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Pregnancy week 16

Pregnancy information at week 16 of being pregnant - You may feel the first movements of your baby inside you, a slight 'butterfly' feeling in your abdomen.


Discuss pregnancy week 16 on our forums, right now! Or, post a comment below.

You

The middle months of your pregnancy are probably when you feel at your best. Your skin retains fluid, making it firmer and smoother and an increase of blood flow can make your skin glow. Your heart rate increases by about 20 per cent to cope with an increased flow of blood throughout your body. With all that increased circulation, nails and hair will grow faster.

You may feel the first movements of your baby inside you, a slight 'butterfly' feeling in your abdomen. However most women don't start feeling movements until several weeks later. You may become constipated as the hormone progesterone, which maintains the pregnancy slows your digestion down and your growing uterus pushes on your bladder and bowel. Try drinking at least two litres of plain, still water each day. You may be offered blood-screening tests for spina bifida or Down?s syndrome this week.

Your baby

Your baby's eyebrows and eyelashes are starting to grow. If you could gently stroke your baby's cheek she would respond as if searching for a nipple to latch on to. Until now her head has grown quicker than anything. Now your baby's body accelerates to catch up and she begins to look more in proportion. Your baby will look thin because she hasn't developed a layer of fat, and her skin is so thin you can see the blood vessels below.

Your baby has a firm handgrip and can suck her thumb and make a fist. Her eyelids are still closed and will stay that way until about the 25th week, although your baby can detect changes in light through her thin eyelids. A fine covering of thicker, darker hair starts to sprout on your baby's body. This is languo and keeps your baby's body at a constant temperature in the absence of fat. Bones start hardening, including the tiny ones in your baby's ears, and your baby can hear some sounds for the first time.

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hi im 16 weeks 2day with first child. i think i felt the baby last week it felt like loads of buterflies dancing and it made me feel sick haha. also 3 days ago my back has started to be agony and was wondering if anyone else has experenced this? x
added by tiffanygemma [Mon 16th Nov 2009 @ 09:55:42]
i'm a young mum too be and im 16 weeks and 3 days today. i felt the butterfly feeling last week while taking a long warm bath, got a bit of a fright when i first felt it because it was unexpected and i had never felt it before but it feels alazing and its great too finally feel the baby inside me. thankfully the sickness is beginning too subside, at one point i was in hpsital for 2 days due too being badly dehydrated because i couldnt stop being sick throughout the day and night. have my 20 week scan in 4 weeks, hopefully will find out the sex! hoping its a little girl but aslong as its safe and healthy, i'll never complain!
added by Rebekah123 [Thu 22nd Oct 2009 @ 09:19:02]
I too have pcos and I am 16 weeks todays. I became pregnant 1 month after having an HSG. It is still hard for me to believe because I had been told I wouldn't be able to conceive naturally. I have had no morning sickness. I can't wait to find out the gender!!!!!
added by keonnamone [Tue 4th Aug 2009 @ 12:54:14]
i am 16 weeks pregnant with my first baby at age 25. i never thought it would be possible because i had pcos. but by the grace of the good lord i am now expecting my baby. i have not suffered any morning sickness yet. my husband has been so supportive.
a word of advice to all you out there never doubt the lord jesus.

glenda steenkamp
added by davidsonville [Thu 28th May 2009 @ 09:16:32]
Hi everybody, those of u who r 16weeks gone, id love to know how ur pregnancies r goin n compare with my own. X
added by No1Gurlie [Mon 18th May 2009 @ 09:37:03]
Im 16 weeks, had my first scan at 9 weeks because doctors wanted to make sure was no problem- now ive got to wait untill 26th may for my next scan...it feels an eternity away. Im looking forward to it more than i would look forward to my summer holiday! soooo excited. Ive heard that you can see the babys features and everything by then. sometimes I feel the baby moving, but only when im laying down, and i think im imagining it....i wish i could feel it all the time so i could be sure! good luck to all you lovely ladies x x
added by heatherberry [Tue 14th Apr 2009 @ 12:39:08]
Hello, Im 16 weeks today. i feel great - which i am worried about becuase i dont feel pregnant ! cant wait for my 20 week scan or to feel movment so i know my baby is still there and ok. i am finding it really hard to sleep on a night, get back aches and my hips are stinging ! roll on september....cant wait to cuddle my baby
added by Hinchy28 [Tue 14th Apr 2009 @ 12:38:47]
Even though I am now at 16 weeks I still do not feel like I am pregnant at all! I have no signs of being pregnant to the outside world & I can't stand the site of a toilet anymore as it feel's like Im on one every 10 minutes! Oh the joys of pregnancy!
added by Carlyed91 [Tue 14th Apr 2009 @ 12:38:33]
hi im 16 weeks and 5 days pregnant with my first baby im skinny but have had a bump since bout 11 wks n its getting bigger but i havent felt my baby move do u think ev is ok?
added by sweetcheeksd [Wed 25th Mar 2009 @ 09:15:19]
Hey im 16 weeks preganant and i have been getting some lower belly cramps i do not know if this is normal due to the baby growing and changing
Has anyone else had this?
added by Suzi121 [Thu 19th Feb 2009 @ 10:13:26]
hey, had my first check up yesterday. i was so excited, i got to see my lil teddy bear again. it got so big! and it kept moving so the doc couldnt get good measerments lol! anyway everything was fine, i got bak in 4 weeks which will b march 5th 3days after my 20th b-day yay!
added by darien [Tue 17th Feb 2009 @ 09:42:34]
Thanks for your replies. I think i'm going to wait a bit b4 buying one, i'm due at the midwife in 2 weeks so she'll find the heartbeat then & at least if i can't find it after I'll know it's all ok. I definatley wanna get one as we have a 5 yr old daughter & I know she'll enjoy it :-) Thanks for your advice & good luck with ur pregnancys xx
added by toddie12 [Thu 5th Feb 2009 @ 09:58:03]
i am also 16 weeks and bought a fetal doppler when i was pregnant with my first baby. i found it reassuring as i could near the heart beat every time i tried where as this time the baby is more active making it difficult to hear and therefore making me worry more than i normally would. i was really glad to have been able to use it with my last pregnancy but this time i don't think i'll bother. if getting one definitely wait a while but by then you'll unmistakeably feel the babies movement so it would just be a waste of money x
added by clarepatton [Tue 3rd Feb 2009 @ 09:17:52]
I'm 15 weeks pregnant and I bought a doppler few weeks ago and I must admit it's hard to find a heartbeat... you need to use a lot of gel and be very patient - you can catch it for few seconds, but than it's gone. It's hard to have it clear for longer, as you hartbeat is still louder and doppler picks it more easely. As the little one is wiggling around now it's even harder to get clear reading :). However, even those few seconds are great!!! It's great to have a doppler, but don't get to serious about it... if you can't find his/hers heartbeat, it doesn't mean it's not there, it's just hiding :).
added by Barbs [Tue 3rd Feb 2009 @ 09:17:24]
hi i have four children and im pregnant with twins! think im still in shock although im so excited and cant wait to meet them both.apart from feeling tired and needing to wee lots ive been ok and i cant wait till the summer.
added by ooley8 [Mon 19th Jan 2009 @ 09:50:37]
hi everyone.. well.. im pregant with my second child andnow have the bump. im sure im feeling the fluttering feelings already.. forgot how strange and wonderful it feels. bit worried however as seem to be weeing every god dam 15 minutes and is soooo annoying!! is anyone else having this problem??? suzanna
added by suzilou [Mon 5th Jan 2009 @ 09:17:58]
I am16 weeks gone today, and I feel so much better, i have a little bump, can't wait til I feel baby move, and can't wait for the 20 week scan, good luck girlies on your pregnancies xx
added by VickiDoodDah [Tue 23rd Dec 2008 @ 09:16:47]
hi ya this is my second baby and i've been suffering again, i have been in hospital for dehydration coz i have hyperemisis(severe morning sickness) and have felt so rough!!!. Luckily it's not as bad as last time which is a blessing but i really hope this sickness stops soon coz its doing my head in!!! Also i had SPD(Symphosis Pubis Dysfunction) when your pelvis ligaments stretch too much and becomes difficult to walk and stand...and turn in bed..get in and out the car etc. Anyone else having problems like me? x
added by alanasofia [Fri 19th Dec 2008 @ 10:04:31]
It is normal to feel braxton hick contractions at this week?
added by Natu [Mon 27th Oct 2008 @ 08:59:33]
I'm a few days from 16 weeks, and I have no bump, and am feeling no movement, though I watched my daughter for about an hour earlier this week bounce off of the walls of my uterus. I was never skinny, I have always had hips, boobs, "the thick girl", Maybe it's because this is my first, I wont have to deal with the strange people running up trying to touch me.
added by chantel702 [Mon 6th Oct 2008 @ 09:48:47]
im nearly 16 weeks and i have just started to feel normal again lol, i was extra skinny and now i have got a bum and hips and bra size has increased by two cup sizes already (never had them befor haha) and the bump has been making an appearance since week 11,
added by Amy87 [Mon 29th Sep 2008 @ 09:13:19]
Been feeling baby move for about 10 days, had a bump since week 12!
added by alady [Thu 17th Jul 2008 @ 10:03:01]
Ive been feeling the baby move for a couple of weeks already,it is my third and they say you feel it earlier with each pregnancy.I felt finr for the first 3 months but now am suffering migraines dizziness sickness sleepless nights!not fun!
added by renery [Thu 24th Apr 2008 @ 15:49:00]
i can feel the baby moving now as this is my second child i know what to expect
added by joanne0410 [Fri 4th Apr 2008 @ 08:40:24]
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