The size of the fetus at 17 weeks of gestation is around 13 centimeters in length and weighs approximately 140 grams. Therefore, at this stage of pregnancy, the size of the fetus is similar to that of a pear.
Some of the fetal changes that take place in week 17 of pregnancy are as follows:
- Hardening of the skeleton.
- Accumulation of adipose tissue.
- Appearance of hair on the eyelashes and lip.
- Active movement inside the uterus.
In addition, vernix caseosa may also appear during this week of pregnancy, and it may even be possible to determine the sex of the baby in week 17 of gestation.
Read the full article on: Week 17 of pregnancy: What changes in the woman and the fetus? ( 51).
By Silvia Azaña Gutiérrez B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist) and Cristina Algarra Goosman B.Sc., M.Sc. (psychologist).
Last Update: 09/15/2025
