Pregnancy Calendar

Week 16
Second Trimester

What happens to me?

You may begin to feel the baby move around at this point. This is more likely to happen now if you have had a previous child or if you are very thin. Generally, you will feel the baby move about one month earlier than you did in a previous pregnancy, because you already know what you are feeling. It is common for first time mothers to not recognize movements until 22-24 weeks. These first movements are called "quickening." They can also be used in helping to determine your due date so don’t forget to tell your doctor about them.

You may also have constipation. If you are having trouble having bowel movements, try to alleviate this by eating more vegetables and other food items that contain fiber. Drinking more fluids, especially water, will also help a great deal. If these things do not help, be sure to tell your doctor that you are still constipated.

How much will I be showing?

As the baby grows so does your uterus and placenta. At this point, you have probably gained between 5-10 pounds. You should easily be able to feel your uterus about 3 inches below your belly button.

What happens to baby?

The baby's nails are well formed now. In fact, many babies even need to have their nails trimmed at birth. The ears have also moved into place on the head.

The baby is emptying its bladder every 40-45 minutes. Movements of the arms and legs are becoming more coordinated. The gender may be detectable through an ultrasound examination since external genitals are developed enough that the technician can probably tell the difference between boy and girl.

You may not know it when it happens, but the baby frequently gets the hiccups, which they master before breathing; they do not make any sound because the trachea is filled with fluid rather than air. Legs are growing longer than the arms now and all the joints and limbs can move.

How big is the baby?

The baby weighs about 3 ounces and is 4 1/2 inches long.

Tip of the Week

You may want to start sleeping on your side and adding extra pillows. A full-length body pillow may provide you with extra comfort!

Want to figure out your due date? Click Here

Just found out you're pregnant? Don't forget to check out the previous Weeks!

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