Week 16 of pregnancy | Second Trimester

Week 16 of your pregnancy could arrive with a flutter of butterflies in your stomach… Let’s take a closer look at what’s really happening!

MOM
You may think that the butterflies in your stomach are a case of nerves setting in, but chances are you may very well be feeling your baby move for the first time. These movements are called “quickening“, and is a great tool for your doctor in terms of determining your due date. However, if this is your first pregnancy, butterflies might not necessarily appear in Week 16. So don’t worry if you don’t feel movement until as late as weeks 22 to 24. Also, thinner women stand a better chance of noticing the movements than heavier-set women.

BABY
Perfect little finger and toe nails will have formed by now. Your baby’s bladder is also preparing for life in the outside world by emptying approximately once every hour. In Week 16, your baby is approximately 80-85 grams in weight and 16 centimetres in length, and an ultrasound might tell you if it is a girl or a boy. But it is still a little early, so you might want to wait a little longer to be absolutely sure.

The following image is courtesy of standupgirl.com

DAD
If it hasn’t happened already, you might be engaged in a really difficult conversation with your partner about a very serious topic. The age old question of “Do I look fat?” may rear its ugly head, as your partner may feel a little insecure at the tightness of her clothes because she hasn’t yet developed a “pregnant belly” to show off to the world. Reassure her that she is beautiful and amazing, and that she is carrying a new life inside of her – which is much more important than a few extra centimetres around the waist!

That’s it for Week 16 of your pregnancy… Next week Mom might experience a spot of perspiration, while Baby could decide on his or her music taste… let’s hope it’s Mozart and not Metallica!