Mom at 16 weeks pregnant

The expectant mother's immunity has two main enemies: stress and infectious diseases. The fact is that you have to carry a child for 9 months - during this period several seasons will change, dangerous both in terms of the development of infectious diseases and in terms of viral infection. Methods for preventing infections have been well known since childhood: wash your hands with soap, thoroughly wash vegetables, fruits and berries, spend less time in crowded places during periods of raging flu or acute respiratory infections, and if this is not possible, wear a respiratory bandage, walk more in the fresh air.

Start hardening your body, as this procedure will increase your energy potential. Scientists have found that hardened mothers are more adapted to the stress (mental and physical) associated with bearing a child and experience labor pain much easier. Hardening strengthens the cardiovascular system, activates the gastrointestinal tract, the body’s cleansing system, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, and improves the metabolic process.

Although all this happens in the mother’s body, it is important for your baby, as it significantly improves development conditions. Good types of hardening are permissible physical activity, swimming, dousing with water, and contrast showers. A slight decrease in temperature in the abdominal area during swimming, a contrast shower or dousing with water will give the Baby new sensations, as well as active movements. The fact is that the skin of a very tiny person is a very sensitive organ, and the signals coming from it train brain activity in their own way.

Be sure to walk at a comfortable pace, because a walk is not only a source of energy for you, but also a source of oxygen for the Baby. Oxygen nourishes brain cells and thereby contributes to the development of the most important organ. And what parents don’t dream of their child being smart and intelligent?

For a growing Baby, the measured swaying motions during mother's walking are training of the vestibular apparatus and at the same time a way... to sleep sweetly (in the future, such a wonderful state, when the Baby sleeps next to the mother's body, and your hands remain free, can only be achieved with the help sling).

16th week of pregnancy: Video "Second trimester screening"

. What happens at 16 weeks

Pregnancy is an amazing time. In a very short period - just about 9 months - so many metamorphoses happen to a woman that she does not have time to keep track of them. And after this, a completely new period begins in her life: her old life will change forever, because a new little creature will burst into it - so helpless, funny, but so dear and beloved. By the 16th week of waiting for this event, many women have a moment of realizing the inevitability of change. 16-17 weeks of pregnancy is a great time to psychologically prepare yourself for welcoming a baby into your life (or even two – for those who are carrying twins).

1. 16th week of pregnancy: abdominal sensations
2. 16 weeks of pregnancy: what happens to the baby?
3. Ultrasound at 16 weeks of pregnancy
4. 16 weeks: what you need to know?

16 weeks of pregnancy is how many months?

When you hear the words from the doctor’s lips, “You are in your 16th obstetric week,” don’t be surprised. By your calculations, the fetus should be only 14 weeks old? Everything is correct. Doctors simply consider the week when the expectant mother begins a new monthly cycle, and she still has no idea that conception will soon take place, as the first week. 14 weeks from conception is 16 obstetric weeks, in other words, 3.5 months.

The abdomen increases in volume at the 16th week of pregnancy (especially if it is the second pregnancy). If the expectant mother calmly hid her “interesting position” throughout the first trimester, now this is much more difficult to do: the 16th obstetric week of pregnancy suggests the appearance of a pleasant roundness. The belly is noticeable (in the case of pregnancy with twins, this is especially obvious). True, plump ladies can still convince others that nothing unusual is happening to them.

16th week of pregnancy: abdominal sensations

There are no very outstanding sensations during this period yet (if we talk about the sensations that the fetus gives the mother). The baby is not able to “perform” strong pushes due to its small size, but the expectant mother may feel something like “flying butterflies” or “seething bubbles”: these will be sensations in the stomach, meaning the baby is moving.

If everything is still quiet and, no matter how much the woman listens to herself, she does not feel any extraneous “movements,” this is not a reason to panic: both at 15-16 and 16-17 weeks the child may not bother the mother yet. Everything will definitely start, but a little later - we wait until the 20th week.

Feelings at 16 weeks of pregnancy can sometimes be like this:

• hard belly;
• breasts are not as sensitive as before;
• release of the first drops of colostrum.

A runny nose may appear - “rhinitis during pregnancy”, caused by hormonal changes. There is no need to treat it - it will go away on its own (if there are no other symptoms of ARVI).

If the stomach hardens for a short time and quickly “releases”, with no pain or discharge, then this is a variant of the norm. If your lower abdomen hurts or you feel dizzy, you should consult a doctor.

16th week of pregnancy: what happens to the baby?

The development of the fetus and the woman’s sensations during this period may seem to “not coincide”: that is, according to the ultrasound, complete normal is observed, but the woman feels little or no movements at all, the stomach does not grow (at least, it grows weakly). This is not scary, since every pregnancy is different. The main thing is that the tests and ultrasound results are good.

Pregnancy at 16 weeks: the development of the baby’s internal organs gradually begins to change, that is, all the main systems and organs are formed - now they are “gaining weight.”

A fetus at 16 weeks of gestation will no longer frighten the mother with its “unassuming” appearance: the child looks almost like an ordinary person.

It has a reddish, thin skin, a large head, long thin arms and legs (the legs are longer than the arms). Baby at 16 weeks of pregnancy:

• turns his head;
• makes chaotic movements;
• “frowns”, “smiles” - in a word, he grimaces unconsciously in every possible way.

To find out what a baby looks like at 16 weeks of pregnancy, especially curious mothers choose a 3D ultrasound examination. 3D ultrasound will allow not only to determine the gender of the child, but also to obtain a three-dimensional picture - the first “real photograph” of an unborn but already living creature.

Ultrasound at 16 weeks of pregnancy

As part of the tests at this time, the doctor will most likely offer the woman a regular ultrasound. It (together with tests for) is quite enough to determine whether the fetus has serious developmental abnormalities. But for mothers expecting boys and expecting girls, this is sometimes not enough. They want to see their baby as soon as possible. This allows you to do 3d ultrasound.

During pregnancy at 16 weeks, the development of the fetus is judged by certain indicators. These are, in particular:

• fetal size (norm – 11 cm);
• fetal weight (normal – 110 g);
• cervical size;
• uterine size;
• amount of amniotic fluid;
• Fetal heart rate (normal 140-170 beats per minute)

At 16 weeks of pregnancy, the doctor may prescribe Doppler testing. This study helps to understand whether everything is okay with the blood flow in the uterus. Since the formation of the placenta occurs until the 16th week, Doppler norms exist only from approximately this period. Until 16-17 weeks, the study is not very informative.

For minor blood flow disturbances, doctors choose observation tactics; for serious ones, they try to bring the pregnancy at least to the point where the child is already viable, and then cause premature birth.

One of the risks at this stage is low placentation. It is registered in many expectant mothers, and doctors warn of an increased risk of miscarriage. (closer to the cervix, sometimes blocking the exit to it), so premature dilatation of the cervix is ​​possible. In this case, the woman may notice signs of a miscarriage. If measures are taken in time, the pregnancy can be saved.

Another warning symptom is a short cervix. If it begins to shorten too early, this may also indicate that the mother’s body is preparing to reject the fetus. You can read about the tactics of pregnancy management with isthmic-cervical insufficiency in this article.

The ultrasound will also show the tone of the uterus. At the same time, the stomach hardens, nagging pain is felt, and there is brownish discharge. Can this make you feel sick? This is also quite likely. Other signs of trouble will be visible in blood tests. Toxicosis and frequent urination at this stage should not bother the pregnant woman. If you still feel sick frequently, consult your doctor.

Perhaps something is wrong with the fetus if a woman has blood on her underwear, diarrhea, or nausea. There is no need to wait - it is better to immediately call an ambulance.

A variety of unusual discharge can bother a woman throughout the entire period of pregnancy. Pink ones can indicate erosion, abundant curds can indicate thrush, brown ones are a signal of problems with the uterus. Thrush can be dealt with in 1 day, but during pregnancy not all means of influencing the fungus are allowed. Therefore, before buying medicine, you should consult a gynecologist.

Brown and reddish discharge may progress to bleeding. It is very dangerous! We need to go to the hospital.

Quite abundant, whitish or transparent discharge is the norm.

When the pregnancy calendar is open at 16 weeks, the mother’s illnesses are still undesirable for the fetus. The child’s development is not in danger if the mother takes timely measures: she limits her activity and contacts with others for 4 or 5 days, drinks warm drinks such as chamomile tea and black tea with honey more often, and puts things aside. can be carried out using traditional methods; the temperature, if it is within 37.5 ° C, is better not to lower it.

It is better to postpone sex until better times - until your health returns to normal. Eating should be frequent, little by little, but if you don’t feel like eating yet, then you shouldn’t force your body. After a couple of days, your appetite will be restored.

In cases where a high temperature rises or the pregnant woman’s health deteriorates significantly, you should immediately call a doctor.

By the way, in the first and second trimesters, some women, having measured their temperature, feel anxious: the temperature on the thermometer is always 37 °C. But if there are no other signs of illness, then it is not a cold. Simply due to increased production, the body releases heat at a slower pace. Hence the deviation from the usual norm.

16 weeks: what you need to know

The mother's diet at this stage of pregnancy should be more varied. Because, firstly, toxicosis, vomiting, and with them the aversion to certain foods recede, and secondly, the growing fetus requires a lot of nutrients. But the weight gain should not be very significant: 3-5 kg ​​is enough for now.

Among the unpleasant sensations, the following can be noted: sometimes it pulls in the lower back, it is possible. But overall this is a favorable and calm period. The size of the belly is still very modest, it does not interfere with leading a normal life.

It is interesting that the mother herself can already understand where the enlarged reproductive organ is located. You can find out where the uterus (and the baby, respectively) is by placing your hand on the stomach about 7 cm below the navel: a bulge will be felt there.

So, you now know what the future baby looks like, what he can do, and even what gender he is. All you have to do is be patient: in a few months a new person will be born into the world - the closest to you; there is no one closer or dearer than his mother.

The fourth month of pregnancy has come to an end. Left behind are toxicosis and some other difficulties that the woman had to face in the early stages. Let's look at what happens to mother and baby at 16 weeks and how not to miss warning signs during this period.

At 16 weeks of pregnancy, not only the baby’s body changes. Noticeable changes occur in the woman’s body. This applies to both general well-being and appearance.

How your body changes:

• The tummy is noticeably enlarged, now it is visible even under loose clothing;
• The uterus weighs about 250-300 g. It is located 7 cm below the navel.
• Due to the pressure of the reproductive organ on the intestines, a pregnant woman often experiences constipation and flatulence.
• Weight gain at week 16 is 2-4 kg. If a mother is expecting twins, the weight may increase much faster.
• Breast pain gradually decreases, although the mammary glands already have a fairly large volume.
• The discharge is abundant, as in earlier periods. Now mommy should carefully monitor the nature of the vaginal secretion. If brown, yellow, white cheesy or other pathological discharge appears, you should urgently go to the doctor.
• Pigment spots, which could have appeared earlier, now appear most actively. There is no need to be scared, this is a completely normal physiological process. After childbirth, the skin will return to its normal state.

Particular attention should be paid to normalizing a woman’s hormonal levels at 16 weeks of pregnancy.

Sudden mood swings, tearfulness, irritability and other symptoms gradually go away. The girl becomes calmer, she does not react so sharply to certain situations. In this regard, the general well-being of the expectant mother improves significantly.

At 16 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus reaches the size of an avocado. His weight now is approximately 75-100 g, height up to 12 cm.

Despite the fact that all internal organs are already formed and actively functioning, the baby’s body goes through important changes:

• The baby's head no longer falls on the chest. The neck muscles are constantly strengthening, so the child is able to hold his head straight.
• At the sixteenth week, a woman carrying a fetus again often notices the first movements. First-time mothers cannot always feel their baby at this stage.
• Finally, it is possible to determine with high certainty who is in the tummy, a boy or a girl. You can find out the sex of the child using an ultrasound.
• During an ultrasound examination, you can see the baby's facial expressions. He opens and closes his mouth, squints his eyes, wrinkles his forehead.
• The heart of a little man is capable of pumping more than 20 liters of blood per day.

Outwardly, the toddler already looks very much like a newborn, but due to the lack of fat, his skin looks red. It is at the 16th week of pregnancy that the baby’s blood type and its Rh factor are determined.

The baby's digestive system is already active. Now the liver is responsible for its functioning. It produces bile. The baby's first intestinal contents consist entirely of bile. Together with the gastrointestinal tract, the kidneys and bladder begin their work.

Newborn hemoglobin is present in the baby’s blood, which disappears only 6 months after the baby is born.

16 weeks of pregnancy is how many months?

In medicine, a special calendar is used to calculate the period. Here, the beginning of pregnancy is taken from the first day of the last menstruation. This is the so-called obstetric counting method. The sixteenth obstetric week is 4 months.

There is also an embryonic period. This is the development of the baby from conception. It is 10-14 days less than obstetric. Therefore, the sixteenth obstetric week is the fourteenth embryonic week. Determining the embryonic period is very difficult. This is why doctors use an obstetric pregnancy calendar.

At week 16, many girls are concerned about which signs are normal or pathological. Let's look at the most common symptoms that are observed in most women in an interesting position. Of course, the most important sign at this stage is the ability to feel the baby’s first movements.

It is not always possible to hear them at this stage; more often, first-time mothers feel movements only by the 18th week. But sometimes the baby makes itself felt at an earlier date.

What else is going on with mom:

• signs of toxicosis such as nausea, vomiting, belching, flatulence, heartburn go away;
• The uterus rises, so it does not put as much pressure on the intestines. If a woman was previously bothered by diarrhea or, conversely, constipation, now digestion is improving;
• the pregnant woman's appetite improves;
• emotional well-being improves;
• New moles may appear on the skin.

At the sixteenth week, a girl’s gait often changes. This is due to a shift in the center of gravity due to an increase in the size of the uterus.

Due to changes in the hormonal levels of a pregnant woman, many mothers experience nasal congestion. Drug treatment for this condition is not required. Rinsing with sea salt will help relieve symptoms. Rhinitis should not cause much concern. After the baby is born, it goes away on its own.

Often pregnant girls are interested in the question of what the tummy looks like in primiparous and multiparous mothers. Let us immediately note that the size and shape of the tummy depends on many characteristics of the body. For some at 16 weeks it is large, for others it is very small. The roundness also differs between plump and thin mothers. So, below you can see photos of women’s bellies at 4 months.

During multiple pregnancies and multiparous mothers, the tummy looks a little larger. The size also depends on how quickly the pregnant woman gains weight.

Feelings: what should alert you

By the 16th week, toxicosis in a pregnant woman usually stops, but this does not always happen.

Late toxicosis is a dangerous condition for the mother and fetus. At the same time, mommy feels sick, vomits, has a headache, blood pressure rises, and spots flash before her eyes.

The causes of this condition include:

• heart and blood diseases;
• diseases of the kidneys, liver and other internal organs;
• large fetus or multiple pregnancy;
• stress and physical fatigue;
• influence of negative environmental factors.

If toxicosis disappears at week 16 and then suddenly appears, you must immediately undergo a medical examination. Treatment is carried out with the help of sedatives, antispasmodics, diuretics, and medications to lower blood pressure.

Another symptom in the sixteenth week that should not be ignored is nagging pain in the lower abdomen and lumbar region. Many mothers complain that their lower abdomen is tight.

With moderate severity and the absence of other pathological symptoms, this sign is not considered a pathology. A doctor's help is required if the stomach hurts severely and the discomfort does not go away for a long time. You should immediately consult a doctor if uncharacteristic discharge appears.

Pain in the lower abdomen and lumbar region, spotting, and headache are likely signs of an incipient miscarriage.

Normally, vaginal discharge is clear, odorless mucus. Sometimes its shade may be a little whitish. During pregnancy, the amount of secretion increases slightly, which is associated with many factors, including changes in hormonal levels and an increase in blood volume in the body.

Particular attention should be paid to spotting, which normally should not be present in a woman at sixteen weeks.

You should not postpone a visit to the gynecologist if the secretion has a brown, brownish or pink tint. Beginning bleeding indicates various abnormalities, including placental abruption and miscarriage.

Hypertonicity of the uterus at 15-16 weeks is a common and quite dangerous condition. Its essence lies in the frequent tension of the muscles of the reproductive organ, which can even provoke a miscarriage. Reasons for increased tone include:

• infectious diseases in pregnant women;
• disruption of hormonal levels in the body;
• abnormalities of the uterus;
• stress, heavy physical activity;
• incorrect location of the placenta.

If the tone is slightly increased, correction is carried out using relaxation methods, as well as antispasmodic and sedative medications.

In especially severe cases, tranquilizers and medications that restore metabolic processes in the uterine area may be needed.

Many mothers experience swelling in their legs at 16-17 weeks of pregnancy. This is due to an increase in fluid in the body in women expecting a baby. Normal swelling, as a rule, does not pose a threat to the woman and child and is a natural physiological process. More often, a pregnant woman's legs (feet, ankles) swell.

Fluid restriction and nutritional correction help to cope with edema. The expectant mother should give up salted, smoked, pickled foods, sausages, strong tea, coffee and certainly alcohol.

Sometimes severe swelling occurs due to kidney pathologies and late toxicosis. This condition requires timely diagnosis and proper treatment.

Are tests needed?

Repeated screening is carried out exactly at 16-18 weeks. Screening involves a full medical examination. Mandatory analysis during this period is an assessment of the level. Human chorionic gonadotropin is a specific hormone produced by chorion tissue to maintain the functioning of the corpus luteum in the initial stages of pregnancy. Until 11-12 weeks, the level of this hormone increases rapidly and by the second trimester increases several thousand times. The hCG norm at week 16, according to the data that you can see in the table, is 6,140 - 103,000 IU/l.

In addition to testing blood for hormones, ultrasound examination of the fetus is very informative. Ultrasound helps to establish the exact duration of pregnancy, to see whether the embryo is located normally and on which side in the womb, where the placenta is located, and to suspect certain chromosomal diseases. Ideally, the child’s parameters should approach the following indicators:

• fetal body weight – 80-110 g;
• heart rate – 140-160 beats per minute;
• BDP (biparietal size) – 35-38 mm;
• KTR (coccygeal-parietal size) – 10-12 mm;
• baby’s head circumference – 110-140 mm;
• OB (abdominal roundness) – from 90 to 115 mm;
• humerus – 15-20 mm;
• femur – 18-25 mm;
• ankle – 15-22 mm.

If the ultrasound readings are slightly different from the norm, do not worry, because each baby is individual.

Only a doctor should judge the presence of pathology.

Photo of the fetus on ultrasound

This photo shows a baby in the womb at 16 weeks of pregnancy.

And here I am pregnant with twins.

During an ultrasound examination, you can ask the doctor to tell you in detail about the child, and the woman can also hear the heartbeat of her baby. These exciting moments are remembered for many girls for the rest of their lives, no matter whether it is their second, third or subsequent pregnancies.

Dangers at 16 weeks

Throughout pregnancy, a woman faces many dangers. It is not always possible to carry and give birth to a healthy baby under the influence of various factors. Let's consider what can happen to mother and baby at this stage.

The risk of cessation of fetal development can occur at any stage. Signs of a frozen pregnancy at 16 weeks are as follows:

• the breasts stopped hurting and became less firm;
• spotting or bleeding appears;
• the appearance of cramping pain in the lower abdomen;
• pulling sensations in the lumbar region;
• The general temperature rises, and the basal temperature, on the contrary, falls.

Fetal freezing is not always accompanied by miscarriage. Often a woman requires medical attention, during which the fetus is removed through surgery.

From a moral point of view, surviving a miscarriage can be quite difficult, especially if the pregnancy was long-awaited. Relatives should help a woman cope with her loss. Sometimes the help of a psychologist is needed.

A short cervix at 16 weeks of pregnancy is one of the signs of cervical insufficiency. This implies the threat of miscarriage due to the inability to support the growing body. This often results in miscarriage or premature birth. If mommy starts bleeding, going to the hospital should be done immediately.

This happens due to premature dilatation of the cervix. If the pregnancy is still carried to term, a short cervix provokes rapid labor. Their consequences are ruptures in the woman and some other complications.

In this condition, the expectant mother should regularly visit the antenatal clinic and adhere to all the doctor’s recommendations.

Breech presentation

Breech presentation occurs in 4-6% of all women. This condition during pregnancy is considered pathological and is characterized by improper positioning of the baby in the womb. There are several types of breech presentation of the fetus. You can see them in the picture.

Why does the baby take the wrong position? The causes of this condition include various diseases of the reproductive system in women, fetal pathologies, hereditary predisposition and some other factors.

If this condition is diagnosed before 28 weeks, the mother does not require any treatment. Here, experts recommend that a woman lead a healthy lifestyle, eat healthy food, get more rest, and, if possible, eliminate stress.

In addition, there are certain exercises that help the baby take a natural body position, that is, head down. This video explains how to do the exercises correctly.

Exercises can only be performed with a doctor's permission, otherwise they can cause harm.

Cold at 16 weeks

Pregnant women are not immune to colds; on the contrary, they are more susceptible to them due to weakened immunity. If the expectant mother has a sore throat, a runny nose, a fever and other symptoms, do not delay visiting the doctor. Now is not the time for self-medication, because even with a common cold, the child’s life is in danger.

The specialist will select for the patient only those medications that are allowed during this delicate period and will not harm the small body. Paracetamol is usually used to reduce fever. Drinking plenty of fluids and taking vitamins helps fight viruses.

Do not experiment with your health and the life of your baby. Trust your doctor to treat colds during pregnancy.

After the embryo enters the uterine cavity, it is usually attached to the upper part of the organ (on the front or back wall). Sometimes it happens that a fertilized egg is implanted into the endometrium somewhat lower, closer to the uterine os. This condition should not be confused with placenta previa, which was discussed earlier in the article.

Symptoms of this condition do not always appear. Often low placentation is detected at 12 weeks during the first ultrasound. The causes of the pathology are not fully understood. It is assumed that the embryo is attached lower due to damaged endometrium of the reproductive organ due to abortions, miscarriages and infectious diseases.

There is no treatment for this condition. A woman with low placentation requires careful management of pregnancy and compliance with all doctor’s recommendations.

What you can and cannot eat during this period

The 16th week of pregnancy is characterized by a decrease in signs of toxicosis and an increase in appetite. If there are no special contraindications from doctors, you can eat everything, but a little at a time. Mommy should approach the issue of nutrition with all seriousness.

• vegetables, fruits, herbs;
• dairy and fermented milk products;
• cereals;
• lean meat, fish;
• seafood;
• steam omelettes, casseroles;
• For sweets, halva, marmalade, marshmallow are suitable;
• natural juices, herbal teas.

• A pregnant woman in the sixteenth week is recommended to sleep more and be less nervous.
• When preparing food, you should follow all the rules, wash vegetables and fruits well, and subject foods to long-term heat treatment.
• It is necessary to abandon strength sports and heavy physical activity.
• Sex during this period is allowed only if the woman does not have any pathologies.
• It is important to visit the hospital in a timely manner and undergo all necessary tests.
• Frequent walks in the fresh air will be useful.
• At this time, you need to choose comfortable clothes and shoes. It is better to avoid high heels.
• Airplane flights and long trips are also best avoided. During this period, doctors advise staying in a familiar environment.

The sixteenth week brings many new sensations to mommy. Toxicosis recedes, appetite improves and overall well-being improves.

At this stage, the baby is actively developing and mastering new skills. A woman needs to take care of her health, eat right, and set herself up for positive emotions. This will help prevent many complications, carry and give birth to a healthy and happy toddler.

Video

This video will tell you what else happens at 16 weeks of pregnancy.

The fourth month of pregnancy is coming to an end. During this period, a woman becomes a real beauty: her cheeks turn pink from the increase in the amount of blood circulating in the body, her hair becomes strong and shiny, and the range of sensations is the widest. This is what the 16th week of pregnancy usually looks like. We will talk in more detail about what new it brings to the development of the baby and the well-being of his mother in this material.

How many months is this?

To make it easier and clearer for women, and for doctors to be able to quickly navigate how far along the patient is, it is customary all over the world to count in obstetric weeks.

To calculate the period, the doctor only needs to know the date of the onset of menstruation, which was the last one before pregnancy. The first day of this menstruation is considered the first day of pregnancy. Now we are in the 16th obstetric week: this means that the 14th embryonic week has started from conception, and at least 84 days (about 12 weeks) have passed since the start of the delay.

The second trimester of pregnancy is underway; this week her fourth obstetric month ends. There are still six lunar months left before giving birth, each of which has 4 weeks. Pregnancy has not yet reached its “equator”; there is exactly a month left until the middle.

Enter the first day of your last menstrual period

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Feelings of the expectant mother

The woman froze in anticipation - very soon she would be able to feel the baby’s first movements. This is an exciting feeling that is very difficult to compare with anything. Many women, even many years after pregnancy, sometimes experience them in their dreams; this is the unique “memory” of the female body.

Primiparas most likely do not feel anything yet unless they are pregnant with twins. In women expecting their first child, on average, the first slight movements begin to be felt only at 19-20 weeks. However, if the expectant mother is already in her second or third pregnancy, then the chances that she will feel the first movements right now are quite high - about 30% of expectant mothers who are pregnant again experience the joy of the first movements precisely at 15-16 weeks of pregnancy.

During a multiple pregnancy, the movements of the babies are already quite clearly visible. Very thin women who are pregnant for the first time may also have strange sensations that, due to inexperience, they perceive as intestinal motility, “rumbling” in the stomach, or fermentation of intestinal gases. In general, the time for active movements has not yet come, and only very sensitive pregnant women can feel them now.

At week 16, the vast majority of pregnant women notice a noticeable improvement in their well-being. If previously a woman experienced toxicosis, could not eat or sleep normally, suffered from headaches, diarrhea, constipation, was capricious and picky, now comes a time of relative peace, not only for the woman herself, but also for her entire family.

The main tests and examinations are left behind, the time for the second screening has not yet come, worries about the child’s condition are becoming less and less every day, and the confidence that everything will be fine is growing.

Everything that is happening now with the baby and mother is in one way or another connected with the level of basic hormones in the mother’s body. In the first trimester, poor health, weakness, increased fatigue, drowsiness and moodiness were caused by the effect on the brain, tissues and cells, nervous system, muscles of large doses of the hormone progesterone, as well as specific “pregnant” hormones and proteins, for example, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG ). Now enough of these substances have been produced to prolong pregnancy, hormonal changes in the body have completed.

That is why toxicosis goes away, nausea subsides, the inability to adequately perceive certain smells and tastes, the head does not hurt as often, the woman falls asleep better and sleeps more soundly. At week 16, appetite begins to increase. Now even those who couldn’t look at food throughout the first trimester want to eat. If you don’t watch your diet now, weight gain will be excessive, and this will greatly complicate the second half of pregnancy.

Psychologically and emotionally, the woman feels calmer and more confident. Of course, this does not completely cancel all her quirks, for example, some continue to want herring with jam or cucumbers with lard, but the expectant mother has the right to this. Women who are not affected by fads and toxicosis usually do not feel anything unusual at week 16, except that they noticeably increase in vigor and good mood.

Many pregnant women this week are faced with the eternal women's problem - they have nothing to wear. Not because the existing things do not suit them, but because everything that fit before pregnancy is now hopelessly small, and special clothes for pregnant women are still too large. This period is not the most suitable for changing your wardrobe, because your tummy is growing rapidly. Buying regular clothes a couple sizes larger and with a loose fit will help you cope with the problem.

This week, women often complain of “humming” pain and fatigue in their legs, even after a short walk. This is due to the fact that the weight grows, the center of gravity changes due to the enlarged breasts and growing belly, which creates a significant load on the legs.

The expectant mother, regardless of her body size, already feels her own uterus well. Therefore, not all positions for sleep, yoga, gymnastics and sex are already suitable; now you have to choose body positions in which the uterus will be less felt. It is at the 16th week of pregnancy that women develop the waddling gait characteristic of all expectant mothers, which is popularly called the “duckling” gait.

Many women during their current pregnancy period complain that from time to time they have a tightening of the lower back and pain in the lower abdomen. Various short-term tingling and stretching sensations are quite natural, because along with the dynamic growth of the uterus, the ligaments that hold this organ grow and stretch, which is what the woman ultimately feels. Mild aching back pain should not be surprising either - the chest became heavy, the center of gravity changed.

At week 16, almost everyone has a physiological runny nose, which was previously caused by swelling of the mucous membranes, which became a side effect of progesterone raging in the body. Nasal breathing is restored.

Heartburn, which some pregnant women suffer from, is believed to be a sign that the baby is growing hair in the womb.

From the point of view of official medicine, there is no relationship, and the bottom of the growing uterus simply begins to put pressure on the stomach from below, which leads to the reflux of part of the gastric juice back into the esophagus.

Changes in the body

The uterus continues to grow. Now the height of its bottom is already 13-14 cm, it changes shape from round to oblong, adapting to the growing child. The amount of amniotic fluid now reaches 250 ml, which is a whole glass. It comfortably accommodates a fairly grown up baby. If you mentally draw a vertical line from the navel to the pubis, then now the uterus will be exactly halfway between the pubis and the navel. She is already very persistently “forcing” the other abdominal organs to move.

The cervix has an average length of 36.2 mm, for pregnant women with their first child - 36.5 mm, and for women who have previously given birth - up to 36.8 mm. The location of the main female reproductive organ is such that there is no longer any doubt for others - the uterus has entered the abdominal cavity, and every day the tummy is rounded more and more, the waist is smoothed out, pregnancy becomes an obvious fact.

A woman can feel where the uterus is located herself through the anterior abdominal wall. If your back or lower back hurts and there are no unusual discharges, then do not worry - the ligaments are thickening, strengthening, and they will hold the uterus for quite a long time. This process simply cannot be completely painless.

Due to active external changes, in which the butt, chest and stomach grow most intensively, the first stretch marks on the skin may already appear. Week 16 is a great time to take care of stretch mark prevention if this has not been done previously.

The blue venous network on the chest should not be scary, it appears due to increased blood supply, does not threaten anything, there is no need to treat it, after childbirth it will no longer appear so clearly.

As for weight gain, at week 16 it is already quite significant. Thin women can now add up to 3.6-3.8 kilograms to their original weight. Expectant mothers with normal weight or slightly above normal weight gain about 3 kilograms by the beginning of the 16th week, and expectant mothers with varying degrees of obesity before pregnancy now normally gain no more than one and a half kilograms.

Controlling your weight is now more important than ever, since the occurrence of edema at 16 weeks of pregnancy is not at all uncommon. If a woman begins to notice that the wedding ring can no longer be removed from her finger, that in the morning her wrists, face and ankles are somewhat swollen, she should definitely inform her doctor about this; perhaps these are the first symptoms of gestosis.

Some pregnant women may now notice occasional numbness in their fingers. We are talking about physiological tunnel syndrome - pinching of the median nerve, which becomes possible during pregnancy due to softening of the ligaments and tendons. Usually after childbirth, carpal tunnel syndrome disappears completely. But cramped calf muscles, which often plague pregnant women in the second trimester, are nothing more than a sign of a lack of calcium in the body.

Urination ceases to be frequent. If previously a woman could run to the toilet several times in an hour to relieve herself, now she feels the urge much less often. However, problems with the intestines may persist - the muscle walls of the lower digestive system under the influence of progesterone continue to be relaxed, peristalsis is reduced, and constipation is possible.

Externally, the expectant mother changes before our eyes - she becomes more rounded. Coupled with the changed and somewhat awkward gait, it looks quite touching. Therefore, you should not be surprised if right now the husband begins to show more care, and relatives begin to offer their help in doing household chores. There is no need to refuse - a woman should save her strength.

Many expectant mothers who had moles or freckles before pregnancy may develop age spots. The freckles on the face become bright, and for some, the entire back and arms are covered with them. This is a manifestation of the increased formation of the melatonin pigment - a completely normal phenomenon for mid-pregnancy. There is no need to smear such spots and freckles with anything. They themselves will fade and disappear, but some time after birth.

An increase in the amount of blood circulating often leads to a decrease in blood pressure. If a woman does not feel bouts of dizziness, does not lose consciousness, there is no need to worry - such a decrease is quite physiological.

If there are obvious manifestations of hypotension (when you feel dizzy, feel sick, feel hot or cold, or have loss of consciousness and balance), you should consult your doctor.

The hCG norm for this week is from 6140 to 130000 Med/ml. This hormone gradually decreases in the body. It reached its maximum point at 12-13 weeks, now there is a decline that will last until childbirth.

At week 16, the new circulatory system – “mother-placenta-fetus” – is fully functioning. The placenta takes care of the baby and fully provides him with everything he needs.

The nature of the discharge should not normally change - it remains moderate and does not have a sharp unpleasant odor. Any color other than white or slight yellowish is not considered normal. Bloody discharge is especially dangerous. If atypical discharge appears, a woman is advised not to wait, but to immediately contact her doctor.

Baby development

It is a big mistake to call the baby an embryo now. The most important embryonic period ended about seven weeks ago. All organs are formed, and now the baby is just growing. He is a fruit, and that is how he should be treated.

The baby's weight at 16 weeks reaches 80-115 grams, and his height is 12-16 cm. The baby is the size of an avocado or a newly born kitten. The baby could fit in the palm of an adult.

Appearance

The baby's neck is completing its formation this week; now the baby holds his head straight and can turn it to the sides. This feature makes him look more and more like a tiny person. True, the baby’s head is still larger than the rest of the body, but this imbalance gradually disappears and smoothes out. By the time of birth, the head will occupy only one fifth of the area of ​​the entire body. The face is fully formed.

The eyes are in place, the ears are formed. This week, the extraocular muscles begin to work, and the baby begins to rotate his eyeballs, although he still cannot open his eyes; they are covered with thin eyelids. Eyelashes have appeared on their eyes, there are eyebrows, and many babies have hair growing on their heads.

Externally, your child is still very thin and covered with folds. The baby's skin, if it could be seen in color and in real time, would surprise with its unusual color - it is rich red with lilac shades. This occurs due to the fact that the blood network is visible through thin, parchment-like skin. As soon as subcutaneous fat begins to be produced, the baby will become more “well-fed” and the skin will become pink.

This week, the baby's body is covered with lanugo - vellus hairs. These are the very first hairs, very thin and delicate, they appear as a result of the start of the hair follicles. Lanugo usually falls out completely before birth; less often, some of this hair remains and disappears in the first weeks after the birth of the child. The baby's body is covered with vernix lubrication, which protects it from exposure to the aquatic environment.

The arms become shorter and the legs begin to grow. Previously, the upper limbs were much longer than the lower ones, and because of this, as well as because of the large head, the baby resembled a tadpole. Now the baby has all the individual features of her appearance: the small fingers have a unique pattern - fingerprints, the nose - the size and shape inherited from the parents, the height of the forehead, the protrusion of the chin - everything is already unique to the baby. He already looks like one of his parents or close relatives, but it’s still very difficult to catch this similarity.

Nervous system

A week earlier, the baby’s central nervous system began to take control of the functioning of the body. His movements have become more coordinated, although he often continues to wave his arms and legs involuntarily. The formation of gray matter - the cerebral cortex - is in full swing. The establishment of neural connections continues, Now the number of fetal nerve cells increases by 5000 per minute.

Red bone marrow already fully provides the production of blood cells. Reflexes develop and sharpen. The baby copes well with the process of sucking and swallowing. He grabs with his hands whatever comes within his reach, reacts to loud sounds and external stimuli.

Muscles and bones

Almost all muscles are formed and are now actively growing. It is best while the facial muscles are developed; the baby almost constantly involuntarily winks, frowns, smiles, wrinkles his nose and purses his lips into a tube.

Bone hardening continues. They become stronger and accumulate calcium. At week 16, full-fledged joints appear in the baby’s arms and legs.

Sense organs

The baby's vision is not yet developed. Through the tightly covering eyes of the eyelids, he is able to distinguish only bright light and darkness. The next stage will be blinking, he will learn to do this after 28 weeks, when he begins to open his eyes.

The baby's hearing continues to develop. External organs have already been formed, now the process of developing the functionality of the inner ear is underway. As soon as this process is completed, and this will happen in about a month, the baby will begin to hear fully. For now, he hears only the vibration created by sound waves. At the same time, mother’s voice “vibrates” differently than father’s, and the ringing of the parents’ alarm clock in the morning wakes up the baby in the same way as adults, only it is perceived by him as a high-frequency vibration.

Since auditory perception already exists, the mother should definitely talk to her baby, sing him the songs that she will sing after birth - after hearing them, the baby will “recognize” the melody and voice and calm down. You can read to your baby, watch good and kind cartoons with him: all this, according to perinatal psychologists, is a great contribution to the formation of the baby’s worldview and character.

At the 16th week of pregnancy, the baby has a well-developed sense of touch, he can distinguish the tastes of amniotic fluid, since the taste buds-papillae and nerve endings on the skin are already “working” at full strength. The sense of smell is still absent - in an aquatic environment the child cannot breathe through his nose, respiration occurs by obtaining oxygen through the placenta from the mother's blood.

Endocrine system

The baby now has another functioning system - the endocrine one. The endocrine glands begin to work: they produce the hormones necessary for the growth of the baby. Their production and activity is already “directed” by the pituitary gland. The pancreas produces insulin, which is necessary for the breakdown and absorption of glucose. The thymus, pineal gland and adrenal glands are improved.

The adrenal cortex has already begun to produce hormones, and the thyroid gland has long been producing thyroid-stimulating hormones, without which calcium deposition in the baby’s bones is impossible; they would not be able to harden.

Internal organs

One of the most important now is a temporary organ - the placenta. The life and development of the child largely depend on her condition and health. The baby is securely connected to the “baby” place by the umbilical cord - it is very strong, now the umbilical cord can theoretically withstand a load of up to 6 kilograms. Its length is almost half a meter and its diameter is more than 2 centimeters.

All the baby’s internal organs “work” tirelessly. The liver, in addition to its hematopoietic function, has “connected” to digestion, the gallbladder produces bile, and the intestines, thanks to the thin villi on its inner wall and the development of the muscular system, contract quite often: almost as it will do after the birth of the baby.

The kidneys produce urine, the bladder stores it and removes it through the urethra. Urine enters the amniotic fluid, but this does not make it dirty, because the amnion membranes help the fluid renew itself and remain sterile every three hours.

At 16 weeks of pregnancy, the baby begins to synthesize hemoglobin. There are already monocytes, lymphocytes, and erythrocytes in the blood. The composition of the fetal blood is almost complete, Now his blood type and Rh factor can be determined without any problems.

All blood vessels - both small capillaries and large main vessels - have completed their formation, now they are simply growing and functioning normally.

The heart pumps up to 24 liters of blood per day through the circulatory network. The fetal heart rate is now twice as high as the mother's heart rate - the average heart rate this week is 150-170 beats per minute. You can no longer listen to the heart only during a visit to the ultrasound room. A woman can easily cope with this at home using the most ordinary phonendoscope.

Small lungs, the formation of which cannot be considered complete until the end of the third trimester, until a sufficient amount of a special substance, surfactant, has accumulated in them, already have clear contours, and the bronchial tree has all the necessary branches. The chest moves several dozen times a day, reminiscent of its expansion when inhaling and narrowing when exhaling. Of course, this is not breathing yet, but it is its prototype.

Gender of the child

The sex of the child is now determined by ultrasound with great accuracy. A prerequisite for successful gender identification is a convenient location for the baby to be examined. If the baby turns his back to the sensor, then even if he wants, the doctor will not be able to see anything except his butt. Boys and girls have formed and grown external genitalia. If the baby is not one of the “particularly shy” ones, then the main sexual characteristic of the child can be examined using almost any ultrasound machine.

In little girls, the ovaries descend into the small pelvis, because they were formed and developed for the time being in the abdominal cavity, there are fallopian tubes, a uterus, a vagina and two pairs of labia (major and small). There are already about 5 million eggs in the ovaries of babies.

In boys, the testicles do not yet rush into the scrotum. They are located in the abdominal cavity and will begin to descend a little later, the process will finally be completed before childbirth. In a small percentage of newborn babies, the testicles do not have time to descend, and sometimes this happens after birth.

Boys already produce male sex hormones in their bodies, in particular testosterone. Girls' own hormones are still minimal; they are content with their mother's hormonal levels.

The accuracy of gender determination this week using ultrasound is 85-90%. A non-invasive prenatal DNA test determines the sex of the baby with 99.9% accuracy.

What has the baby learned?

At week 16, the baby learns something that his parents and educators will stubbornly wean him from later - he masters spitting. Now the baby not only opens his mouth, yawns, swallows and hiccups, but also begins to spit, and this, apparently, gives him pleasure.

The baby spends time actively outside of sleep. He plays with his legs, catches the umbilical cord, sucks his fists, hugs himself by the shoulders. There is still enough room in the uterus to swim and tumble. The baby actively uses this, his movements are now very intense and varied.

Naturally, a woman will not be able to feel everything; the first movements are only fairly noticeable contacts of the baby with the walls of the uterus, and he can still not come into contact with them often, he has plenty of space.

Baby on ultrasound

At week 16, ultrasound examination is not planned and mandatory. There are 2-3 weeks left before the second screening, and there is no need to visit a somnologist (ultrasound specialist). Prescribed ultrasounds are now performed only if the obstetrician-gynecologist has any concerns about the health of the woman and child. If the pregnancy proceeds without complications and problems, an ultrasound scan can only be performed at the woman’s personal request in a private clinic, and, naturally, at her expense.

If a woman now decides to go for an ultrasound and chooses a three-dimensional format (3D ultrasound) for the study, she will have an unforgettable meeting with her own child, who will very likely show everything that she learned in her mother’s womb. It will be very interesting and touching.

Even if a woman’s goal is only to determine the sex of the baby, fetometric measurements are taken during an ultrasound in any case, so the expectant mother will be very interested in what sizes correspond to the norms for the 16th week.

Fetometry table at 16 weeks of pregnancy

The thickness of the placenta at this stage is about 18.5 mm. The umbilical cord has three vessels. At this stage, unfortunately, it is still very difficult to diagnose by ultrasound some diseases and defects of internal organs, for example, the lungs, because their formation is not complete, the kidneys and brain are difficult to evaluate, but gross malformations, if they occur perhaps they are already clearly distinguishable and do not give rise to doubts.

If the doctor now claims that everything is fine, this does not mean that the baby is 100% healthy, but there is a more than 80% chance of the absence of gross anomalies in development.

The CTP (coccygeal-parietal size of the fetus) is no longer measured at this stage: the baby is too big, other fetometric data take first place among the indicators of its development. Previously, it was possible to determine the gestational age with an accuracy of one day using the CTE, but now the doctor will not answer with great confidence exactly what your gestational age is - 15 weeks and 3 or 4 days or 15 weeks and 5 days. He will simply indicate that the baby’s size does or does not correspond to a gestational age of 15-16 weeks.

Possible complications and risks

The 16th week is not considered dangerous, but a woman must not let down her vigilance: how quickly she can feel the slightest changes in her well-being depends on how quickly she will receive qualified medical care. Let's consider what dangers can threaten mother and baby at this stage.

Colds, viral infections

It is quite difficult to hide from a common cold or viral infection during the season of epidemiological troubles. The woman has not yet gone on maternity leave; she is forced to attend work, study, and travel on public transport, which only increases the likelihood of contracting the flu or ARVI. If this happens, there is no need to worry too much. Now the baby is protected by the placenta, which is a reliable barrier. The baby is formed, and his mother’s disease can no longer cause irreversible developmental abnormalities in him. The consequences of a cold are completely minimized for the baby.

High fever and uncontrolled use of medications pose a certain danger. Fever and fever can lead to problems with the placenta, so it is important to call your doctor promptly and get advice on taking approved antipyretic medications.

Now a woman should not be afraid of more dangerous complications - sore throat, otitis, because a woman can already use antibiotics for treatment. Some of the antibacterial drugs, for example, Flemoxin, are often prescribed to expectant mothers in case of bacterial infections.

Frozen pregnancy and threatened miscarriage

The 16th week is considered quite dangerous from the point of view of an unexplained, but not so rare, frozen pregnancy. Even if mother and baby have successfully overcome other “critical” periods of time (3-4 weeks, 8-10 weeks), now it is necessary to make the “final push”. The possibility of miscarriage at 16 obstetric weeks exists, but it is very small.

You can guess about a frozen pregnancy at 16 weeks by the disappearance of pregnancy symptoms, primarily movements, if they are already observed. If the woman does not feel any movements yet, it will be quite problematic to determine the moment of death of the baby, and the doctor will suspect a non-developing pregnancy, who will be surprised by the lack of abdominal growth, the height of the uterine fundus, and an ultrasound will confirm that the baby has no heartbeat and motor activity.

In any case, the expectant mother should pay attention to symptoms such as the appearance of severe nagging pain in the lower back and lower abdomen, unusual (especially bloody) discharge, and a general deterioration in well-being.

Such symptoms should not be left without attention and medical attention. The woman should take a horizontal position and call an ambulance. It is usually possible to save a pregnancy if help is sought in a timely manner.

Digestive problems

Inattention to one's own diet, overeating, and a sedentary lifestyle at week 16 can only aggravate problems that can be observed to one degree or another in all pregnant women. Constipation increases the likelihood of developing hemorrhoids, which it is advisable to avoid at all costs, because treating it for a woman in an “interesting” position is quite problematic - not all medications for these purposes are approved for pregnant women.

If a woman has previously had problems with the health of the digestive system, You should definitely visit a gastroenterologist to get personalized nutrition recommendations and lifestyle taking into account a specific diagnosis. So, if a woman has previously had colitis, then now she should avoid legumes, soy, and an abundance of meat foods, and during pregnancy after suffering a peptic ulcer, she should follow a treatment table recommended not for expectant mothers, but for patients with ulcers, in order to prevent a relapse.

It is important not to eat unfamiliar and new foods, because now a woman is more likely to develop a food allergy with all the ensuing unattractive consequences for her health.

ICN

Isthmic-cervical insufficiency in a woman imposes many restrictions on her. However, prognosis can be positive only if all medical recommendations are strictly followed. A short cervix is ​​not a death sentence, but just a feature of this part of the uterus in a particular woman. At week 16, shortening is considered exclusively pathological and should not exist.

Depending on the type of shortening and the reasons that caused it, doctors may decide to apply a pessary or surgical sutures to the cervix to strengthen it, making it possible to carry the child to a term at which his birth will not pose a danger to survival. Whether the woman will now be on bed rest or whether she is simply recommended a gentle regimen, only the doctor can decide.

It is important for a woman to obey the doctor in everything, to avoid situations that could cause uterine tone. It is not difficult to determine the tone now - the stomach becomes hard, aches and pulls.

Inconsistency between fetal size and ultrasound dates

Women encounter this phenomenon quite often, and it causes well-founded worries and worries among expectant mothers. Doctors warn those who want to decipher ultrasound on their own and consult online advisers that a slight deviation of any parameters of the baby from the norm cannot be considered a pathology. In this case The mother’s worries will harm the baby more than you can imagine.

A delay of 2 weeks or more is considered significant and requires additional examination. In this case, the doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis of “intrauterine growth retardation” and begins a search for the true cause of the delay. These may be the consequences of viral diseases suffered in the first third of pregnancy, bad habits of the mother, underdevelopment or diseases of the placenta, chromosomal pathologies, Rh conflict and a host of other reasons.

After this, treatment is prescribed, supporting vitamin therapy, drugs that improve uteroplacental and fetoplacental blood flow.

Analyzes and examinations

At 18-20 weeks, the woman will go for a second screening ultrasound. But she can receive a referral for a blood test, which is included in this screening, right now. This will be a familiar biochemical blood test to determine the concentration of three components - hCG, free estriol and alpha-fetoprotein, the so-called “triple test”.

Before the analysis, as during the first screening, you should refrain from eating fatty foods, large amounts of sweets, and salty foods; 10 hours before the test, you only need to drink water and eat nothing. Blood is taken from a vein in the morning.

Blood test results are no longer so closely related to ultrasound data, so there is no need to schedule these two tests on the same day.

Women with a history of adrenal disease who are now carrying boys are often given a blood test for testosterone, because they may experience an “overdose” of this hormone due to its high content in their own body. Other tests this week are prescribed only for individual indications.

A pregnant woman’s rounded belly now requires her to take more care of herself. You need to wear clothes made from natural fabrics in which the skin can fully “breathe”.

It is better to put off shoes with heels until better times and give preference to comfortable, stable shoes with flat soles. It is important to do gymnastics, take daily walks in the fresh air, and monitor your diet and weight.

A few helpful tips will help make your pregnancy safer, easier and more enjoyable.

Bandage

As an auxiliary means, a prenatal bandage can significantly facilitate bearing a baby. Usually they start wearing it from 19-20 weeks, but women who are already experiencing heaviness in their backs and complain of pain in their legs can choose and start using such an orthopedic device.

There are many models; any orthopedic salon will offer at least 5 types of bandages. Which one to choose is up to the woman herself to decide; before doing so, she needs to try everything on and choose the one that is most comfortable. It is important that the abdomen is supported from below carefully so that the bandage does not rub or press.

A bandage at 16 weeks is especially strongly recommended for women with a threat of miscarriage or cervical insufficiency. This allows you to reduce the load on the lower back and legs, the bandage more evenly distributes the weight of the growing tummy.

Its wearing is recommended for women prone to varicose veins, pregnant with twins, or large fetuses. The bandage helps in preventing stretch marks on the abdomen. If you want to start wearing it, but there are no strict medical indications for this, be sure to consult with your doctor - usually doctors have nothing against such a useful device.

Courses for pregnant women

Already now a woman can sign up for free courses for pregnant women, they are available at every antenatal clinic. For an expectant mother, this is a great opportunity to meet other women at the same age, and they will have enough common topics for communication.

It is welcome if the future father also comes to practical classes on actions in the event of the onset of labor and how to care for a newborn. Experienced pediatricians and obstetricians will tell you how, what and when to do.

Not only pediatricians and gynecologists work with women on courses. Psychologists come to them, including perinatal psychologists, who talk about how the unborn baby now perceives this world and everything that happens in it.

During the course, a woman will be able to learn how to do gymnastics correctly, which will strengthen muscles before childbirth, breathe during contractions and pushing, how to eat, and what to buy for the baby.

Seat belt and flights

Modern pregnant women are very mobile. An “interesting” situation is not always a reason to postpone trips, vacations, or business visits. Air travel is not considered dangerous in the second trimester, but it is still better to consult your doctor before taking it.

If a woman has problems with excess weight, blood pressure, or isthmic-cervical insufficiency, most likely the doctor will be categorically against flying.

When traveling by car or going to work in a personal car, it is important for the expectant mother to remember that she should not open the windows in the car, as this will cause her to receive a fair amount of exhaust gases, especially if she is stuck in a traffic jam for half an hour.

The seat belt in a car should secure the tummy from below, and not along the navel line. It is advisable to place a small pillow under the lower back, which will allow the woman to keep her back straight and her knees at a right angle, which will avoid disruption of blood supply in the pelvic area.

Sex

Intimate relationships at 16 weeks are completely acceptable and even encouraged if there are no contraindications, which include pathologies of the placenta (low location, presentation), shortening of the cervix, or threat of miscarriage. If the attending physician has not imposed such a moratorium, a married couple may well live an active sex life.

Naturally, you should take reasonable safety precautions and avoid the cowgirl position and other positions in which penetration is too deep. Do not put pressure on your growing belly. It is not recommended to use sex toys and lubricants with a warming or cooling effect. For sexual intercourse and sleep, it is better to choose a position on your side.

Moreover, in a dream, if a woman sleeps on her right side, her left leg needs to be slightly bent. The woman herself has already given up sleeping on her back and stomach because of her enlarged uterus, as it causes inconvenience.

We hasten to reassure you and encourage you that the sensations at 16 weeks of pregnancy are the most positive. No toxicosis, no morning dizziness, excellent appetite and the first tremors of a baby growing every day.

All that remains is to enjoy your position, walk more, and a small tummy is not a hindrance, and the 16th week of pregnancy will be a positive sign.

Pregnancy 16 weeks

• The 2nd trimester of pregnancy is in full swing, and it is almost impossible to hide your interesting situation from others. This is due to rapid weight gain, and this can be two or more kilograms, especially if in the previous weeks you were actively losing weight due to toxicosis;
• Yes, and your waist reveals your position; centimeters are added. The belly at the 16th week of pregnancy is rounded, but does not at all prevent you from leading an active lifestyle, except that you will feel tired or drowsy faster;
• At 16 weeks, you may notice a dark vertical stripe on your belly. Don't worry, everything is normal, this is pigmentation associated with your position, you will soon notice other darkening of areas of the skin, for example on the areolas of the nipples. There is no need to take any emergency measures; pigmentation will go away on its own after the baby is born;
• Along with your physical parameters, your wardrobe also changes: it’s time to place heels on the top shelf along with tight jeans, and priority is given to natural fabrics, loose fit, comfortable high-quality low-heeled shoes, special underwear for pregnant women;
• Early toxicosis has been replaced by a good appetite, so don’t go for a walk without yogurt, cookies or an apple; you should always have a snack on hand. By the way, your baby can also feel hungry, which he will immediately let you know by actively tumbling in his tummy.

Baby development at 16 weeks

1. At 16 weeks of pregnancy, the size of the fetus from head to sacrum reaches 12 centimeters. Just imagine, your baby is the size of an average apple weighing 80 grams. During an ultrasound examination, you can see that the baby is already holding his head, moving his arms and legs, and even has nails;
2. You can tell by a child’s face whether he is feeling good at the moment or whether he is hungry, for example. He may frown and wrinkle his nose, especially if you have eaten spicy or bitter food, but will smile when you taste something sweet or gently stroke your tummy and sing a song to your baby;
3. The fetus at 16 weeks of gestation is still very thin, since subcutaneous fat has not yet formed. The blood vessels are clearly visible through the pink-red skin; there are hairs and lubricant on the surface, which protects the child well from moisture;
4. The baby's pulse is higher than yours - about 150 beats per minute. The digestive and urinary systems work, the liver and kidneys are included in the work. Interestingly, your baby is already peeing, this happens approximately every 45 minutes;
5. At week 16, your baby is active, tugging at the umbilical cord with his fingers and spinning.

You may hear the phrase that the fetus floats in amniotic fluid, but this is not true. The uterus grows with the baby, so its walls always tightly limit the baby. He just feels comfortable and cozy in such a close environment.

It is not necessary to go for an ultrasound to find out what is happening with the baby at 16 weeks of pregnancy.

The fetus may be too active and push when it is hungry or does not like food; it will express its dissatisfaction if you spend a long time in a stuffy room or in a tense emotional state.

Remember that you are responsible for the two of you, so during pregnancy - only positive and favorable conditions.

Mom's well-being

At 16 weeks of pregnancy, what happens to the mother can be characterized by normal development without pronounced side effects. Both the physical and psychological state are favorable, there should be no pain or heavy discharge.

Uterus size

You can independently feel how much your baby’s house has grown by 16 weeks. At the 16th week of pregnancy, the uterus is located 7 centimeters below the navel, its weight is about 250 grams. The sizes are not so narrow that they cause you discomfort, but the low position may put pressure on the bladder, so you may notice a more frequent urge to urinate.

Pain at 16 weeks

Despite the fact that the 16th week is the most favorable period, you may be bothered by some painful sensations, the main thing is to establish a line between acceptable inconveniences and danger signals.

• Back. At this stage, your lower back may be bothering you, especially after a long walk or wearing heels. Your figure is undergoing changes, the center of gravity is shifted, and that is why nagging pain in the back occurs. They should go away after rest. Read more in the article: Back pain during pregnancy >>>;
• Stomach. If your stomach feels a little tight at 16 weeks of pregnancy, you should have no cause for concern. This is a physiological process - the uterus, increasing in size, provokes muscle pain, in addition, your pelvis is gradually preparing for the upcoming birth, the bones are expanding, which can also cause pain;

• Head. No one is immune from headaches, especially if you are 16 weeks pregnant. What's happening to mom can be explained. Your circulatory system works for two, the blood is thinner, so there may be dizziness, pressure surges, nosebleeds;

Headaches can occur due to increased vascular tone caused by hormonal changes. At this stage, you may also experience migraines, which can be caused by irritation, stress, or even poor diet. The best medicine is rest and fresh air. You will also find a lot of useful information in the article Headaches during pregnancy >>>.

• At 16 weeks of pregnancy, heartburn or bloating may appear, so it is worth reviewing your diet and removing trigger foods. All information about how to eat properly is in the book Secrets of proper nutrition for an expectant mother >>>.

Bleeding. Discharge

Normal, acceptable discharge at the 16th week of pregnancy is clear discharge, odorless and impurity-free, without accompanying itching. Their number may increase slightly compared to previous periods. The reason for this is estrogen, by the way, because of it the secretions themselves become more liquid. Please note that all other manifestations are an alarm signal.

1. Copious discharge. Clear discharge at the 16th week of pregnancy in large quantities, when the daily pad is simply not enough for the day, can signal leakage of amniotic fluid;
2. Curd discharge. A curd consistency with a pronounced sour smell will tell you about thrush, which often bothers pregnant women. Read about this article Thrush during pregnancy >>>.
3. Yellowish discharge. The yellowish tint to the discharge is given by pus, which means there is an inflammatory process. Read an article on this topic: Yellow discharge during pregnancy >>>;
4. Brown, bloody discharge. Brown discharge at 16 weeks of pregnancy is unacceptable, the color is due to blood spots, therefore, there is a risk of miscarriage.

Feelings at 16 weeks

At the 16th week of pregnancy, such troubles as nausea and vomiting fade into the background; they, of course, can bother you, but as a result of overeating or eating incompatible foods.

Toxicosis may be replaced by morning dizziness and back pain. It’s okay, your body is just adapting to a new position, and all these small difficulties, compared to the expected happiness, are simply nothing.

The 16th week of pregnancy has started, what is happening to the mother?

• Weight increase by 2-3 kg from the original;
• Breast enlargement, sensitivity and the appearance of colostrum. Related article: Colostrum during pregnancy >>>;
• Increased heart rate to 80-90 beats per minute;
• It is quite possible that you will feel the first movements at 16 weeks of pregnancy;
• Be prepared for mood swings: you can spend hours admiring the sky and cry if it rains. Hormones are to blame, but if emotions are more positive, both you and those around you will benefit.

You need to enjoy the situation, know that the child is well protected, he feels good in his tummy, and all the emotions that you experience are felt by your future baby.

Narrow issues of pregnancy

There are circumstances that are beyond your control and can somewhat overshadow the period of bearing a baby. These are colds, fever or viral infections. Of course, the best remedy is prevention, but what to do if an insidious enemy creeps up close?

Temperature

The normal body temperature at the 16th week of pregnancy in a healthy person is 36.6, but in your situation even a persistent 37 may be normal, of course, without an accompanying runny nose or cough.

37.5 for several days is a reason to seek help from a specialist, perhaps this is an incipient cold or inflammatory processes. But a temperature above 38 during pregnancy is dangerous; it can provoke placental abruption, intoxication, and even miscarriage.

Cold at 16 weeks of pregnancy

You may be assured that the second trimester, which includes the 16th week, is safe in terms of diseases, but, as you know, God protects those who are careful.

1. Since the list of drugs allowed during pregnancy can be placed in several lines, the best medicine is rest, drinking plenty of fluids, folk recipes with approved herbs, rubbing and rinsing the nose. For more information about how you can and cannot treat a cold during this period, read the article Colds during pregnancy >>>;
2. Aromatherapy and salt room are good for colds;
3. But mustard plasters and steam rooms are contraindicated during pregnancy. Read the article Mustard plasters during pregnancy >>>;
4. To reduce the temperature, you can use paracetamol, but aspirin is strictly prohibited.

Alcohol at 16 weeks

Alcohol and other bad habits are not compatible with bearing a baby. Just imagine that the glass of wine you drink will also be tasted by your baby, swallowing amniotic fluid with ethanol.

But if an adult body can cope with a dose of alcohol, then for tiny kidneys and livers that have just begun to work, this is an impossible task. In addition, systematic consumption of alcoholic beverages affects the rate of fetal development and has a negative impact on the formation of the child’s skeletal system.

Regarding smoking, even if you don’t smoke, avoid smoky places, ask your loved ones not to smoke near you.

Sex

• But what you shouldn’t give up is intimate relationships with your sexual partner. Sex at 16 weeks of pregnancy brings spouses closer and brings new colors to the relationship;
• Your sensitivity at this stage is increased, your figure is beautiful, and your tummy or well-being do not interfere with the process;
• The main thing is to choose the right poses in which you will not feel pain. And don't forget about increased hygiene.

Examinations of mother and child

By the 16th week of pregnancy, you have most likely already registered with an antenatal clinic or a private clinic. By the way, Russian legislation provides monetary incentives for mothers who register before the 12th week.

Mandatory tests at week 16 include measuring weight, uterine height, urine analysis and blood pressure measurement.

Specific tests that may be prescribed to you are hCG and AFP, which can detect genetic abnormalities of the fetus. But even negative results should not be considered a death sentence; without ultrasound data and amniotic sampling, no one will be able to make an accurate diagnosis. Perhaps you simply have not set the exact deadline, or the baby is growing into a hero, so the indicators do not fall within the regulatory framework.

Ultrasound at 16 weeks of pregnancy

One of the most long-awaited moments of communication between a mother and her unborn baby is an ultrasound. The opportunity to see the baby on the screen, examine his hands and fingers, his tiny nose is a touching moment; do not forget to ask for an ultrasound photo of the fetus for the family album.

1. Please note that an ultrasound scan at week 16 is not planned, but is prescribed for medical reasons, for example, in case of questionable tests for congenital pathologies;
2. The doctor, in this case, pays attention to the baby’s face, his nose and mouth, the size of the neck, counts all the fingers and the sizes of the internal organs;
3. An examination can also be prescribed after an illness to study the condition of the placenta at 16 weeks of pregnancy and the development of the fetus. By the way, the sex of the baby can already be determined at 16 weeks; the organs of the reproductive system are formed and clearly defined. Read the current article: Determining the sex of a child by ultrasound >>>.

Lifestyle at 16 weeks of pregnancy

• Walks in the fresh air, positive emotions, alternating physical activity and rest, a gentle work schedule and a balanced diet;
• It's time to go on a sea holiday and boost your immunity. At week 16, you will be able to tolerate both land transport and air travel (article