16th week
LET'S GET MEASURED!
Size of baby: 104-116 mm
Baby's weight: 80 grams
16 weeks that you have not been alone... with your body! And do you want to know a secret? You will never be alone again; even after you give birth, an invisible umbilical cord will "tie" you with your child... forever!
Its legs are much more developed and its head is more upright than before. Its nails have start to grow, as well as its scalp. Also, its ears are very close to their final position. Its tiny heart now pumps 25 litres of blood every day, and this will continue to increase as the baby grows. The top of your uterus is about halfway between the pubic bone and the navel and round ligaments supporting it fatten and stretch as she grows.
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
....Between the 16th and 18th week you need to have another test, called A-test? This concerns measuring the levels of three hormones in your blood and it is combined with an ultrasound examination of the foetus. As a result you will receive a statistical analysis that shows whether there is a risk of the baby suffering from a syndrome, like the Down syndrome, which results from chromosomal abnormalities. The risk increases with the age of the pregnant woman, so in this case your doctor may advise you to undergo an amniocentesis too.
Feeling the baby's movements inside your tummy has now started to become intense. Some pregnant women describe it as butterflies fluttering or even water bubbles! Some other do not feel it so intense until the 18 th week, so if you fall into this category, do not get anxious. Each baby has its own personality! Sense its mobility on a daily basis; it is an evidence of health! If you notice reduced mobility (or even worse, no mobility), visit your doctor for a quick check. In the third trimester, the kicks will be measured one by one, but for now you will have to settle for small doses of poking...
The case of a possible miscarriage has significantly reduced, but keep in mind that if you notice high fever, vomiting or have low back pain or heavy vaginal discharge or if you feel more than 4-5 contractions of the uterus within one hour, call your doctor immediately!
Your weight slowly increases, but do not be tempted to cut down on food consumption fearing that you will gain weight. Ask your doctor about the increase of your weight and follow his advice... so that you and the baby feel well!
Start your day with a nutritious breakfast that includes adequate protein, complex carbohydrates and fibre. Include vegetables, whole grains and nuts, lean meat and a lot of dairy products in your routine and avoid processed foods and packaged snacks as much as you can (yes, I know it's hard). You might be surprised how tasty frozen yoghurt or a fruit milkshake may be! And water, lots of water!
Advice
How about writing the first letter to your precious one? A letter from mommy to her baby... Words, thoughts and feelings, to read in the next (far in the future) years. Follow your heart and your instincts and draw inspiration from the picture of you holding your baby! Describe your dreams, your hopes, your plans for it. If it is not easy for you to express your feelings with words, do it with painting! Cut out and stick pictures from magazines for new parents and make your own personal collage, just for you and your baby!
Have a pleasant week... and enjoy writing!
Source
http://www.paidorama.com
