Pregnancy Week - 16 Weeks Pregnant

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Pregnancy Week 15< >Week by Week Guide Index< >Pregnancy Week 17

Pregnancy Week 16

**Please note- Your Due Date is calculated from your last menstrual period, which corresponds to our Pregnancy Week by Week articles.

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Week 16

Your Baby's Growth and Development
Your baby is planning on doing some major growing in the next few weeks. By pregnancy 16 weeks she'll be able to hold her head slightly straighter, and her eyes are finally moving into their final position in the front of the head. The ears are doing the same, and now your baby is focusing her attention on complicated circulatory matters. Your baby's heart is pumping 25 quarts of blood every day, not bad for someone smaller than a grapefruit!

Your baby is also starting to grow hair and will continue to do so as you continue your pregnancy week by week. You won't be able to tell what color hair your baby has until after birth, and even then your baby's hair may fall out and change colors completely at least once during the first few months of life! The same is true of our baby's eye color. Some baby's are born with blue eyes that gradually turn darker during the first couple of months of life!

By pregnancy week 16 the umbilical cord is now firmly attached to your baby's belly as well, providing numerous nutrients to your little one. At this point in time your baby's legs are starting to grow longer than the arms!

Your Growth and Development
You should no longer have a discernable waist by pregnancy 16 weeks. Don't fret; it will come back some day. Most women revel in their blossoming roundness. While you are not huge by any stretch of the imagination, you are starting to look more and more pregnant each and every day. By now you might consider shopping for some maternity clothes, though you may not be able to fill them out for a few more weeks. Some stores offer maternity clothes in varying sizes that can accommodate second vs. third trimester babies.

Your maternity size will generally correspond with the size you were before you got pregnant, provided you have not gained an unusual amount of weight.

Discuss With Other Mothers To Be!

Click Here To See What Other Mothers Are Experiencing At Week 16

Changes in You
Perhaps the most exciting part of pregnancy is feeling your baby move. You might be able to discern tiny movements by pregnancy week 16. Many women have described this feeling as akin to butterflies fluttering away in the stomach at 16 weeks pregnant though some will feel this sooner. At first you might dismiss this feeling as gas, but watch out, your baby is actually swimming up a storm!

Even at 16 weeks pregnant not all women will feel their baby's movement, so don't panic if you don't recognize your baby's movements during pregnancy at 16 weeks. It may take a few more weeks before you feel the first fluttering of your baby. If this is not your first baby, you are more likely to feel movement early on in the pregnancy.

Some time between weeks 16 and 18 you will undergo an alpha-fetoprotein test (AFP). This is a protein that comes from fetal urine and resides in the amniotic fluid. Your physician can measure the amount of AFP in the amniotic fluid with a simple blood test.

High levels of AFP can indicate a problem with the fetus, including an elevated risk for spinal cord problems the two most common of which include a condition called Spina Bifida, which involves the central nervous system or Down Syndrome, which involves an abnormal number of chromosomes. An abnormal test does not mean that there is something wrong with the fetus; it simply indicates to your healthcare provider that something might be awry. If your AFP test comes back positive your physician might order an amniocentesis or ultrasound to confirm a diagnosis.

An amniocentesis is one of the more common genetic tests performed to test for chromosomal abnormalities and genetic birth defects. Your healthcare provider will use an ultrasound to guide a thin needle through the abdomen and withdraw a small amount of amniotic fluid. There is a small risk of miscarriage, spotting or leaking of amniotic fluid associated with the procedure. An amniocentesis can among other things confirm the sex of your baby. It is far more accurate than an ultrasound because it measures the genetic components that determine whether your baby is a boy or a girl. It is not routinely used however simply to determine sex, because the procedure is considered somewhat risky.

Pregnancy Pillow
The Perfect Gift for Expectant Mothers

Looking for the perfect gift for mom to be? Gift giving customs are common around the time a woman is about to deliver her baby. Many family and friends decide to throw a mom to be a baby shower to welcome her upcoming arrival. One of the best pregnancy gifts you can offer an expectant mother is a pregnancy or nursing pillow.

Examples of high quality selections include Snoozer Pregnancy Pillows . These pillows can make all the difference in the world between a good night's sleep and a bad one. Consider buying a pregnancy pillow however, long before the baby shower. Most women find them most beneficial during the second and third trimester of their pregnancy!

Maternity Clothes
Intimate Apparel:
A Must Have For Expectant Women

What woman doesn’t want to look and feel attractive throughout her pregnancy? Finding intimate apparel to wear during your pregnancy doesn’t have to be a chore. Yes your body is changing each and every day. Fortunately there are many quality and elegant options available for mothers looking for Maternity Intimate Apparel from A Pea in the Pod during their pregnancy. One of the more important things to look for is supportive and flowing garments that move with you as you grow and expand.

Whether you are looking for something special to wear for a Special Occasion or simply in the mood for something sexy or romantic, rest assured intimate apparel from A pea in the Pod comes in all shapes, sizes, fabrics and styles for women during pregnancy and after.

Genetic testing is more likely in women over age 35. In fact your healthcare provider might recommend an amniocentesis if you are pregnant over 35. More and more women are deciding to delay getting pregnant until they are at a stage in life where they are more settled in their personal and career lives. Many women feel that after the age of 35 they have reached a place where they have achieved some personal success and are now looking to work on starting a family.

The good news is that most women will have healthy babies after 35. However if you are 35 or older you may be prone to more risks. Age affects fertility in a number of ways. Typically it will take a woman in her mid-30s or older longer to conceive than a woman in her 20s or early 30s.

Women who conceive after the age of 35 are more than twice as likely than younger women to develop high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and even pre-eclampsia. These women are also more likely to have twins. In addition, the risk of chromosomal disorders generally increases as a woman ages. Down syndrome for example, is much more likely in women over 35. At the age of 30 a woman generally has a 1 in 1,000 chance of giving birth to a baby with Down syndrome. By age 35 the odds go up to 1 in 400, and by age 40 the odds go up again to 1 in 100.

Thus most physicians in conjunction with recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists will recommend genetic testing to diagnose or rule out any of these conditions.

Placental problems are also more likely in older women. The most common placental problem seen in women over the age of 35 is a condition called placenta previa, where the placenta covers part or the entire opening of the cervix. This condition can complicate delivery, resulting in severe bleeding, which can endanger mom or baby. Typically however this complication is prevented by delivery through cesarean section.

If you are over the age of 35, your healthcare provider will work closely with you to ensure the safety of you and your baby during your pregnancy. Some studies suggest that women who conceive their first child over the age of 35 are more likely to have preterm labor or deliver a baby that is low birth weight, which is defined as less than 5 ½ pounds.

Some women over the age of 35 might need fertility assistance to get pregnant, which can also increase the risk of multiple births. If you have been trying to get pregnant for more than 6 months and are over the age of 35, most providers will recommend a full work up to rule out any fertility problems.

Though the outcome seems grim, in all reality most women over the age of 35 will go on to have happy, safe and healthy pregnancies. There are several things you can do to improve your odds of delivering safely if you fall into the mid 30s to 40s age group. Consider the following tips for improving your pregnancy outcome:

• Make sure you receive early prenatal counseling and rule out any medical conditions that might cause complications during your pregnancy.
• Be sure to start taking a prenatal supplement with a minimum of 400 micrograms of folic acid before, during and after your pregnancy.
• Maintain a healthy weight throughout your pregnancy.
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol during pregnancy, which can increase the risks for certain birth defects.
• Avoid any over the counter medications unless your physician recommends them.

The health tips offered to women over the age of 35 are the same as the tips proffered to younger parents, but it is triply important as an older mom that you maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to give your baby the best possible chance for a happy, safe and healthy outcome.