17 weeks pregnant

17 weeks feels like a bit of a milestone. Twin pregnancies ,on average, go between 34 to 37 weeks. If I fall within the average, I am now possibly at the half way point. Of course I would rather keep them in until 37 weeks, which would make 18 weeks 4 days the half way point.

Here is some of the update sent to me (based on a singleton pregnancy):

Your baby is now nearly 5.5 inches/ 13 centimetres long from crown to rump and weighs approximately 5 ounces/ 140 grams. Her skeleton is mostly rubbery cartilage, which will harden later. A protective substance called myelin slowly begins to wrap around the spinal cord.

You may be gaining weight rapidly at this point, even if you're not eating much. Experts say that the amount of weight you put on during pregnancy is dictated primarily by your genes, so don't necessarily blame yourself if the weight's accumulating faster than you'd like. Your baby's movements are felt as a gentle, fluttering sensation at first, but get stronger and more obvious as time passes. Some babies kick vigorously and often, others are quieter. And many seem most active at night!

If you've woken up from a really strange dream wondering what that was all about, you are in good company. Surging hormones, mixed feelings about your changing body, and anxiety about parenthood are all material for a vivid dream life.

Your growing uterus has shifted your centre of gravity and you've probably been feeling a bit off-kilter. Be careful and wear low-heeled shoes.

Here is an update from a twin site:

Twin Pregnancy Week 17
By week 17 your babies are capable of swallowing, blinking and sucking. They are very active and you may feel them more now.
Your babies ears start to pop out. Their necks are getting longer. Their eyes are still shut at this time. At this stage babies' heartbeats should be heard by a doppler.
Some of your antibodies are beginning to get transferred to your babies.
Mothers better relax and take it easy. For a twin pregnancy, if you carry to term, you are about half way there!