Week 16

With every week that goes by, your tummy becomes less of a bulge and more of a bump. For some moms, you may even begin to feel the tiniest of light flutters or bubbles, which is the first sign of movement! And if not this week, it will be soon.

Your Baby

Your baby is the size of an avocado and stretches out to 11.5cm and weights around 100 grams. Your little one’s backbone and spine are gaining strength, so they can begin to straighten out their head and neck. And with the new improved facial muscles, your baby is able to frown and squint. Remarkably, your baby is now able to hear your voice, which they’ll recognize instantly when you meet them for the first time.

Your Body

Your hair may be thicker and shinier, your nails may seem stronger and your skin may be silky smooth – finally you may be getting that gorgeous pregnancy glow that everyone always talks about! Also remember that … what was I saying again? Yes pregnancy brain may have kicked in too, no one knows what causes this exactly, but we think the fact that you growing a human should be enough justification.

As you have noticed, your body is changing daily, and this can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. Try and embrace the changes, and remember that it’s all going to an amazing cause – you’re creating a little miracle. On the down side, you may be feeling constipated and have more backache.

Sensible Tips

  • Schedule your five month fetal assessment as well as your monthly prenatal visit with your gynae.
  • Take a photo of your growing bump so you can compare your growth from just four weeks back.
  • Start writing down baby names that you like – it’s not always that easy to choose a name that both you and your partner agree on so don’t leave it for the last minute.