Pregnancy week 16
If you could see inside yourself and watch your growing baby, you would see him sucking his thumb!
Look out for these 16 weeks pregnant symptoms and signs so you are prepared.
BABY DEVELOPMENT
Your little one’s retinas start to work this week. However, don’t try and expose your belly to bright lights to see if your baby reacts - her neural circuits aren’t mature enough yet, and her sensory organs are still too fragile to be stimulated like that. If you haven’t already, it is possible that you feel your baby move for the first time this week (or in the coming weeks). These movements are still very light, so don’t expect massive sensations. Be on the lookout for what feels like butterfly wings inside your belly. Or small bubbles. It is exciting and wonderful when it happens, but don’t worry if you haven’t felt it yet - each baby grows at a different rate. Your baby is exactly where she’s supposed to be!
YOUR BODY
If you have been experiencing craving you might be wondering if it’s because you are lacking nutriments. No, it is simply a hormone-related side effect of pregnancy. You've probably noticed that certain foods seem "different" or less appetising. Others, however, feel like they are indispensable! Welcome to your body while pregnant. No rhyme or reason to it. Just do your best to think “moderation” in all you eat. Try and balance treating yourself with taking care of yourself and your growing child.
NUTRITION
Vitamin A is important when you are pregnant but in just the right amounts, neither too much nor too little. Cryptic enough for you? In a normal diet you should be getting enough, there is no need to take supplements. On the contrary, excessive intake could be harmful to your developing baby. Know that some skin treatments that contain Vitamin A it are forbidden for pregnant women. Foods to eat that will more than cover your Vitamin A needs, and those of your baby, are milk and dairy products, butter, eggs (the yolks in particular), bright vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, parsley, tomatoes or carrots, and orange and yellow fruits (apricots, melon, mango, et cet.).
TIPS
By around month six, it is recommended that you and your partner go to an ante-natal class to start to prepare for your baby’s birth, especially if this is your first baby (or if your first baby was born ages ago!). You will learn about the birth, and about pain relief, breathing, and relaxation techniques. A visit to a delivery room, exercises for fitness in pregnancy and many other really useful things can also be on the programme. Ante-natal classes are the ideal opportunity to get to know other mothers or couples as well. Who better to share your experience with?
-
0 -
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
Related articles
Pregnancy week 29
As you inch your way towards the finish line – you will be giving birth in about ten weeks! – your baby is still growing by leaps and bounds, even opening her eyes this week.
3 mins to read
Pregnancy week 7
Your baby is already a pretty impressive 15 mm long. Though you won’t feel it yet, she’s on the move.
2 mins to read
Pregnancy week 30
Every day, your baby develops more, getting ready to make an entrance into the world in just under 10 weeks. Has it gone fast or is the time creeping by for you? Every mum feels it differently.
2 mins to read
Trimester 1
The first trimester of your pregnancy – the first 12 weeks – can be an exciting time. This tiny little being is growing inside you. You probably have lots of questions.
1 min to read
Pregnancy week 35
In about a month, you’ll be holding that little bundle of joy in your arms. Until then, there’s still lots of polishing and refinement going on inside you. Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
Pregnancy Week 18
Lots of leaps and bounds happening in week 18, from nerve cells multiplying to the beginnings of fingerprints.
3 mins to read
Pregnancy week 40
Time’s up! If he hasn’t already, your baby will arrive in the next few days. If he doesn’t come out voluntarily, your doctor might give him a little nudge.
2 mins to read
Week 23
Your baby is now 29cm long from head to toe and weighs considerably over 550g. You have got around 16 more weeks to go!
3 mins to read
Pregnancy week 8
About the size of a grape, your little one measures about 15 mm, but in a sitting position now. In other words, from his coccyx to the crown of his head. Learn more about this week.
3 mins to read
Pregnancy week 28
Your little one is around 38 cm long from crown to toe and already weights about 1.2 kilos, a third of her birth weight. Her feet measure around 5½ cm – yes, they are tiny!
2 mins to read
Trimester 2
A lot of women start to believe that it’s all really real as they move into their second trimester. Is that you? Either way, there’s a lot going on in weeks 13 to 26.
1 min to read
Pregnancy week 34
Things are slowing down a little in your belly now. That’s because everything is getting close to being cooked! Your baby is around 45 cm long and weighs 2.2 juicy kilos.
3 mins to read
Pregnancy week 17
Your little one now weighs around 150g and is looking more and more like a “real” baby every day.
3 mins to read
Pregnancy week 39
You might have felt a few contractions already and were wondering if that was “it”. Don’t worry, you won’t miss the start of labour!
2 mins to read
Pregnancy week 22
If you could look inside, you’d see your baby sucking her thumb, her sucking reflex practically perfected now. It’s nature’s way of getting her to breastfeed from birth.
3 mins to read
Pregnancy Week 9
Two hearts beat as one, as the song says. In actual fact, your baby’s heart is beating just fine on its own. Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
Pregnancy week 27
Your baby still has some growing to do but as of today, he’s big enough laying down to fit on your forearm between your hand and your elbow.
2 mins to read
Pregnancy trimester 3
You are now officially in your third and final trimester - your baby is all about fast track development from here on out.
1 min to read
Pregnancy week 4
Almost one month already! There are lots of things happening inside you this week.
3 mins to read
