16 Weeks Pregnant
At 16 weeks pregnant, you may have that pregnancy glow, and your baby is developing taste buds.
By Babylist Staff | Medically Reviewed by Dr. Alyssa Dweck
At week 16 of pregnancy, you might be talking to baby. That’s great, because by now, they’re starting to be able to hear. Baby’s senses are really starting to form, and their eyes can now see light. Meanwhile, facial muscles are developing. What else? Read on to find out what to expect from week 16 of pregnancy.
What To Expect At 16 Weeks Pregnant
How Many Months Is 16 Weeks Pregnant?
At 16 weeks pregnant you are about four months pregnant, which is part of the second trimester of pregnancy. If you’re curious about your date, you can use our due date calculator to figure it out.
Your Baby’s Development at 16 Weeks
At this stage, your baby is developing tons of little features that make us human: everything from toenails to tastebuds.
“They can only taste the amniotic fluid at this time and they also have started to practice their swallowing,” says Jackie Martin, a certified nurse midwife and doctorate in nursing practice (DNP) at HerMD. Tiny toenails are forming now and will be fully in place by 34 weeks. And the umbilical cord is fully developed.
“[Baby] has two arteries and one vein. The vein carries nutrients and oxygen to the baby and the two arteries carry waste from the baby to the placenta,” Martin says. “The cord is covered with a thick gooey substance called Wharton’s jelly and it helps keep the cord protected while it is helping your baby to grow and be healthy while still in the uterus.”
Finally, baby’s ears have developed and he or she can hear you talking! Now’s the time to start singing and teaching him or her their first words.
How Big is a Baby at 16 Weeks?
Baby is about 4.5 inches long and weighs between 3.5 and 4 ounces, Martin says. Baby weighs about the same as a medium bag of salad, says Dr. Monte Swarup, an ob-gyn and founder of HPD Rx. Your little one is also around the size of a hacky sack.
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You have 168 days left of your pregnancy! That’s about as long as the regular NBA season.
16 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound
16 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound
Although baby is small, by 16 weeks, you might be able to make out their limbs, fingers and toes. You might even catch baby sucking his or her thumb, because they’re developing the sucking reflex.
16 Weeks Baby Movement
Dr. Swarup explains that as baby grows this week, you’ll likely begin to feel more squirming or kicking happening.
“The nervous system continues to develop, and this enables your baby to start moving their arms and legs,” he says.
Your Body at 16 Weeks of Pregnancy
Baby is continuing to develop core parts of its anatomy starting with the central nervous system, but you’ve likely slipped into your second trimester with fewer bouts of morning sickness and suddenly clear skin. If that’s not the case, you could also be experiencing breakouts, stuffy nose and other symptoms.
16 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms
Who said breakouts were for teenagers? You might notice some pimples popping up this week in addition to a sudden stuffy nose or shortness of breath. That’s all extremely common as you enter the 16th week of pregnancy.
Acne
You might notice you’re experiencing more breakouts during this time. It’s ironic considering that the second trimester is also the time when most women experience that pregnancy glow that gives you great skin and hair. “The same factors that make some women glow can cause oily skin or acne during pregnancy too,” says Martin.
Unfortunately, you might also notice some darker patches of skin begin to crop up. “This is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy,’” Dr. Swarup says.
Shortness of breath
Feeling winded? That’s normal, too, and it has nothing to do with your fitness level. As your body produces progesterone, Martin explains that your body is feeling tricked into needing to take more oxygen in, giving you that feeling of being winded.
“Additionally, you have increased your blood supply to support you and the baby, so the heart is working a little harder to move that increased blood volume,” she adds. “Also as the baby grows, they will push on your lungs and make it hard to take full, deep breaths.”
Slow down and listen to your body during this time and take breaks during physical activity if you feel you need a minute to catch your breath.
Stuffy nose
If you’re experiencing a stuffy nose during this time, it has nothing to do with allergies or an oncoming cold. Instead, Martin explains that an increase in estrogen production can cause swelling in your nasal passages, which in turn produce more mucus, giving you that stuffy feeling.
“This is called pregnancy rhinitis. It causes a runny or stuffy nose. It will affect approximately 20-40% of pregnant women,” she says. You might get some relief from an over-the-counter medicine, nasal spray or drops. Martin also suggests using a humidifier or enjoying a steamy shower to get things moving. Propping your head up while you sleep at night can help as well.
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Pregnancy Symptoms Coming up in Week 17
Morning sickness can linger for some women well into the second trimester. And in week 17 of pregnancy, you may also notice that “mask of pregnancy,” leaving marks on your tummy. And you may start to feel round ligament pain as your body changes to accommodate a growing baby. Plus, as baby develops they’re going to start kicking a lot more!
Commonly Asked Questions About Week 16 of Pregnancy
Wondering what causes the symptoms you’re experiencing in the second trimester? We have some answers! While some women see breakouts, others are experiencing a glow that others are commenting on. And your baby finally has ears! Does that mean it’s time to start playing opera music?
What causes that pregnancy glow?
Many women feel beautiful during their second trimester, thanks to suddenly radiant skin and hair and the fact that other symptoms such as morning sickness have subsided. “Some women will develop a dewy glow appearance,” says Martin. “This is a result of increased blood flow and the hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin.” Capture the feeling by taking more selfies this week.
“Overall for the month of weeks 13-16, mother is feeling better,” says Dr. Lauren Demosthenes, an ob-gyn and Senior Medical Director with Babyscripts. “Morning sickness is usually less, energy is usually better.”
Can my baby hear?
Yes! At this point your baby’s ears have developed and he or she can hear things happening in the outside world. If you’ve been told to play baby Mozart and to start talking to your little one, now is the time when it definitely counts!
Recommended Products for Week 16 of Pregnancy
Now’s the time to brainstorm products you might need as you continue your pregnancy journey. To start, come up with a baby shower registry. Then, look toward the immediate future with things like a bra extender to get more life out of your current wardrobe and maybe a pregnancy pillow to accommodate your changing body.
16 Weeks Pregnant Checklist
- Baby shower time is quickly approaching. First step: decide what kind of shower you want. Then, figure out who is going to host and where. Pick a date and help them with the guest list.
- Schedule a self-date. See a matinee movie, get a spa treatment or just relax at home.
- Try five minutes of meditation a day for one week. If you feel good, keep it going and add another few minutes each week, working your way up to 20 minutes.
- Start sleeping on your side, ideally, your left (it helps get nutrients to baby via blood flow). Don’t panic if you wind up on your back, just flip onto your side and try again.
Sources
- Monte Swarup, MD, FACOG, board-certified in OB/GYN and founder of HPD Rx
- Jackie Martin, Certified Nurse Midwife, Doctorate in Nursing Practice at HerMD
- Dr. Lauren Demosthenes is an OBGYN and Senior Medical Director with Babyscripts, the leading remote monitoring platform for managing obstetrics
Babylist Staff
Editor
Babylist editors and writers are parents themselves and have years of experience writing and researching, coming from media outlets like Motherly, the SF Chronicle, the New York Times and the Daily Beast, and the fields of early childhood education and publishing. We research and test hundreds of products, survey real Babylist parents and consult reviews in order to recommend the best products and gear for your growing family.
