At 16 weeks pregnant, your baby is over 4.5 inches long from crown to rump –which can be compared to the length of a small mango. He or she probably weighs close to 3.5 ounces at this point. In the next few weeks, your little one will double his or her weight and grow even longer.
An exciting development at 16 weeks pregnant – your baby's facial muscles are developed enough that your future child can grimace, frown, and make other faces in the womb. Although your baby has no control over his or her expressions right now, this will change in the weeks ahead.
At 16 weeks pregnant, your baby is able to hold his or her head slightly straighter than before. Your little one's eyes are finally moving into their final position in the front of baby's head. The ears are also moving to their final location on the side of the head.
Your baby's hair is starting to grow at 16 weeks pregnant. While you won't be able to tell his or her hair color until after birth, this is still an interesting development.
For the first time ever in fetal development, your baby's body is longer than his or her head. Your little bundle of joy is getting more proportional with each passing day.
Fun Fact: Even if your baby is born with a full head of hair, his or her hair may fall out and change colors completely within the first few months of life.
By 16 weeks pregnant, your baby's umbilical cord is firmly attached to his or her belly at this point. The umbilical cord provides vital nutrients to your baby.
From pregnancy week 16 onward, your baby will be focusing his or her attention on complicated circulatory matters. For example, your little bundle of joy's heart is pumping around 25 quarts of blood every day. That's pretty impressive for someone that's smaller than a grapefruit!
Say goodbye to your waistline! By 16 weeks pregnant, you no longer have a discernable waist. Try not to worry – your waist will come back one day. Most pregnant women celebrate their blossoming roundness. They love looking more and more pregnant with each day that passes. While you aren't huge by any stretch of the imagination, you won't be able to hide your pregnancy any longer!
You may start considering shopping for some maternity clothes at pregnancy week 16, though you will be able to continue to wear your pre-pregnancy clothes for a few more weeks. If this is your second or third pregnancy, you will look more pregnant than you are, so maternity clothes may be a stylish option for you. Some stores offer maternity clothes in a variety of different sizes, and some even cater to second versus third trimester sizes.
Your maternity size typically corresponds with your pre-pregnancy size, provided that you haven't gained an unusual amount of weight. (Remember to try to aim for the recommended weight gain during pregnancy, which is 25 to 35 pounds for the average woman carrying one baby.)
Can you feel your baby move yet? At 16 weeks pregnant, you may be able to discern tiny fetal movements. Many women describe feeling their baby's first movements as little butterflies fluttering away in their stomach. During pregnancy week 16, you may dismiss this sensation as gas, but watch out – your baby's swimming a storm inside your uterus.
If you don't feel your baby's movements, don't panic. If this is your first baby, it will probably take a couple more weeks before you start to feel anything. You typically feel your baby's movements sooner if this is your second or third pregnancy.
Most women are feeling pretty good at 16 weeks pregnant. The queasiness, fatigue, and frequent urination that plagued you earlier in pregnancy are completely gone for many women. (For some mamas-to-be, they feel nauseous and exhausted throughout all 40 weeks. Remember that every pregnancy is different.)
The pregnancy "glow" is probably noticeable at 16 weeks pregnant. Friends and family may start commenting on your glowing, rosy skin. Even if your bump isn't too noticeable, people might tell you that you just look pregnant. This proverbial glow is an exciting pregnancy symptom, and it's due to hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your skin, which gives you a rosier, brighter look. Enjoy this pleasant symptom while it lasts.
Faster growing finger and toenails are another pregnancy symptom to expect at 16 weeks pregnant. Pregnancy hormones are responsible for your nail changes. You may find that your nails are growing faster than ever before. Alternatively, some women experience more brittle nails when pregnant. Nail changes are normal and temporarily. They go away after your baby is born.
Feeling your baby move might begin at 16 weeks pregnant for second or third time mothers. (For first-time mothers, they won't feel their baby's little flutters until 18 weeks pregnant.) When you first feel your baby's movements in utero, it may feel like someone is tapping on your womb, or butterflies in your stomach. Enjoy these sensations!
Nasal congestion can be a troublesome pregnancy symptom at 16 weeks pregnant. You may find that your nose is always runny or stuffy, and you don't have a cold or allergies. Nasal congestion affects up to 30 percent of all expecting women, and it's called rhinitis of pregnancy. It's caused by elevated levels of estrogen causing the mucous membranes to swell.
Increased vaginal discharge at 16 weeks pregnant is a normal symptom to expect. Since there is more blood flow to your genitals and increased estrogen levels in your body, it's common for you to have more vaginal discharge in pregnancy than before. You should only be worried about your discharge if it's thin, clear discharge or tinged with blood. Normal vaginal discharge should also be odorless or mild in scent.
In the second trimester, your husband or partner may be pleasantly surprised by the sudden change in libido. Since you're feeling better, you may notice an increased desire to be intimate.
Some pregnant women describe lovemaking as more pleasurable. This is due to increased blood flow to your private parts, causing heightened sensation during relations. You may also find making love more enjoyable due to your sensitive breasts and more sensitive vagina. On the other hand, other women find that intimacy in pregnancy is uncomfortable.
Always talk to your partner about how you feel. If you don't want to have sexual intercourse, you can still remain intimate in other ways – such as cuddling and kissing.
Your weight gain might be anywhere from six to eight pounds. Some pregnant women will have packed on more pounds; and others less. There is a lot of variability in your weight gain week by week. If you're worried that you're not gaining enough or too much, talk to your doctor or midwife. He or she can alleviate any fears that you may have.
In today's society, more and more women are deciding to delay pregnancy until they reach a stage in life in which they are more settled in their personal lives and in their career. More women are waiting until after age 35, when they have reached a place where they have achieved some personal and career successes.
The good news is that most women can continue to have and deliver healthy babies after age 35. However, it may be harder to get pregnant. Your fertility declines as you age.
If you end up conceiving after age 35, your pregnancy may be considered "high risk," because you are twice as likely to develop high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia (hypertension and protein in the urine). Older women (defined as 35 and older) are also more likely to have twins or multiples. Placental problems, such as placenta previa (a condition in which your placenta covers part or the entire opening of your uterus), are more common in older women.
Some studies suggest that women who get pregnant after age 35 are at higher risk of preterm labor (a baby born before 37 weeks pregnant) and delivering a baby that has a low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds).
In addition, if you are over 35, you are at higher risk of having a baby with genetic defects. The risk of chromosomal disorders (such as Down Syndrome) increases with age. For example, a 30-year-old woman generally has a 1 in 1,000 chance of giving birth to a baby with Down syndrome. When the woman reaches age 35, her risk increases to 1 in 400. By age 40, her odds increase to 1 in 100.
If you are over 35 years old, your healthcare provider may recommend that you undergo genetic testing and have an amniocentesis to rule out any genetic or chromosomal problems in your baby.
While all of these risks may sound scary, your healthcare provider will work closely with you to ensure the health of you and your baby throughout the 40 weeks of pregnancy and during labor and delivery. You should keep in mind that most women over age 35 at 16 weeks pregnant will go on to have happy, safe, and healthy problems without any complications.
To ensure that you end up delivering safely and to minimize your risk of any other complications, consider the following tips:
Make sure that you receive early prenatal counseling to rule out any medical conditions that may cause complications during your pregnancy.
Take a prenatal vitamin that has at least 400 micrograms of folic acid before, during, and after your pregnancy.
Maintain a healthy weight throughout your pregnancy. Try to aim for the recommended weight gain for your size.
Avoid any tobacco, alcohol, or drugs during pregnancy. All of these can increase your baby's risk of birth defects.
Do not take any over-the-counter medication without consulting your healthcare provider first.
Between pregnancy week 16 and 18 weeks pregnant, you will undergo a second trimester screening test called an alpha-fetoprotein test (AFP). AFP is a protein that is produced by your baby's yolk sac and liver, and a small amount crosses the placenta and enters your blood stream.
Your healthcare provider will measure the amount of AFP with a simple blood test. If there are high levels of AFP in your blood, this may indicate that there is a problem with your baby, such as an elevated risk for spinal cord problems (Spina Bifida) or chromosomal problems (Down Syndrome).
If you get an abnormal AFP result at 16 weeks pregnant, try not to worry just yet. An abnormal test result does not mean that there is something wrong with your little one. Because an AFP test is only a screening test, not a diagnostic test, it merely indicates to your doctor that something may be off.
Amniocentesis
In most cases, if you receive a high AFP result, your doctor will order an amniocentesis or ultrasound to confirm a diagnosis. An amniocentesis is a diagnostic test, and it is one of the more common genetic tests performed to test for chromosomal abnormalities and genetic birth defects.
During an amniocentesis, the doctor will use an ultrasound to guide a thin needle through your abdomen to withdraw a small amount of the amniotic fluid. While this may sound painful, it's not. You will receive a local anesthetic beforehand, so it will feel like a bee sting. The point of an amniocentesis is to determine whether or not your baby has a genetic or chromosomal defect, however, it can also determine whether your baby is a boy or a girl.
Before you agree to have an amniocentesis, you should keep in mind that there's a small risk of miscarriage, spotting, and leaking of amniotic fluid.
At 16 weeks pregnant, your miscarriage risk is very low. Eighty percent of miscarriages occur in the first trimester, or within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. While second trimester miscarriages can occur, they are rare. Now that you are at pregnancy week 16, your risk of losing your baby is less than 0.6 percent.
Although second trimester miscarriages are uncommon, they are often devastating to the women that they impact. Heavy smoking, moderate to high alcohol consumption, and cocaine and drug abuse can all cause miscarriage. However, most of the time, women who experience second trimester miscarriages live a healthy lifestyle.
Second trimester pregnancy losses can be caused by a number of factors, such as problems with the woman's uterus, a weakened cervix that opened (dilated) too soon, chromosomal defects in the baby, and maternal infections. In rare cases, trauma from diagnostic tests (such as an amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling) can cause miscarriage. These tests come with a 1 percent miscarriage risk.
Here is what does not cause a miscarriage: exercise, working during pregnancy, taking birth control pills before pregnancy, or having sex when you're expecting. All of these lifestyle choices will not impact your risk of miscarriage at all!
Warning signs that a miscarriage may occur include heavy or persistent bleeding that is accompanied with abdominal pain and cramping, a gush of fluid from your vagina with no bleeding or bleeding, and passed fetal tissue. If you experience any of these symptoms during pregnancy week 16, call your doctor immediately.
Try not to worry about miscarriage at 16 weeks pregnant. Your risk is very low, and it will continue to decrease as you go through your pregnancy week by week.
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Say goodbye to your waistline! By 16 weeks pregnant, you no longer have a discernable waist. Try not to worry – your waist will come back one day. Most pregnant women celebrate their blossoming roundness. They love looking more and more pregnant with each day that passes. While you aren't huge by any stretch of the imagination, you won't be able to hide your pregnancy any longer! 
Most women are feeling pretty good at 16 weeks pregnant. The queasiness, fatigue, and frequent urination that plagued you earlier in pregnancy are completely gone for many women. (For some mamas-to-be, they feel nauseous and exhausted throughout all 40 weeks. Remember that every pregnancy is different.) 
In the second trimester, your husband or partner may be pleasantly surprised by the sudden change in libido. Since you're feeling better, you may notice an increased desire to be intimate. 
In today's society, more and more women are deciding to delay pregnancy until they reach a stage in life in which they are more settled in their personal lives and in their career. More women are waiting until after age 35, when they have reached a place where they have achieved some personal and career successes. 
Between pregnancy week 16 and 18 weeks pregnant, you will undergo a second trimester screening test called an alpha-fetoprotein test (AFP). AFP is a protein that is produced by your baby's yolk sac and liver, and a small amount crosses the placenta and enters your blood stream. 
At 16 weeks pregnant, your miscarriage risk is very low. Eighty percent of miscarriages occur in the first trimester, or within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. While second trimester miscarriages can occur, they are rare. Now that you are at pregnancy week 16, your risk of losing your baby is less than 0.6 percent. 