loss.
“Approximately three months after pregnancy, all the new thick scalp hair sheds. This is 100% normal,” says Mauskar. “In the shower, many new moms notice thick fists full of hair coming out and become quite concerned. However usually the shedding stops in one-to-five months. Although you will feel that all of your hair will fall out, rest assured it will not. The hair follicle is very much intact and will grow a new hair follicle with time.”
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This blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice or professional services. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
The above article was written by DFWChild editor Amanda Collins Bernier with information provided by UT Southwestern Medical Center as part of their sponsored content.
