Baby is now around the size of an avocado and it’s time to get ready for him to go through his first huge growth spurt.
In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and finally be bigger than the placenta that is keeping him alive . Your baby's head-to-body ratio is starting to even out, as the rest of his body - including his arms and legs play catch-up.
Sometimes, when you move suddenly, you may a feel a slight pain in your sides. Ligaments on each side of your uterus and pelvic walls are stretching as baby grows. By now, baby will be making your tummy look rounder and your waistline take on the shape of a Teletubby as he will be around 12cm.
He’ll also be an active little demon, turning somersaults and playing with his umbilical cord. Your baby now gets the hiccups, but since they have fluid instead of air in the trachea they don’t make any sound. He also likes to play, by pulling and tugging and squeezing on the umbilical cord. Although still too slight to be felt, your baby's movements can be seen during ultrasound exams, which you’ll no doubt be having soon to take a peek at your growing bundle.
Just like adults, all babies are different and develop at varying rates in the womb. This information gives a general idea of your baby's development and progress.
Physical changes
If you lie down, the top of your uterus (or fundus) can be felt about half-way between your pubic bone and belly button. It may be harder for you to bend over now to pick things up (or lift your toddler). Always, use your legs to bend to help protect your back.
Colostrum
You may notice colostrum leaking from your breasts, although this does not happen for every pregnant woman. The presence (or absence) of colostrum does not affect your ability to breastfeed your baby. Colostrum is the first fluid a woman's breasts produce. It is clear, or creamy-yellow, and syrupy in consistency. If you are leaking colostrum and it is becoming annoying, you may need to wear breast pads inside your bra.
Emotional reactions
You may be feeling a mixture of emotions. Common thoughts can include reflecting on how you were parented and how this may affect the way you will parent your own child. You may seek out other mothers, or feel you want to spend more time with your own mother. If your mother is no longer living this can bring up feelings of grief about not having this time with her now.
As the pregnancy progresses, partners may also experience a mixture of emotions. Most find it difficult to connect with the reality of their baby, perhaps until they see an ultrasound image or feel them move by touching the woman's belly (which may not happen until after 24 weeks or so).
It is natural for partners to feel very protective of the woman and their unborn baby, especially as the woman's belly grows.
Other considerations
Natural therapies
Osteopathy
The most common use of osteopathy is for neck and back pain. As with chiropractic, it is increasingly being used for small babies who may be irritable or unsettled after experiencing a difficult birth, referred to as cranial osteopathy, because it gently manipulates the bones in the baby's head.
What is my body doing at sixteen weeks pregnant?
By this point in your pregnancy, you should have the beginnings of a baby bump and should notice your body starting to change. It’s very normal to struggle with the weight gain that comes with pregnancy, but aim for around four pounds a month to keep your body and baby healthy. Now is the time to invest in a pregnancy wardrobe you feel good in!
As we mentioned last week, during this stage of pregnancy the mucous membranes in your nose also start to swell. This can leave you feeling pretty congested and even give you the odd nosebleed or too. If you’re really uncomfortable, ask your GP about pregnancy safe nasal sprays, or try nasal strips.
Pregnancy hormones can also increase pigmentation on your skin, which means you may notice certain areas of your body looking darker. Common examples of this are the areola around your nipple, and moles, freckles and birthmarks darkening. In most cases, pigmentation will disappear after birth, so isn’t anything to worry about.
Common symptoms to look out for:
Bra shopping! As your bump gets bigger, do not forget your boos. Thanks to those pregnancy hormones, your breasts could go up a few cup sizes and they’ll need adequate support. The right support will also stop droopiness later on, so if you ever needed the excuse to go bra shopping, it’s this! You’ll need to get properly measured and invest in comfy, breathable, non-wired bras – under wiring should be avoided as it can dig in and damage tender breast tissue.
Your week 16 FAQ’s answered:
What should my belly look like at 16 weeks?
By this stage, most women have started to show, yet this isn’t always the case and depends on the size of you and your baby.
In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and finally be bigger than the placenta that is keeping him alive . Your baby's head-to-body ratio is starting to even out, as the rest of his body - including his arms and legs play catch-up.
Sometimes, when you move suddenly, you may a feel a slight pain in your sides. Ligaments on each side of your uterus and pelvic walls are stretching as baby grows. By now, baby will be making your tummy look rounder and your waistline take on the shape of a Teletubby as he will be around 12cm.
He’ll also be an active little demon, turning somersaults and playing with his umbilical cord. Your baby now gets the hiccups, but since they have fluid instead of air in the trachea they don’t make any sound. He also likes to play, by pulling and tugging and squeezing on the umbilical cord. Although still too slight to be felt, your baby's movements can be seen during ultrasound exams, which you’ll no doubt be having soon to take a peek at your growing bundle.
Just like adults, all babies are different and develop at varying rates in the womb. This information gives a general idea of your baby's development and progress.
Physical changes
If you lie down, the top of your uterus (or fundus) can be felt about half-way between your pubic bone and belly button. It may be harder for you to bend over now to pick things up (or lift your toddler). Always, use your legs to bend to help protect your back.
Colostrum
You may notice colostrum leaking from your breasts, although this does not happen for every pregnant woman. The presence (or absence) of colostrum does not affect your ability to breastfeed your baby. Colostrum is the first fluid a woman's breasts produce. It is clear, or creamy-yellow, and syrupy in consistency. If you are leaking colostrum and it is becoming annoying, you may need to wear breast pads inside your bra.
Emotional reactions
You may be feeling a mixture of emotions. Common thoughts can include reflecting on how you were parented and how this may affect the way you will parent your own child. You may seek out other mothers, or feel you want to spend more time with your own mother. If your mother is no longer living this can bring up feelings of grief about not having this time with her now.
As the pregnancy progresses, partners may also experience a mixture of emotions. Most find it difficult to connect with the reality of their baby, perhaps until they see an ultrasound image or feel them move by touching the woman's belly (which may not happen until after 24 weeks or so).
It is natural for partners to feel very protective of the woman and their unborn baby, especially as the woman's belly grows.
Other considerations
Choosing how to feed your baby
Women need to feel supported in their decision about how they will feed their baby. This choice is not always simple and involves considering a complex range of physical, social, cultural, and emotional issues. However, the most important aspect is that your decision is an informed one, based on reliable information.
Women need to feel supported in their decision about how they will feed their baby. This choice is not always simple and involves considering a complex range of physical, social, cultural, and emotional issues. However, the most important aspect is that your decision is an informed one, based on reliable information.
Natural therapies
Chiropractic
Chiropractic can be used during pregnancy and after the birth for treating back pain, pelvic discomfort, symphysis pain and muscle spasm. There is also a trend towards treating unsettled, irritable babies who may have experienced a complicated birth with gentle chiropractic manipulations of the baby's skull and spine.
Chiropractic can be used during pregnancy and after the birth for treating back pain, pelvic discomfort, symphysis pain and muscle spasm. There is also a trend towards treating unsettled, irritable babies who may have experienced a complicated birth with gentle chiropractic manipulations of the baby's skull and spine.
Osteopathy
The most common use of osteopathy is for neck and back pain. As with chiropractic, it is increasingly being used for small babies who may be irritable or unsettled after experiencing a difficult birth, referred to as cranial osteopathy, because it gently manipulates the bones in the baby's head.
What is my body doing at sixteen weeks pregnant?
By this point in your pregnancy, you should have the beginnings of a baby bump and should notice your body starting to change. It’s very normal to struggle with the weight gain that comes with pregnancy, but aim for around four pounds a month to keep your body and baby healthy. Now is the time to invest in a pregnancy wardrobe you feel good in!
As we mentioned last week, during this stage of pregnancy the mucous membranes in your nose also start to swell. This can leave you feeling pretty congested and even give you the odd nosebleed or too. If you’re really uncomfortable, ask your GP about pregnancy safe nasal sprays, or try nasal strips.
Pregnancy hormones can also increase pigmentation on your skin, which means you may notice certain areas of your body looking darker. Common examples of this are the areola around your nipple, and moles, freckles and birthmarks darkening. In most cases, pigmentation will disappear after birth, so isn’t anything to worry about.
Common symptoms to look out for:
- Growing boobs: Don’t worry, once you’ve given birth and finished breastfeeding (if you choose to do it) your boobs should return to their pre-pregnancy size, so there’s no need to throw out your favourite bra just yet.
- Constipation: Those pregnancy hormones and your expanding uterus putting pressure on your bowel can slow things down. Drink more water to try and keep things moving naturally.
- Increased vaginal discharge: This is very normal, and super beneficial to your body as it protects the birth canal from infection. It might not be comfortable, so invest in some panty liners.
- Varicose veins: Another side effect you might not be too thrilled with, minimise the appearance of these by keeping your feet up and keeping that weight gain gradual as not to put too much pressure on your circulatory system.
- Bleeding gums: 90% of pregnant women experience gum issues, so rest assured you are not alone, despite this being a rather unspoken side effect of pregnancy.
Bra shopping! As your bump gets bigger, do not forget your boos. Thanks to those pregnancy hormones, your breasts could go up a few cup sizes and they’ll need adequate support. The right support will also stop droopiness later on, so if you ever needed the excuse to go bra shopping, it’s this! You’ll need to get properly measured and invest in comfy, breathable, non-wired bras – under wiring should be avoided as it can dig in and damage tender breast tissue.
Your week 16 FAQ’s answered:
What are the symptoms I’m having a boy?
There are plenty of old wives’ tales on predicting whether you’re having a boy or a girl. Of course, none of these are 100% accurate and the only way to truly tell is at your 20-week scan. Whilst we’re guessing though, why not try these?
How old is my baby at 16 weeks?
Pregnancy math can be difficult, at 16 weeks, your baby is 14 weeks old this week. Here’s our guide on how to count your pregnancy in weeks and months.
There are plenty of old wives’ tales on predicting whether you’re having a boy or a girl. Of course, none of these are 100% accurate and the only way to truly tell is at your 20-week scan. Whilst we’re guessing though, why not try these?
How old is my baby at 16 weeks?
Pregnancy math can be difficult, at 16 weeks, your baby is 14 weeks old this week. Here’s our guide on how to count your pregnancy in weeks and months.
How big is my baby at 16 weeks?
At 16 weeks, your baby is about the size of an avocado, or around four or five inches long.
At 16 weeks, your baby is about the size of an avocado, or around four or five inches long.
What should my belly look like at 16 weeks?
By this stage, most women have started to show, yet this isn’t always the case and depends on the size of you and your baby.
Comments
Post a Comment