Pregnancy Week 16

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Pregnancy Week 16

Pregnancy Week 16: Umbilical Cords and More

By 16 weeks pregnant your baby weighs around 3.5 ounces, and is roughly the size of a mango, perhaps a bit smaller. Your baby's umbilical cord is fully visible now. During pregnancy the umbilical cord provides your baby with nutrients from the foods you eat. This is one reason it is important you eat well to nourish you and your baby during pregnancy.

How much do you need to eat? Most doctors recommend women of normal weight gain between 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. Many women gain a large part of this weight during their second trimester or third trimester of pregnancy. If you are underweight before becoming pregnant you may need to gain more, and if overweight your doctor may recommend you gain less weight during pregnancy. All women however gain some weight during pregnancy, some from the baby, the growth of the uterus (which can weigh up to 2 pounds), the amniotic fluid and ordinary pregnancy bloating.

Maternity Shopping
Around 16 weeks pregnant many women start shopping for maternity wear. Your waist has disappeared by around pregnancy week 16. If you haven't already you may start to feel the tiny fluttering of your baby swimming around your uterus now. Your partner probably won't be able to feel this until much later in your pregnancy, so enjoy your "private time" with baby while you can.

Usually women receive an alpha-fetoprotein test or AFP between pregnancy week 16 and 18 weeks pregnancy. This test is a simple blood test that measures the amount of protein your baby excretes into the urine. Sometimes a high level of AFP suggests the fetus may be in distress, or may have a higher risk for certain birth defects including spinal cord defects.

Some of the complications associated with high AFP levels include Spina Bifida and Down Syndrome. If you do have a positive AFP test your doctor may perform an ultrasound or with your permission, may perform an amniocentesis to rule out disease or discover the nature of the problem.

Some women will have a high AFP level with no problems at all, keep this in mind. No test is 100 percent perfect. You can even elect not to have certain tests if you do not want them. Most testing for Downs and other genetic disorders are reserved for women over age 35, because they are more at risk for complications than younger women. These days however, it isn't uncommon for women to have pregnancies well into their forties.

In fact, more so now than ever women are waiting until well into their forties to have their first child! Keep in mind as you age the quality and quantity of viable eggs in your body declines. Many women need to take advantage of reproductive assisted technology to conceive as they get older. Still the decision is yours. Many women enjoy having their baby later in life, so they can accomplish any career or other goals they have before they settle down to enjoy life as a mother and as part of a growing family!

Read About Pregnancy Week 17