Week 16 of Your Pregnancy
You're officially 4 months pregnant!
As your second trimester hums along, your baby's growing rapidly, and you might start seeing changes to your own body, too — so if you haven't already gone shopping for maternity clothes, now's the time.
PREGNANCY WEEK 16
Your Body at Week 16 of Your Pregnancy
Stuffy Nose
Many women have stuffy nose during their pregnancy and this is again due to hormones and increased blood volume. But, if you have a fever, coughing, sore throat, then it's probably a cold or another infection. Talk to your doctor, and eat foods high in vitamin C.
Weight Gain
Starting in the second trimester, your baby's getting bigger and bigger, and consequently, you should be too. Aim for slow and steady weight gain, around 2 kgs each month on average, but again it depends on your medical condition and pre pregnancy weight.
Appetite and Food Cravings
During the second trimester most women find relief from nausea and food aversions and start to feel like to eat, finally. This is a good thing.
Heartburn and Indigestion
If you’ve got a burning sensation from the depths of your stomach to your mouth after you eat, then you’ve got pregnancy-induced indigestion and heartburn. Avoid heartburn triggers like spicy or fatty foods and caffeinated drinks and ask your doctor about pregnancy-safe heartburn remedies.
Decreasing Fatigue
Your body has kind of adjusted to your pregnancy, and you may start to feel less tired and more energetic.
Breast Growth
While your breasts are still growing and changing — for instance, your areolas are probably darker and your nipples may be on “high alert” — they may not feel as achy as they did in your first trimester.
Constipation
Hormones relax your bowel muscles, so they are not that efficient in moving the waste products out from your body. Add high-fiber foods to your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, along with plenty of fluids, too.
Visible Veins
You may notice veins crisscrossing their way across your belly and breasts, this is due to increased blood supply. These veins are doing the important work of taking nutrients and blood to your baby. They will gradually disappear.
Pregnancy Brain
Your brain-cell volume actually decreases during pregnancy. Pregnancy-induced brain fog is a fact. You may forget stuff that you had no problem remembering earlier, like maybe why you walked in the kitchen, where you placed your keys and so on. Don't worry it will get better on its own.
Round Ligament Pain
The ligaments on the right and left side of your lower belly are stretching out and getting thinner. As your belly gets heavier, the weight pulls on the ligaments, causing sharp or dull pain — especially when you walk or turn to the side. Try to take some rest whenever you can.
Backaches
As your belly gets bigger, your lower back curves more than usual to accommodate the load, resulting in strained back muscles. Try to soothe these sore muscles by getting a prenatal massage, even from your partner, or taking a warm bath or shower.
Bleeding Gums
Pregnancy hormones cause gum inflammation, making them more susceptible to bacteria, irritation and bleeding. While this is normal, it’s important to keep flossing and brushing regularly. Also see the dentist at least once during pregnancy to avoid gum disease.
Your Baby at Week 16 of Your Pregnancy
How big is my baby?
Your baby now weighs about 110g and is about 12.5cm – around the size of a small avocado. They are growing quickly and are about to have a growth spurt. They will roughly double in size over the next month.
The baby looks much more human now. Their eyes are no longer at the side of their head and their ears are in the right place. All of their joints are working and they can wriggle their fingers and toes.
The umbilical cord is now fully formed, with 2 arteries and 1 vein. Your baby may be gripping hold of it. They can flex their muscles and limbs and make expressions with their face, although they can’t control them yet.
Your Baby's Heart
Your baby's heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your little one develops.
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