At week 16, your heart is pumping about 20% more blood than it did before you were pregnant to supply oxygen to the little one. However, this increase in blood volume may lead to a stuffy nose or even nose bleeds on occasion. As your baby grows, your Ligaments continue to stretch and you may experience pain in your abdomen.
Your growing baby
Your baby is growing rapidly by week 15 of pregnancy and by the end of the week, your baby will probably weigh 70 g and will be 10–10.2 cm long (size of an apple). Your baby’s bones and marrow are making great strides. The Cartilage is turning into bone and before you know it, all of those bones will be formed and your baby will be ready for delivery!
If you have not already, you may begin to feel movement as the baby’s bones harden and muscle tone improves. If you are somewhat overweight, have a thick Uterus and/or if this is your first pregnancy, you may not be feeling baby yet or feeling baby regularly. Do not panic!
Your baby’s body is also looking more proportional to its head size in week 15 of pregnancy with legs slightly longer than the arms. Your baby will kick, twist, flex, bend and even look like running in place at times.
Eyebrows are starting to grow in over the eyes, even though they may be very fine, light and hard to see. The hair on the scalp is also beginning to grow, but will remain hard to distinguish for many more weeks. The three bones in the inner ear are slowly developing and the ears work on gaining auditory functions. Your baby’s taste buds develop at this time. Though, your baby’s eyelids are now firmly shut, he/she can sense light.
Around week 16 of pregnancy, the fat will start to develop on your baby, which helps your little one to regulate its temperature. The head and neck are growing stronger each day and by week 16 of pregnancy, they will appear even straighter than they were last week. Sometimes, it might even look like your baby is sitting straight up. The legs are always curled and pulled in to the chest, but the head and neck can be erect at times throughout the day. Now your little one looks like a butter fruit weighing around 100 g and 11.6 cm long.
Your baby’s little heart has the capacity to pump blood through the circulatory system and is working overtime right now pumping twice the amount of blood than you!
Pregnancy tips
Once you have reached week 16, it is advisable to sleep on your side and not on your back. Even your obstetrician may recommend this. Using extra pillows to support your growing tummy helps you to ensure that you do stay on your side during the night.|
As your little one’s hearing is in the process of developing, he will begin to hear the sound of your voice and your heartbeat. Listening to good music, singing and talking to your little one may make him/her learn to relax once he is born.
Things to consider
You may sometimes feel that pregnancy has made you clumsy, forgetful and unable to concentrate. It is essential that you decrease your stress levels. To read more on relaxing and coping with stress, click here.
Unless your obstetrician suggests otherwise, now till week 28 is considered to be the most suitable time for travel. Click here to read more on traveling during pregnancy. |