16 Weeks Pregnant - The First Movements

This week is one of the most significant weeks in the life of the expecting mother as well as the baby. It is when the mother is 16 weeks pregnant that the baby first starts moving. The baby is growing so rapidly that the eyes and ears have slowly shifted to the right place now. They are correctly placed and the limbs are developing too. The ears are now able to hear too, they can pick up sounds and hear what anybody is saying. Eyebrows, lashes and hair start to fill in. Even the toenails have started forming and you can see them in their form. Inside your womb, the baby’s heart is pumping a great quantity of blood. The heart is now pumping 50 pints of blood in an hour. This will steadily increase in the coming days. You will also start feeling a lot of other movements in an around your uterus. This is the time when the baby is also doing a lot of somersaults in your tummy. Some babies have also started grabbing the umbilical cords with their hands. Their movements are a lot coordinated now. rnAt 17 weeks pregnant, the umbilical cord which is the baby’s lifeline to the placenta has started becoming thicker. This will be ultimately removed at the end of the delivery but is crucial for giving the important food to the baby. However, the mother has started gaining a lot of weight which is known as the brown fat. This brown fat is used to generate heat for the baby. The baby on the other hand has a lot of white fat which will eventually be shed at the end of the day. The eyes of the baby are still fused, but you can actually feel the baby’s eyes moving under the lid. The mother is going through a bad time at present and it is very difficult for her. At 16 weeks pregnant your uterus would have grown to alarming proportions. It has now reached halfway from the pubic bone and then spreads down to your belly button. Another important development is and the supporting ligaments show signs of getting thicker and stronger for preparing for the growth of the baby. However, the woman is now suffering very less because morning sickness and nausea has subsided. Her skin and hair is also glowing as hair loss has become very less. The centre of gravity is still shifting and the expectant mother might feel dizzy time and again. It is important for the mother to maintain her balance because otherwise there is a chance she might topple over. Always walk slow and whenever traveling by car, remember to fasten the seat belt below the belly at all time. It is also important to take extra care while getting up to walk from bed. It should be done slowly. Eyes become very dire during this time and it might be a good idea to keep lubricating eye drops and gels in hand. Mothers who wear contact lenses should also steer clear of them. She should wear spectacles at all time if need be.