How Your Baby Grows During the Sixteenth Week
The crown-to-rump length of your baby may approach 4 1/2 to 5 inches this week and her weight will reach approximately 3 to 5 ounces. Your baby is now completely formed and will spend the rest of the weeks in utero growing and maturing.
Amniotic fluid levels are increasing and this week there is about 7.5 ounces of fluid in the womb, allowing plenty of room for the baby to move about. In fact, it is at this point in the pregnancy when an amniocentesis can be done with less risk of poking the baby.
An amniocentesis is a procedure in which the doctor removes a sample of amniotic fluid from the uterus to test for possible deformities. It is a procedure that has several risks, so parents often choose not to have one performed. Be sure to discuss possible concerns about getting an amniocentesis with your doctor or midwife before doing so.
What the Mother Feels During the Sixteenth Week
Your uterus is growing quickly and has not only increased in overall size, but has also thickened as well. In fact, your uterus now weighs almost 9 ounces by itself, and will continue to grow throughout your pregnancy.
You may now really feel pregnant, instead of just feeling sick or tired. This is actually around the time you may feel the first movements of the baby inside you - called quickening, these first movements are an exciting milestone. While your partner, friends or family will not be able to feel the baby moving yet, around weeks 16 through 20, the baby's movements get strong enough for you to share together.
Don't be alarmed if you do not feel the baby moving all the time, or are unsure about whether you feel movement or not. Depending on the location of the placenta, levels of amniotic fluid, and position of the baby the intensity of the movements will vary.
Resources:
The Pregnancy Book: Month-by-Month by Dr. Sears
Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Lesley Regan
The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger
