Your pregnancy week-by-week: Week 19

Your pregnancy week by week | Your pregnancy in week 19

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'Eating little snacks of cheese and yogurt throughout the day helped because it kept my blood sugar level stable. It also meant I had fewer mood swings.' Tracey Birch

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You are now 19 weeks pregnant or in your 20th week if that's how you're counting it

How is my baby growing?

Your baby now weighs 10 oz and is 23cm long. Vernix (a white cheesy substance) begins to form on its skin to protect it from the amniotic fluid and stop it coming out like a wrinkled prune!

Your baby's reproductive organs are developing too and a penis may be quite easy to see in next week's anomaly scan. Make sure you tell the nurse if you don't want to know the sex.

How are you feeling?

Heartburn can be quite severe now as the uterus pushes up against the stomach, but it will ease off considerably next month when the baby 'drops'.

Meanwhile, avoid spicy foods, ask your midwife which antacids (indigestion tablets) are safe to take and sleep with an extra pillow to keep you propped up.

Top tips

Pregnancy hormones can cause severe mood swings, but so can your diet. Make sure you're eating plenty energy rich foods.

Snacks such as a bowl of cereal, a banana smoothie, a handful of dried fruit or a piece of malt loaf will keep your blood sugar levels constant - and your mood sweet! Go to eatwell.gov.uk for more ideas.