4 months from the time of conception is already behind, and the 16th week of pregnancy begins, which is the middle of the second trimester. If everything goes fine, toxicosis, weakness and other unpleasant sensations gradually recede, there is practically no threat of miscarriage. The child is already quite strong, has grown a little, his organs and systems are actively developing, as can be judged by the mother’s already round stomach.
By and large, this period is rich in a wide variety of sensations, because a new life is developing inside a woman, and very soon you can feel the baby's light movements. And this can hardly be compared! What else is going on at this time? Let's take it in order.
General view
A 16-week-old woman must undergo a second prenatal screening. For this, it is necessary to donate blood for analysis from a vein, a triple examination is also carried out. Based on the results, the doctor can judge the condition of the fetus, determines the presence of probable defects in its development and other possible pathologies, including Down syndrome.
At the 16th week of pregnancy, the woman’s waist is almost invisible, but the belly has become more noticeable, and the more it grows in size, the more noticeable is the strip that divides it into two halves. This is due to the accumulation of melanin in the skin. In some cases, by the period of 16 weeks, age spots appear on the hands, face, around the perimeter of the lips and eyes. Panic because of this is not worth it, because after childbirth they disappear.
Now it is already difficult for a woman to lie in a supine or abdominal position due to perceptible discomfort. In this connection, experts recommend spending most of the time on their side. As for shoes, the usual heels will have to be replaced with sandals, ballet shoes or any other shoes with low soles.
Outwardly, fetal development
The age of the child in the womb is equal to 14 weeks. This is not some crumbs that before, now it is already quite large. But while he is in the womb, growth is measured, starting from the coccyx and ending with the parietal region. At the period of the 16th week it is approximately 110-120 mm, and the weight reaches 120 grams.
What happens to the baby at 16 weeks of gestation? The muscles of his face are already fully formed, and he can even reproduce some emotions: frowns, can wink or open his mouth. Calcium is actively entering through the placenta, and due to this, the skeleton of the child becomes stronger with each subsequent day.
The legs and arms are lengthened, and the formation of nails on the fingers. In addition, they already have their own individual drawing. The vertebrae are also formed, and now the baby is able to hold the head straight, and not bending to the chest, as before. Ears and eyes occupy their rightful places, which makes the face more attractive and expressive.
The baby's skin still remains transparent, and you can notice how the blood vessels show up. At the 16th week of development, the child begins to stay more and more in motion, however, not all his movements can be felt by the mother. From time to time he stretches, can squeeze his fingers into fists, sometimes even spit, apparently, such a habit arises in the womb.
What happens to the baby at the 16th week of pregnancy yet? Sometimes he begins to play with legs and arms, and mom is already able to feel these movements.
Child's internal changes
Internal organs are active. A small heart energetically accelerates blood through the circulatory system. Its productivity is up to 24 liters per day, which is much more than in adults. The liver now performs its direct digestive duties and begins to produce the first bile. Other organs of this system join it:
- stomach;
- intestines;
- gall bladder.
However, so far they are able to digest only amniotic fluid in small portions. Slowly in the intestine, the original feces, or meconium, gather, which will begin to depart only after the birth of the baby. Its composition is digested cells, amniotic fluid, and bile. Because of this, meconium has a dark green or even almost black shade.
The genitourinary system also does not remain idle at 16 weeks of gestation. What is happening to her? Urine is actively formed in the bladder, which disappears into the amniotic fluid hourly. Due to this, the amount of fluid is constantly growing, and in a day it is updated up to 10 times!
By the 16th week, the bone marrow is also fully formed and now performs its task in the field of hematopoiesis. Before that, she was not entrusted with the liver. In this regard, all blood cells are created in the child, and therefore it is possible to determine its group, including the Rh factor.
Now the fetus needs a lot of oxygen, but there is very little normal hemoglobin in the blood. Yes, and actually, it is not in him, for the transportation of O 2 so far another is responsible - fetal hemoglobin, or hemoglobin F (HbF). It is he who is able to carry more oxygen molecules. But only immediately after birth, he will begin to disappear.
At the 16th week, you can determine the sex of the child due to the developed genital organs. In girls, eggs are laid in the ovaries, in boys, testicles form. Only while they are located deep in the peritoneal cavity, and they begin to sink into the scrotum with the approach of childbirth.
What does mom feel?
Almost any mother is interested in sensations at the 16th week of pregnancy, because this is one of the most pleasant periods in her life. And that's why:
- Exhausting nausea and vomiting disappear.
- Pain is no longer worried.
- There is no longer a strong sensitivity in the chest, but its growth does not stop, preparations are underway for feeding the baby.
- Also, anxiety, lethargy, a sharp change of mood go away, and in return, the female body gathers strength, calm and peace comes.
- And fortunately, there is no longer a need for frequent use of the toilet.
During this period, the body, as it were, independently adjusts itself to a successful result and protects against unwanted emotions. Previously, due to toxicosis, a woman did not want to eat food, but now her appetite is growing. Moreover, if you give free rein to the future mother, she will rapidly begin to gain weight, completely ignoring the need to monitor her figure. The main thing here is to show reasonableness in time, otherwise, in the future, unpleasant consequences associated with excess weight cannot be avoided.
Individual characteristics
What happens to mom at 16 weeks of gestation? It is worth noting that in every woman this period is perceived differently. Some ladies cannot feel their interesting position. Sometimes, even at this time, the abdomen is still not visible. However, this cannot be considered an anomaly, and often in the following weeks the development of the child takes place at a more intense pace. By and large, if a woman has a small belly for this period, this is still considered the norm.
Although toxicosis does recede, in some cases, a mother may experience nausea. If twins are expected, then vomiting may join nausea. However, if it persists for a long time during the usual gestation, it is recommended to visit a specialist to adjust your diet.
Uterine changes
With the onset of fetal development, the female genital organ undergoes various changes. It is growing rapidly, and by the 16th week of pregnancy, it is gaining 250 grams of weight. Now the uterus can be easily felt through the abdominal wall, since it has already left a little of the pelvic cavity. Moreover, its bottom is slightly lower than the navel (7 cm).
During each examination, the doctor will evaluate what condition she is in and compare with the norm. In addition, the specialist palpates the tone of the genital organ. It is also important for him to know how the fetus is located in the uterine cavity and the development of its limbs. Separate attention is the circumference of the abdomen, and there are standards.
Due to the growth of the uterus, the load on the intestine increases, which forces it to move closer to the spine. In addition, for this reason there is a violation of peristalsis, as a result of which the abdomen can swell, heartburn occurs and constipation appears.
What happens at 16 weeks of gestation with a woman who is in a position for the first time regarding external symptoms? In this case, the roundness of the tummy is not so noticeable, but with repeated bearing it will be more. This is due to stretching of the abdominal muscles and ligaments.
Power Features
The usefulness of a child’s development and the health of his mother depends on how proper and balanced the nutrition (including the intake of minerals, vitamins) is. It is important to adhere to a fractional meal - about five times a day. It is advisable that the breakfast is more dense, lunch is delicious, with the inclusion of the first and second courses, and dinner is light.
For snacks, fruits and vegetables are recommended, which are recommended to be consumed in large quantities. It is worthwhile to carefully consider the use of citrus and sour fruits - try to avoid overeating them. In the future, this will not allow provoking an allergy in the baby.
So that at the 16th week of pregnancy the development of the fetus takes place fully, a woman should saturate her body only with useful products:
- fish
- cereals;
- dietary meat of chicken, rabbit, turkey, veal;
- legumes, nuts, seeds;
- bran bread;
- dairy products;
- eggs.
At the same time, it is recommended to completely exclude salt in its pure form from the diet, since it can cause swelling and retains water in the body. As a result - weight gain, a feeling of heaviness in the legs and the appearance of shortness of breath.
Foods that contain a lot of salt should be consumed only sparingly. The same goes for sweet and flour foods. But if you simply don’t have enough strength to give up such pleasure, you should cook something yourself: cupcakes, cake. So you can control their composition and ingredients.
Also, do not fast during pregnancy or stick to diets during pregnancy. This also applies to the Orthodox Lent - the church has nothing against it in this regard.
Vitamin Complex
For the full development of the baby at 16 weeks of pregnancy, the mother needs to enrich the body with vitamins and minerals, in particular, it is impossible to do without such nutrients:
- calcium
- vitamin D;
- vitamin A.
A whole vitamin-mineral complex, which is usually prescribed by a doctor, is useful during pregnancy. In addition to it, you should take "Iodomarin." Depending on the state of health of the woman, the doctor will be able to pick up a list of other necessary useful minerals. And, as you know, it is better to get them from vegetables and fruits, and of natural origin, and nothing else!
Specific problems
At the 16th week of bearing a child, the mother may have constipation, which is not good for him, but can provoke a miscarriage. In connection with such a danger, a woman must immediately consult a gynecologist to understand this problem. The doctor will help determine the diet to restore the body. As a prophylaxis of constipation, the intake of fiber-rich foods helps a lot. A plentiful drink is also shown, and at night it is better to drink a glass of kefir. For clarity, below is a photo of the abdomen at 16 weeks of gestation.
Dangerous period
Of the entire pregnancy period, the most dangerous time is between the 16th and 18th weeks. During this period, the woman is at risk - a missed pregnancy may occur. The main reasons for this dangerous phenomenon may be:
- Intrauterine infection of the fetus.
- Anomalies of the chromosome set.
- The Rh factor of the mother does not coincide with the Rh factor of the child.
- Progesterone deficiency.
- Previously, a woman had to have an abortion.
- ECO.
- Mother misbehaving.
Also an important role is played by the influence of external factors. What is characteristic, a frozen pregnancy practically does not manifest itself. However, a woman may experience abdominal pain, which is accompanied by vaginal discharge of brown color. This indicates the detachment of the ovum.
To confirm and refute fears, a woman will have to take an analysis of hCG, as well as undergo an ultrasound scan. If at the 16th week of pregnancy the content of the hCG hormone is below normal, and significantly, this is an alarming sign indicating the death of the fetus.
After the uterine cavity is cleaned of the dead fetus, the woman will undergo a rehabilitation course, which will allow her to recover from the shock. Planning the next conception is not earlier than 6 months. Moreover, all this time it is necessary to be closely monitored by a specialist and undergo all the necessary research and take tests. It is also important to cure the present infectious diseases in order to avoid repeated frozen pregnancy.
Sexual contact
With the onset of 16 weeks of pregnancy, parents no longer have strict restrictions in terms of intimacy. And if the pregnancy goes smoothly and without complications, sexual relationships will bring new feelings to their lives. In addition, this period does not prevent to fully enjoy the process, since the stomach is small.
The child will be completely safe, since the cervix holds it well, and amniotic fluid will protect it from damage. In addition, the release of hormones from pleasure will only benefit everyone. In addition, sex favorably affects the woman herself: her fear disappears, and her sensations become sharper.
But there are contraindications for intimacy, which include the threat of miscarriage, ICI, low placentation with a risk of detachment.
Useful Tips
Some useful tips will help pregnant women usefully endure pregnancy:
- It is advisable to sleep on your side, which will avoid squeezing the abdomen at 16 weeks of pregnancy and reduce the load on the spine.
- It is highly recommended not to eat raw fish, water and poorly cooked foods.
- Wear loose clothing so that it does not put pressure on your stomach.
- Various stressful situations give side effects, which adversely affects the development of the child. Therefore, it is very important to avoid negativity.
- If you have any kind of pain, you should not postpone the visit to the doctor, since only he is able to determine the degree of risk.
- It is advisable for a woman to spend most of the time in the fresh air - in this case, the child will receive the necessary amount of oxygen.
In addition, you need to refrain from conducting various experiments related to trips to the sauna or bath. A sharp change in temperature does not benefit the baby. Everything needs a measure. The same applies to a tanning bed, where it’s better not to go so far during pregnancy.
All expectant mothers should always remember that a timely visit to the doctor will help to avoid unwanted complications. You should also pay special attention and care to your own health. Only under such conditions the child will be born healthy and healthy to the joy of parents! What more could you ask for in this life ?! You can take a photo at 16 weeks of pregnancy for a long and bright memory.