16 Weeks Pregnant
What’s happening this week?
You’re now 16 weeks pregnant. Your baby is looking more human every day – find out what major development occurs this week.
How is my baby developing?
You’re 16 weeks pregnant, and your baby is finally taking human shape. The body is longer than the head and the eyes and ears are finally moving into their position in the front and side of the baby’s head, respectively.
Your baby’s hair is also growing, but you wouldn’t be able to tell the color. Another very important development over the next couple of weeks is the circulatory system.
Already this week your baby’s heart is pumping around 25 liters of blood every day, but this has to increase further as your baby grows. At 16 weeks pregnant, your baby measures about 12 cm and weighs about 100 grams.
16 weeks pregnant symptoms; How is my body changing?
You’re sixteen-week pregnant and your waistline is gone! From now on, you’ll need maternity clothes. Provided you haven’t gained a lot of weight, your maternity size is the same as your pre-pregnancy size.
At 16 weeks pregnant, you may be about to experience one of the most memorable moments of your pregnancy you can feel your baby move!
The initial movement will feel like gas bubbles or butterflies, but as your baby grows, you’ll be able to feel him much more intensely. First pregnancies may take a little longer.
Your heart is working very hard, to keep up with your baby’s demands for oxygen and is pumping about 20% more than normal. By the end of the pregnancy, this will reach 50% extra blood.
At 16 weeks pregnant, your weight gain is about 6-8 pounds. A pleasant side effect of pregnancy during the second trimester is that it may increase your libido.
Alpha-fetoprotein test and amniocentesis
Between weeks 16 and 18, you may undergo a test called the alpha-fetoprotein test (AFP). AFP is produced by your baby and is used as an in indication of development – high levels may indicate Spina bifida of Down Syndrome.
If that’s the case, your doctor may recommend an amniocentesis, which gives a definite answer.
During an amniocentesis, a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed which is then analyzed to determine if there are any chromosomal abnormalities present. There is a small risk of miscarriages.
