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16 Weeks Pregnant

At 16 weeks pregnant your baby is about 12cm long and weighs about 130g. His or her features are now more in proportion but your baby will look thin because there are no layers of fat below the skin yet. The skin is so fine and translucent that the blood vessels can be clearly seen underneath it.

The baby’s range of movements greatly increases at this time, due to the development of the nervous system. Your baby will be becoming pretty active, moving its limbs and kicking out and can also suck its thumb.A layer of fat is beginning to coat the nerves that link the muscles to the brain. This is important because once the neural connections are complete, messages can be passed to and from the brain and so allow co-ordinated movements.

Your baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid, allowing it to move freely and develop muscle tone.

Although most women don't feel any baby movements until a few weeks later than this, because at around 16 weeks pregnant the fluid still cushions the sensations, your baby will nevertheless be constantly on the move. Some mothers, however, report a butterfly-like fluttery sensation. It was at this stage that my friend Amanda discovered she could rent a heartbeat monitor and it was a great experience for her and her partner to be be able to hear their baby's heat for the first time. Listening to your baby's heartbeat is very exciting - and reassuring - and is often a wonderful way to let the rest of your family share in your pregnancy.

Screening Tests
You may be offered blood-screening tests for Down's Syndrome or Spina Bifida at this point. Don't be alarmed: these are routine tests and only a tiny percentage come out positive. Even if your blood test for, say, spina bifida came out positive, only 1% of such results actually turn out to have a problem. You would be asked to take further tests and the odds are very high that they will turn out normal.
About You
By 16 weeks pregnant you may feel the first movements of your baby inside you, a slight 'butterfly' feeling in your abdomen. However most women don't start feeling movements until several weeks later. You may suffer from some constipation, caused by the hormone progesterone, which also tends to slow your digestion down as the rapidly-growing uterus puts pressure on your bladder and bowel. You can contribute a lot to your comfort and health by drinking plenty of still spring water each day.

These middle months of your pregnancy are when you should start to feel at your best. People may comment on how well you look - you seem to have a glow about you, which is the result of increased blood flow. Your heart rate has increased by up to 20%, which makes your skin feel firmer and smoother and causes your nails and hair to grow more quickly. The most 'dangerous' weeks are now behind you and you now feel ready to start planning the delivery and begin putting things aside for the new arrival.

This is the time when most mothers-to-be start to 'show' their pregnancy. Getting the right clothes to wear now helps to make you feel positive about yourself and your pregnancy, but don't despair if money is tight. Many mums-to-be buy brilliant outfits online, through auction sites such as Ebay, or by going to their local thrift and charity shops. Maternity outfits are worn for such short periods of time that real bargains are to be had, in great condition!

At 16 weeks pregnant your diet is really important now: try to make it as well-balanced as you can. To build your baby's cells and make you feel fit as well, check out our healthy pregnancy tips : this is a golden opportunity to build a healthy baby!

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