Week 16 of Your Pregnancy
Baby’s Development
Your baby has grown from no bigger than the head of a pin to the size of an avocado in 16 short weeks! At this stage, the average fetus weighs 4 ounces and is approximately five inches long. Its head is finally upright and with the development of a neck, the torso is starting to look more separate from the rest of the body.
Your baby’s organs and major systems continue to develop and the eyes become more sensitive to light this week. Every 40 -45 minutes, your baby empties its bladder into the amniotic fluid and sometimes keeps itself entertained by grabbing and pulling at its own umbilical cord. Sometimes fetuses have been known to grip the cord so tightly that their oxygen levels decrease. Thankfully, the survival instinct takes over and the fetus naturally releases pressure before any problems arise.
Between weeks 16-20, you can look forward to a momentous event. Known as ‘quickening’, your baby’s first movement will become apparent to you. Its arms and legs are stronger and the movements are more coordinated, making their sometimes constant kicking and jabbing more than obvious to the mother. Some women mistake the sensation for gas bubbles and for some, it’s little more than a flutter. Whatever your experience is, you’ll be sure to never forget where you were and how it felt the first time.
Your Body and Emotions
Take a look in the mirror. Chances are, your waistline has disappeared! You may be living in your partner’s sweat pants and t-shirt at this point or you may be waltzing around with your jeans unbuttoned. Maybe it’s time to invest in some maternity clothes??
Do you seem to be getting more colds now that you’re pregnant? As annoying as this is, it’s a common result of your lowered immune defense. Because your body naturally expels foreign objects in order to protect itself, your immune system is suppressed in pregnancy so that your baby is not kicked out along with this month’s cold virus. As a result, pregnant women are far more susceptible to infections and viruses. If you seem to be getting cold after cold, remember to get as much rest as you can and avoid taking unnecessary medications.
If you are suffering from repeated infections such as strep throat or bladder infections, your doctor may recommend a course in pregnancy-safe antibiotics in order to clear them up. If this is the case, you should supplement some probiotics along with the medicine, as antibiotics are notorious for destroying all bacteria in your body, including the helpful ones. Especially if you’re dealing with constipation during pregnancy, the last thing you need is to have your helpful intestinal/stomach bacteria destroyed! Look for yogurt with active bacterial cultures, or if you are dairy intolerant, consider supplementing with probiotics from your health food store.
Dad’s Tips
At sixteen weeks, your partner has started to show and may be feeling a little insecure about her size. Sadly, women are often made to feel massive pressure to look a certain way and maintain a certain weight. When they get beyond this ‘set limit’, it can play havoc with their self-esteem. Compliment her new body as much as you can. Focus on the parts of her that you find especially attractive and caress her growing belly rather than run in fear from it. She probably needs that extra attention and knowing that you are still attracted to her may allow her to enjoy her growing body a little more. |
