PREGNANCY WEEK 16 ~ HEALTH and FITNESS

16 WEEKS PREGNANT

Now that you’re 16 weeks pregnant, things are getting pretty exciting. You may have another prenatal visit this week, where you will get to hear baby’s heartbeat again. Even more thrilling will be feeling baby kick, which could happen starting this week, so pay attention to those subtle feelings in your 16 weeks pregnant belly. Another cool fact? Baby’s starting to be able to hear your voice—and he or she will recognize it at birth—so feel free to chat baby up any chance you get.

How Big Is Baby at 16 Weeks Pregnant?

At 16 weeks pregnant, baby is the size of an avocado, measuring 4.6 inches long and weighing in at 3.5 ounces.

16 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?

16 weeks pregnant is three months and about three weeks pregnant.

16 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS

More reason to celebrate: There are some 16 weeks pregnant symptoms that are actually good. For example, some moms-to-be find their hair and nails grow faster. Your hair might actually look thicker and more lustrous and your skin might look radiant, too. Woo hoo! Here’s more of what you might be feeling at 16 weeks pregnant:

Backaches. Your aching back is a side effect of pregnancy hormones. To ease backaches, make some time for low-impact exercise. Sit and stand up straight and regularly stretch your body.
Bigger boobs. Your breasts have probably gone up several cup sizes by now, and should be completely prepped for breastfeeding by the end of the second trimester.
Constipation. Getting, um, stopped up is an unfortunate result of your uterus starting to press on your intestines. Load up on fiber-rich foods and drink lots of water to keep things moving.
Forgetfulness. This is also known as #PregnancyBrain. No one knows for sure what causes pregnant women to become more forgetful. It could be biological or it just could be a result of having lots on your mind!
Dry, itchy, sensitive eyes. Blame the hormones once again! You could try over-the-counter eye drops, but be sure to consult your OB before choosing one.
Glowing skin. Finally—that pregnancy glow that people are always talking about. Va va voom!

If you’re sixteen weeks pregnant with twins, your symptoms probably won’t be different than they would be for a mom carrying one baby at this point. You definitely want to keep your doctor posted on all your symptoms though, since a twin pregnancy is considered higher risk, so your doctor will want to keep close tabs on you and your babies.

16 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

Pretty soon, you’ll start feeling baby moving around in your 16 weeks pregnant belly. At first, those moves might feel like gas or a muscle twitch, but over time, as baby gets bigger and stronger, they’ll be unmistakable. If you’re 16 weeks pregnant with twins, you won’t feel kicks any earlier than a singleton mom-to-be will, but over time, twin moms definitely feel more kicking sensations.

Of course, feeling those movements comes with other issues, like having your lungs crowded by your growing babe. That could make it seem tough to catch your breath from time to time.

16 WEEKS PREGNANT ULTRASOUND

Inside your 16 weeks pregnant belly, baby’s listening to your voice, thanks to tiny bones forming in his or her ears. Your 16-week fetus is growing hair, lashes, and eyebrows. And his or her taste buds are forming.

You’ll probably have a four-month prenatal visit around the time you’re sixteen weeks pregnant. As usual, you’ll probably have a urine test; your OB will be checking your urine for signs of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. You may have a 16 weeks pregnant ultrasound at your appointment too.

The best news of the week? Once your OB sees a normal 16 weeks pregnant ultrasound, your chance of miscarriage drops to only 1 percent. Breathe a sigh of relief!