16 week of pregnancy: what happens to the baby and mom

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-01 17:06

4 months from conception is behind us, and the 16th week of pregnancy begins, which is the middle of the second trimester. If everything goes well, 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 rounded belly.

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 light movements of the baby. And hardly anything can compare with this! What else is happening at this time? Let's take everything in order.

General view

A woman at 16 weeks must undergo a second prenatal screening without fail. To do this, it is necessary to donate blood for analysis from a vein, a triple examination is also carried out. Based on the results obtained, the doctor can judge the condition of the fetus, determine the presence of probablemalformations 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 stomach has become more noticeable, and the more it increases 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. You should not panic because of this, because after childbirth they disappear.

Now it is already difficult for a woman to lie in a position on her back or stomach due to tangible discomfort. In this connection, experts recommend spending most of the time on your side. As for shoes, the usual heels will have to be replaced with sandals, ballet flats or any other low-soled shoes.

External development of the fetus

The age of a baby in the womb is equivalent to 14 weeks. It is no longer some crumb that it used to be, 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 16th week, it is approximately 110-120 mm, and the weight reaches 120 grams.

What happens to the baby at 16 weeks pregnant? The muscles of his face are already fully formed, and he can even reproduce some emotions: he frowns, he can wink or open his mouth. Calcium is actively supplied through the placenta, and due to this, the baby's skeleton becomes stronger with each subsequent day.

The legs and arms are lengthening, and nails are forming on the fingers. Besides,they already have their own pattern. The vertebrae are also formed, and now the baby is able to hold the head straight, and not bowed to the chest, as before. Ears and eyes take their rightful places, making the face more attractive and expressive.

The baby's skin is still transparent, and you can see how the blood vessels show through. At the 16th week of development, the child begins to move more and more often, but the mother may not feel all his movements. From time to time he stretches, can clench his fingers into fists, sometimes even spits, apparently, such a habit is born in the womb.

What happens to the baby at 16 weeks pregnant yet? Sometimes he starts playing with his legs and arms, and his mother is already able to feel these movements.

Child's internal changes

Internal organs are active. A small heart vigorously accelerates blood through the circulatory system. Its productivity is up to 24 liters per day, which is much more than that of 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 only able to digest amniotic fluid in small portions. Slowly in the intestines, the original feces, or meconium, are collected, which will begin to depart only after the birth of the child. Its composition is digested cells,amniotic fluid, bile. Because of this, the meconium is dark green or even almost black.

The genitourinary system also does not remain idle at the 16th week of pregnancy. What is happening to her? Urine is actively formed in the bladder, which goes into the amniotic fluid hourly. Due to this, the amount of liquid is constantly growing, and it is updated up to 10 times a day!

The bone marrow is also fully formed by the 16th week and now performs its task in the field of hematopoiesis. Until then, she had been assigned no liver. In this regard, all blood cells are created in the child, and therefore its group can be determined, including the Rh factor.

Now the fetus needs a lot of oxygen, but there is very little normal hemoglobin in the blood. And actually, it’s not the point, for the transportation of O_{2, another is still responsible - fetal hemoglobin, or hemoglobin F (HbF). It is he who is able to carry more oxygen molecules. That's just right after giving birth, he will disappear.}

At the 16th week, you can determine the sex of the child due to the developed genitals. In girls, eggs are laid in the ovaries, in boys, testicles are formed. Only while they are located deep in the peritoneal cavity, and they will begin to descend into the scrotum with the approach of childbirth.

How does mom feel?

Almost any mother is interested in the sensations at the 16th week of pregnancy, because this is one of the most pleasant periods in her life. And here's why:

• Debilitating nausea and vomiting disappear.
• No more pain.
• There is no strong sensitivity in the breast either, but its growth does not stop, preparations are underway for feeding the baby.
• Anxiety, lethargy, a sharp change in mood also go away, and in return for them, the female body gains strength, calmness and peace come.
• And thankfully, there is no need to go to the bathroom too often.

During this period, the body, as it were, independently adjusts itself to a favorable result and protects from unwanted emotions. Previously, due to toxicosis, the woman did not want to eat, but now her appetite is growing. Moreover, if you give free rein to the expectant 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 the unpleasant consequences associated with excess weight cannot be avoided in the future.

Personal Features

What happens to mom at 16 weeks pregnant? It is worth noting that each woman perceives this period differently. Some ladies cannot feel their interesting position. Sometimes, even at this time, the abdomen is not yet visible. However, this cannot be considered an anomaly, and often in subsequent weeks the development of the child takes place at a more intensive pace. By and large, if a woman has a small belly by this period, this is still considered the norm.

Although the toxicosis recedes, in some cases, the mother may experience nausea. If twins are expected, then nausea canjoin and vomit. However, if it persists for a long time during normal childbearing, it is recommended to visit a specialist to adjust your diet.

Changes in the uterus

With the onset of fetal development, the female reproductive 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 the pelvic cavity a little. Moreover, its bottom is just below the navel (by 7 cm).

During each examination, the doctor will assess the state of her condition and compare with the norm. In addition, the specialist probes the tone of the reproductive organ. It is also important for him to know how the fetus is located in the uterine cavity and the development of its limbs. The circumference of the abdomen deserves special attention, and it has its own standards.

Due to the growth of the uterus, the load on the intestines increases, forcing it to move closer to the spine. In addition, for this reason, there is a violation of peristalsis, as a result of which the stomach can swell, heartburn occurs and constipation appears.

What happens at the 16th week of pregnancy with a woman who is in position for the first time in relation to external signs? In this case, the roundness of the tummy is not so noticeable, but with repeated gestation, it will be larger. This is due to stretching of the abdominal muscles and ligaments.

Features of food

The full value of development depends on how correct and balanced the nutrition will be (including the intake of minerals, vitamins)child and the he alth of his mother. It is important to stick to fractional meals - about five times a day. It is desirable that breakfast be more hearty, lunch - delicious, with the inclusion of first and second courses, and dinner - light.

For snacks, fruits and vegetables are recommended, which are recommended to be consumed in large quantities. You should carefully consider the use of citrus and sour fruits - try to avoid overeating them. In the future, this will not allow to provoke allergies in the baby.

In order for the fetus to develop fully at the 16th week of pregnancy, a woman should saturate her body only with useful products:

• fish;
• porridge;
• diet meat chicken, rabbit, turkey, veal;
• legumes, nuts, seeds;
• bran bread;
• dairy products;
• eggs.

At the same time, it is recommended to completely eliminate pure s alt from the diet, as it can cause swelling and retain water in the body. As a result - a set of excess weight, a feeling of heaviness in the legs and the appearance of shortness of breath.

Those foods that contain a lot of s alt should be limited. The same goes for sweet and starchy foods. But if you simply don’t have enough strength to give up such pleasure, you should cook something yourself: muffins, cake. So you can control their composition and ingredients.

Also, do not fast or diet during pregnancy. italso concerns Orthodox fasting - the church has nothing against it in this regard.

Vitamin complex

For the full development of the child at the 16th week 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.

Useful during pregnancy is a whole vitamin-mineral complex, which is usually prescribed by a doctor. In addition to it, it is worth taking "Jodomarin". Depending on the state of he alth of the woman, the doctor will be able to select 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!

Certain issues

At the 16th week of gestation, the mother may have constipation, which is not good for him, but can provoke a miscarriage. In connection with such a danger, a woman should immediately contact a gynecologist to sort out this problem. The doctor will help you decide on a diet to restore the body. As a prevention of constipation, eating foods rich in fiber helps a lot. Plentiful drinking 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 period of pregnancy, the most dangerous time is between the 16th and 18th weeks. During this period, a woman is at risk - a missed pregnancy may occur. Mainthe reasons for such a dangerous phenomenon can be:

• Intrauterine infection of the fetus.
• Anomalies of the chromosome set.
• The Rh factor of the mother does not match the Rh factor of the child.
• Lack of progesterone.
• Previously, a woman had to have an abortion.
• ECO.
• Maternal misbehavior.

The influence of external factors also plays an important role. What is characteristic, a frozen pregnancy practically does not manifest itself in any way. However, a woman may experience abdominal pain accompanied by brown vaginal discharge. This indicates detachment of the ovum.

To confirm and refute the fears, the woman will have to take an hCG test, 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 from 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 in 6 months. Moreover, all this time it is necessary to be under the close supervision of a specialist and undergo all the necessary studies, and take tests. It is also important to treat any infectious diseases that are present in order to avoid a repeated miscarriage.

Sexual contact

With the onset of the 16th week of pregnancy, parents no longer have strict restrictions in terms of intimacy. And ifpregnancy goes smoothly and without complications, sexual relations will bring new sensations into their lives. In addition, this period does not yet prevent you from fully enjoying the process, since the stomach is small.

The baby will be completely safe, as the cervix holds it well, and the amniotic fluid will protect it from damage. In addition, the release of hormones from pleasure will only benefit everyone. In addition, sex has a beneficial effect on the woman herself: her fear disappears, and sensations become sharper.

But there are contraindications for intimacy, which include the threat of miscarriage, CCI, low placentation with the risk of abruption.

Helpful tips

Some helpful tips to help pregnant women make the most of their pregnancy:

• Sleep preferably on your side, which will avoid squeezing the abdomen at the 16th week of pregnancy and reduce the load on the spine.
• Eating raw fish, water and undercooked foods is highly discouraged.
• Wear loose clothing so it doesn't put pressure on your stomach.
• Various stressful situations have side effects, which are bad for the development of the child. Therefore, it is very important to avoid negativity.
• If you experience pain of any nature, do not delay visiting a doctor, as only he can determine the degree of risk.
• It is desirable for a woman to spend most of her time outdoors - in this case, the child will receive the necessaryamount of oxygen.

In addition, you need to refrain from conducting various experiments related to going to the sauna or bath. A sharp change in temperature is not good for the baby. Everything needs a measure. The same applies to the solarium, where it is generally better not to go during pregnancy.

All expectant mothers should always remember that a timely visit to the doctor will avoid unwanted complications. You should also pay special attention and care to your own he alth. Only under such conditions the child will be born he althy and full to the joy of parents! What more could you want in this life?! You can take a photo at the 16th week of pregnancy for a long and bright memory.