Explore the development of a 16 week fetus

When your baby reaches 16 weeks of age, you'll notice that your belly pops up a bit. Besides, baby is also developing gradually.

If you are wondering how the 16-week fetus develops as well as what you need to pay attention to, please also find aFamilyToday Health through the following article.

How does a 16-week fetus develop?

Some of the milestones achieved by 16 weeks gestation are:

Weight of 16 weeks pregnant

The 16-week-old fetus is about the size of an avocado, weighs about 100g and is about 12cm long from head to toe.

16-week fetus heart rate

The little angel's heart beats about 150 to 180 times per minute and pumps about 24 liters of blood per day.

Eye development

During this week, your baby's eyes can move gently to the side. Darling also gradually becomes more sensitive to the light of his face even though his eyes are still closed.

The skin is still transparent

The 16-week-old fetus's skin is almost translucent, so during the ultrasound you have a chance to see the baby's blood vessels under that thin layer of skin.

Taste buds

When entering the 16-week gestation period, baby's taste buds begin to develop and work. So the little angel can taste the amniotic fluid when they accidentally get into her mouth. In addition, the taste of amniotic fluid also comes from the pregnant mother's diet, so the baby can now begin to develop an interest in taste while still in the womb.

16 week old fetus can do?

When you feel a rush in your stomach, that could be when the baby is kicking the wall of your abdomen. Most mothers will experience this milestone between week 16 and week 20 . Your baby's first kicks are usually very light and the mother may mistake them for something that is upset in the digestive tract or indigestion.

The baby starts to feel the sound

The small bones in the ears begin to lie in the right place, helping the 16-week-old fetus begin to feel the sounds and voices of the pregnant mother. In fact, studies have found that babies who are heard a song over and over again in the womb recognize the same tune when the song is played after the baby is born. . So, please pay attention to my lullabies.

How does the body of pregnant mother pregnant at 16 weeks change?

Some of the conditions you may experience during your 16 weeks pregnancy are:

Difficulty breathing during pregnancy

Sometimes you will find it a bit difficult to breathe. Do not worry! Shortness of breath is a very common phenomenon and many 16-week pregnant women experience it during their second trimester of fetal development .

The obnoxious culprit is the pregnancy hormone in the mother's body. These hormones stimulate the respiratory center, causing both the frequency and depth of the mother's breath to increase. As a result, mothers may find it hard to breathe after doing extremely gentle things like taking a shower. Pregnancy hormones also cause the body's capillaries, including the respiratory tract, to become swollen; relaxes the muscles of the lungs and trachea, making it harder for the mother to breathe.

Another cause of dyspnea during pregnancy is that as the pregnancy gets bigger, the uterus pushes against the diaphragm and squeezes it into the lungs, so that the mother's lungs can hardly expand completely when inhaled. breath.

Backache

Back pain is another side effect of pregnancy hormones. To reduce back pain, pregnant mothers take time to stretch exercises, do not sit or stand for too long to limit the appearance of pain.

Chest tightening

By now, your breasts may have grown a few sizes and will begin to be ready for breastfeeding after your baby is born.

Constipation during pregnancy

Constipation is a condition that pregnant mothers are very easy to encounter. This is because your uterus begins to press on the intestines. To improve constipation during pregnancy , try to drink plenty of fluids and eat plenty of fiber-rich foods.

Gestational diabetes

If you have a routine pregnancy check-up and the doctor finds out that there is sugar in your urine, don't worry! Your body may be doing just what it takes to ensure that your 16-week-old fetus gets enough glucose because your baby depends entirely on you for the nutrients it needs.

Thus, the hormone insulin will regulate blood sugar levels and ensure that the mother's body gets the required amount of sugar for the cells into the body. Sometimes the insulin resistance reaction is so strong that the mother's blood sugar becomes more than it should be, the excess is then poured into the urine and passed out.

That's what makes gestational diabetes so common, especially during the second trimester - when the mother's insulin-resistant response becomes stronger. Ideally, mothers should consult a doctor and ask for advice so they can equip themselves with a full amount of knowledge about this disease.

What tests do you need to know?

Between 16 and 18 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor may have your mother run a test to measure the level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP - a protein produced by the fetus) and the pregnancy hormone hCG, estriol in the mother's blood. At the same time, the doctor also measures the level of a supplement called inhibin-A in the mother's body.

If your mother has had a blood test or ultrasound during the first trimester of pregnancy, the results of these two tests are called the integrated test. You will know if your baby is at risk for neural tube defects, such as spina bifida or an abnormal chromosome, such as Down syndrome .

Rest assured that abnormal results don't necessarily mean there's a problem with your baby. However, after that, mothers will have to perform more intensive tests to ensure their own health. Talk to your doctor to learn about the risks and advantages of these tests.