16-Week Pregnant

At this point of your pregnancy, your baby is approximately 4.3 to 4.6
inches long and weighs 2.8 ounces. Not only is your baby growing, your
uterus and placenta continue to grow to accommodate the growing baby
inside of you! Just six weeks ago, your uterus weighed about 5 ounces.
This week it now weighs 8.75 ounces! The amniotic fluid that surrounds
the baby is increasing and there is about 7.5 ounces of fluid. You will
easily be able to feel your uterus approximately three inches below
your navel.




This is an important week for testing and you will most likely
have an AFP test done. This is a harmless blood test that is done to
detect abnormalities such as Down's syndrome or spina bifida. This is a
non-invasive test and it carries no risk to your developing baby. Most
doctors will offer the test, but in most cases it is completely
optional.

Your milk glands start production at this time and this
causes some tenderness and swelling in early pregnancy. Your veins will
become more visible because there is an increased amount of blood
flowing to the breasts.


Five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.


At this time, your baby is holding her head erect. Because her
muscles are developing, she can make some faces now. Your baby is able
to squint, frown and open its mouth. There is enough calcium in the
bones that they will show up on an x-ray. Your baby's fingernails are
well formed now and the legs are longer than the arms. Because your
baby is moving well now, you may begin to feel his movements! Some
women say that the early movements feel like gas bubbles or a slight
flutter. If you have not yet felt the baby move, don't worry. Fetal
movements are usually felt between the 16th and 20th week of pregnancy.


You may feel your heart beating 'louder'. This is because
there is a lot more blood in your body than normal. (about 20-25% more)