At 16 weeks pregnant, you are well into your second trimester. Congrats!
Just like week 15, this period is often marked by renewed energy and growing excitement.
Your baby is continuing to develop in fascinating ways, and your body is adapting to support this growth.
Here’s what you can expect during this milestone week.
Your Baby at 16 Weeks of Pregnancy
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By 16 weeks, your baby measures about 11.5 centimetres from crown to rump and weighs around 100 grams, roughly the size of a small pear or avocado.
While still small, your baby is becoming increasingly active and showing impressive progress in development.
Here’s what’s going on with your little one now that you’re 16 weeks pregnant:
- Quickening: Your baby’s movements are more controlled now. He can kick his legs, wave his arms, and even grasp his umbilical cord. While there’s plenty of room for him to move around, the amniotic fluid cushions these movements, so you may only feel slight flutters, known as ‘quickening’.
- Respiration: Your baby is perfecting his breathing movements by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid. This helps his lungs mature in preparation for life outside the womb.
- Voice box: Although your baby’s voice box is fully formed, he won’t make sounds yet since his windpipe is filled with fluid. Once he is born and the windpipe fills with air, his vocal cords will vibrate, allowing him to cry and coo.
- Rooting reflex: Your baby’s brain and nervous system continue to mature, enabling the formation of reflexes like the rooting reflex. This instinct will help him turn his head to seek milk after birth.
- Downy hair: A fine layer of hair, called lanugo, now covers his body. This hair protects his skin from the amniotic fluid and helps regulate his body temperature.
Your baby’s lanugo hair will continue to coat their skin a few months after childbirth before going away. But even then, they will be covered with a thin layer of peach fuzz.
Your Body at 16 Weeks of Pregnancy
Now that you are 16 weeks pregnant, new changes are beginning!
However, you may still be experiencing symptoms from the past few weeks and will continue to do so down the line.
By now, many early symptoms like nausea may have subsided, and you may find yourself feeling more energetic and comfortable.
Here’s what your body is doing at 16 weeks of pregnancy:
- Foetal movement: You may feel the first movements of your baby, which many women describe as a fluttering sensation or tiny gas bubbles.
- Elevated energy: You’ll experience more vitality this week as your hormones balance out.
- Urination: Blood flow to your kidneys has been steadily increasing, which may explain frequent urination in previous weeks. However, this process supports your growing baby’s needs and helps your body adjust to the additional demands of pregnancy.
- Skin changes: Higher hormone levels can bring about visible changes, such as stretch marks and chloasma (dark patches on the skin). You may also tan more easily, so applying a high-factor sunscreen is essential to protect your skin.
- Swelling: Hormonal shifts may lead to water retention, causing your feet to swell.
Your body may also be a bit more prone to stress now that you are in your second trimester.
So, be sure to take regular breaks if you are working and to practice mindfulness. Low-impact exercises like yoga help you to stay in that relaxed state of mind.
Another thing to take note of is the skincare that you use.
Your skin may be extra sensitive to certain ingredients.
Therefore, opt for pregnancy-safe skincare that is free of dyes, harsh preservatives, fragrances and other chemicals and compounds that may endanger your pregnancy.
Speak to a licensed healthcare professional if your doctor hasn’t informed you of this already.
Sleeping Positions
Week 16 marks a turning point for your body.
Your uterus has grown a significant amount since your first trimester, it’s now heavier than your body is used to.
Now, if you lie flat on your back, the uterus can compress your aorta and vena cava.
This can make cause some problems with your blood flow, causing dizziness and aggravating your varicose veins and leg swelling.
But the true risk is that doing this can now endanger your baby.
Lying flat on your back may cut off blood flow to the placenta and in turn, to your baby. This limits or even stops the flow of nutrients and oxygen to your little one.
From now on, when you sleep, lay on your side and ensure plenty of support such as from a pregnancy pillow or a bolster. This ensures optimal blood circulation throughout your body.
In the same vein, avoid exercises that require you to be flat on your back as this poses the same risk as sleeping in that position.
Increasing Your Calories
As you reach the peak of your second trimester, it’s time to start increasing your calories. You may even start to feel hungrier now.
Now, don’t get too excited. Before you scoff down a whole bowl of mac n’ cheese, or a whole box of pizza, let’s explore just how many extra calories you’re supposed to be consuming.
Experts recommend increasing your caloric intake by about 300 calories per day during the second trimester.
To put that into perspective, that’s about a cup of yogurt and a handful of strawberries. So, a light snack.
However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t indulge in those pregnancy cravings every once in a while.
Just be very vigilant about your overall calorie intake so that you don’t unnecessarily increase your weight too much (and putting yourself at higher risk of delivery complications later down the line).
Making Changes
All expectant mums know by now that pregnancy does not come without some major overhaul to your normal lifestyle. Now it seems there is more to add to the list.
Your sleeping positions must change and you have to eat a little bit more (but not too much).
By staying informed and proactive, you can navigate these changes with confidence and continue to enjoy the journey to motherhood.
Enjoy a healthy pregancy, mummies!
References
- Curtis, G. B., & Schuler, J. (2016). Your Pregnancy Week by Week (8th ed.). Hachette Books.
- Kaye, P. (2021). Your Pregnancy: Week by Week. SPCK Publishing.
- Riley, L. (2006). You and Your Pregnancy: Your Ultimate Week-by-Week Pregnancy Guide. Meredith Books.
- Shanahan, M. K. (2002). Your Over-35 Week-by-Week Pregnancy Guide. Da Capo Press.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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