In pregnancy week 16, your baby is about three ounces, and the length is 4.5". In the next few weeks the growth will be immense. This week your little one is strong enough to keep the head a bit more steady. The focus for pregnancy week 16 is on the circulatory system, and the little one is actively pumping blood. There is hair growing on the head, but some babies are born bald, but not to worry, as the hair will start growing sometime after birth. Your baby may have blonde hair now, but that hair may fall off soon after birth, and there will be a new regrowth of hair that may be brown in color. Similarly the eyes may be one color, but maybe a month or two after delivery, the eye color would have changed too.
You may be able to feel your baby's movements as the bones harden in pregnancy week 16. If you still cannot feel, do not worry as it may be because you have a thicker uterus wall than normal. As there is still a lot of room for the legs and arms to move around, your baby is happily moving, squirming and kicking.
In pregnancy week 16, even the toenails and fingernails are growing and may need to have them cut soon after birth. The head is so much more proportionate, probably due to the developing legs. Soon the legs will start lengthening too.
Let's look at what is happening with you in pregnancy week 16. You may be able to begin feeling fluttery movements in your uterus, as your baby has a lot of space to experiment on various movements such a swimming, stretching, squirming, kicking and moving the arms. This is some form of entertainment for your young one.
Your clothes may have become tight and uncomfortable. It's a good idea to get some maternity clothes and wear them even if they will at the beginning look a bit loose, you will soon expand and by the end of your pregnancy, it may even look tight.
You may still have a stuffy nose and even nosebleeds, in pregnancy week 16. It is mainly because the blood volume in your body has increased by about 50%. Not only is there an increased amount of blood, but your estrogen level is also up, which could cause nasal membranes to swell. As a result of the increase in blood volume your heart is working hard to pump the blood around.
Between week 16 and week 18 the doctor may recommend some tests including the alpha-fetoprotein test to rule out spinal cord problems. Sometimes if the test is positive, the doctor gets an ultrasound or amniocentesis test done to check if there really is a problem. For the amniocentesis test, the specialist uses a syringe to remove some amniotic fluid, and sends it to the lab to test for any genetic defects. The amniocentesis test is a bit risky and women may not want to have it done. Discussing the pros and cons of it with the doctor is important. Do not worry unduly and always remain positive, as when your energy is positive, it will be highly likely that your child will not have any problem.
