A vacation should be planned about halfway through the first trimester. When you are 16 weeks pregnant, you can take your pre-pregnancy vacation and enjoy those beautiful days. During pregnancy week 16, the uterus is now about midway to your bellybutton. This makes your stomach poke out a bit.
Be sure to embrace your new figure and don’t stress over the 5–10 pounds that you have gained. The ideal weight gain during pregnancy is 25–35 pounds. Don’t worry about the weight you are gaining, as it is a sign of a healthy pregnancy. Healthy eating and regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight.
When you are 16 weeks pregnant, you and your baby undergo several changes. So, controlling weight gain is especially important because from week 16 onward, you will gain 1 pound a week.
Also, you may start to feel your baby move during your 16th week of pregnancy. These are really light moments, and they are called “butterfly touches” or “butterfly moments.” But most first-time mothers may not recognize the fetal movements until pregnancy weeks 22 to 24. So, even if you don’t feel the moments when you are 16 weeks pregnant, it is completely normal, and very soon you will experience those memorable moves of your little one. Here are much more exciting features of pregnancy week 16…
Symptoms experienced by a 16 weeks pregnant woman:
When you are 16 weeks pregnant, you may experience nosebleeds and a stuffy nose, bleeding gums, foot inflammation, abdominal pain due to ligament stretching, and leg veins may become more visible.
Few women experience nosebleeds and nasal congestion as a pregnancy side effect because of changes in hormone levels that can cause swelling of the mucus membrane in the nose. Softening of tissues and improved blood volume can also lead to this condition. For some women, this condition may persist for the whole pregnancy period. Also, your uterus is shifting, so you may not have to urinate so much.
A vitamin C deficit during pregnancy can also lead to nosebleeds, so raise the consumption of foods rich in vitamin C. Other nose drops, other than saline drops, are strictly prohibited unless prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Physical changes that occur in a 16 weeks pregnant woman:
As the size of the uterus increases a bit more, you may feel your uterus under the belly button. With the increased size of the uterus, when you lie on your back, the uterus puts pressure on the major blood vessels and reduces the blood supply to the baby. Also, you need to avoid lying on your stomach, as it can put stress on your developing baby. Keeping a pregnancy pillow between the thighs can provide better support and reduce the discomfort.
As each week passes, you will become more and more pregnant and look much more radiant.
Colostrum is a fluid left in women’s breasts after pregnancy. Colostrum is the first fluid a woman’s breasts produce. The fluid is a clear or creamy-yellow substance that is syrupy in consistency.
Fetal changes that occur in a 16 weeks pregnant woman:
When you are 16 weeks pregnant, the baby is approximately 4.57 inches long and weighs approximately 3.53 oz.
Starting around 16 weeks, external genitalia can be spotted. The 100 million neurons that form in the primary visual cortex develop between now and week 28.
By this week, the baby’s fingers and toenails will have completely developed. Your baby’s bladder needs to empty every hour to prepare for life outdoors.
The facial features, such as ears and eyes, are completely developed and are properly located on the face. The baby’s eyes start to have little movements, but they are still closed. Facial muscles are well developed, and the baby is making expressions like squinting and scowling. From this week on, your baby’s little heart starts pumping even more blood. Diet chart
The umbilical cord is attached firmly to the baby’s tummy, and the little one gets all the essential nutrients from this. From this week on, the baby’s primary focus will be on the complicated circulatory issues.
Baby’s limbs lengthen and return to normal levels that your baby will have during the birth process. The baby’s head is held elevated, and limb movements occur in a synchronized fashion.
During pregnancy week 16, you will also know whether the little baby is a boy or girl. Most couples want to keep the baby’s sex a surprise. But if this is not your first child, you better know the baby’s sex to prepare the siblings for the arrival of a new baby sister or brother.
What care should be taken?
The period between pregnancy weeks 16 and 18 is the time to get a blood screening test, which is known as a “triple screen” or “triple marker” test. This test is used to determine the levels of three hormones: alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a protein released by the fetus; estriol levels in your blood, and HCG hormone levels. Miscarriage
A triple marker test is conducted to determine whether your baby is at risk of pregnancy complications such as neural tube defects like spina bifida or chromosomal irregularities like Down syndrome. The test can only determine whether there is a risk or not; the type of abnormality cannot be determined. During your prenatal visit, you can talk with your obstetrician about the benefits and side effects of the test.
Monitor your weight and keep an eye on what you are eating. Fruits, vegetables, and dairy are the most important parts of your diet.
If the veins in your legs are beginning to bulge, you can use support stockings, elevate the feet whenever it is possible, and exercise to improve the blood flow. Caesarian
Have a wonderful pregnancy experience! Go on to know more about the exciting things during pregnancy week 17…
