At 16 weeks, you're officially 4 months pregnant!
As your second trimester hums along, your baby's growing rapidly, and you might start seeing changes to your own body, too — so if you haven't already gone shopping for maternity clothes, now's the time. If you're 16 weeks pregnant, you're in month 4 of your pregnancy. Only 5 months left to go! Still have questions? Here's some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy. Your baby now weighs in at a whopping 3 to 4 ounces and is 4 to 5 inches in length. The backbone and tiny muscles in your baby's back are gaining strength, so she can straighten out that head and neck even more. Thanks to those developing facial muscles, your baby is capable of making a few expressive frowns and squints, even at this early stage. Baby's beautiful eyes are finally working too, making small side-to-side movements and perceiving light, although the eyelids are still sealed. Peekaboo! Your fetus is becoming a looker too — with a face that's starting to look more human — but a skinny looker, since there's no baby fat yet. And here's the skinny on baby skin: It's practically translucent now, so if you took a peek inside your uterus, you'd be able to see your baby's blood vessels under that thin skin. Listen up: Tiny bones in your fetus' ears are in place, making it likely that baby will soon be able to hear your voice (or something like it) when you're speaking. Generally, babies fully develop the ability to hear in the womb by 18 weeks of pregnancy. In fact, studies have found that babies who hear a song while they're in the womb recognize the same tune when it's sung to them after they’re born — so choose your lullabies with that in mind. At 16 weeks pregnant, your uterus is growing at about the same pace as your baby's — aka pretty darn fast! — and it's getting to the point where you may not be able to hide your pregnancy anymore, even if you wanted to. You're still also likely enjoying the relative bliss of trimester two, especially compared with trimester one, and will soon be able to see more of your baby at your ultrasound in a few weeks. At 16 weeks pregnant, you may now be at the stage where your bump clearly has a baby in there. Your weight gain and that of your baby have likely picked up considerably, and you’ll both continue to grow. But all baby bumps at 16 weeks are different — and normal. Believe it or not, some women still don’t really show at 16 weeks pregnant, while others have pronounced bumps. The wide variety of baby bumps can be attributed to everything from a woman’s size and shape to whether this is the first pregnancy or the second, third or fourth. Whatever you do, don’t compare your 16 weeks pregnant belly to anyone else’s and don’t worry too much. It’s all good! If you’re still concerned, though, or have questions about how big or small you are, just talk to your doctor for some reassurance. It may be hard to watch yourself gain weight during pregnancy, even when you know there's a wonderful reason for it, but try to embrace your body's new shape and think of every pound you put on as a sign of good health for you and your baby. As long as you eat right during pregnancy, minimize junk and maximize nutrient-dense foods, and get regular exercise, you'll be fine in the long run. Remember, every woman gains and loses weight during pregnancy at a different pace. One way to show your changing shape some love this week and feel better about yourself in the process: Buy a garment or accessory that makes you feel pretty at your new size — and don't forget to buy underwear that fits! Your uterus is not the only thing that's starting to swell. So can the mucous membranes of your nose from all the pregnancy hormones circulating in your body, which are also increasing blood flow. The result? Your nose probably already knows: pregnancy congestion and possibly even nosebleeds. Unfortunately, the stuffiness may only get worse as your pregnancy progresses, but your practitioner will probably not prescribe any medications or antihistamine nasal sprays to help clear things up — but do ask if your doctor recommends something else instead. You can safely try saline sprays or nasal strips, especially if the congestion takes a turn for the truly uncomfortable. A humidifier in your room and a little petroleum jelly dabbed under your nose may also help overcome the dryness associated with any congestion. Hormones and milk-producing glands are developing to prepare for nursing. All this activity, plus an increase in blood flow, can cause your breasts to grow up to three cup sizes. Of course, every pregnant woman's symptoms are different. While breast growth is common — and for some women quite a lot — you might not notice any changes at all in your breast size, especially if you're busty to begin with. Even if you have no breast growth, it’s not cause for concern. Unless you have a food allergy yourself, you don’t have to avoid peanuts or peanut butter. The latest research suggests that eating peanuts while pregnant won’t trigger nut allergies in your baby — in fact, it may actually prevent them. If you do have food allergies, talk to your doctor and an allergist about what you can safely eat during your pregnancy. That annoying stuffiness in your nose — and sometimes even the nosebleeds that accompany it, especially if you're blowing often — usually start around week 16 of your pregnancy. Unfortunately, they usually stick with you and sometimes get worse until the very end. Try using a neti pot with bottled, distilled water and a humidifier to moisten your dry nose, or ask your practitioner for treatment recommendations. You know you need your protein, but you've had a falling out with meat (and chicken, and fish …) and now you can't be in the same room together, never mind share a plate. You'll eventually be able to stomach these meaty foods again, but until then, pick up protein from cottage cheese, yogurt, beans or soy products, especially tofu or edamame. Or consider quinoa, a nutty grain that packs a super-punch of protein in a comforting package. If it's leafy greens that turn you a not-so-delicate shade of chartreuse, brighten up your diet with yellow vegetables (which are often easier to stomach), like carrots or yams. Or go for the beta-carotene in cantaloupe, mangoes, peaches and apricots. Backache got you down? Instead of nursing it on the sofa, try doing some gentle prenatal yoga or pregnancy-safe Pilates moves. Both help stretch and loosen the spine and release tension — which can be one of the main causes of back pain. Another plus: Yoga and Pilates boost your overall energy and mood levels, so you're better able to cope with the pregnancy pains that remain. You can also do simple moves that strengthen your abdominal muscles, which will, in turn, reduce the amount of strain on your lower back. (But remember, don't exercise on your back now that you're well into your second trimester). Make a habit of having a salad or grilled veggies, or sauteéd leafy greens such as spinach, escarole or broccoli as a side. Lentil, bean and vegetable soups are all great choices too, and same goes for tomato-based broths and chowders. Pushing your baby through your pelvis and into the world is demanding not only on you, but also on your pelvic floor muscles — which have to stretch to proportions previously unimaginable. Doing pelvic floor exercises during and after pregnancy can ease pregnancy symptoms and lead to a faster post-birth recovery. Squeeze the pelvic floor muscles for up to 10 seconds, shooting for three sets of 20 a day. Building these bladder- and uterus-supporting muscles reduces your chance of bladder issues and eases a host of other pregnancy and postpartum symptoms.Your Baby at Week 16
At a Glance
16 weeks pregnant is how many months?
How big is my baby at 16 weeks?
Baby's eyes are working
Baby's skin is transparent
Baby will soon hear your voice
Your Body at Week 16
Rapid growth
Your 16 weeks pregnant belly
Your pregnancy weight gain
Nasal congestion
Pregnancy Symptoms Week 16
Tips for You This Week
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