Your Pregnancy Week 16
Baby
Your baby continues to be busy growing and developing inside of you. He's now about the size of an avocado, measuring approximately 4 1/2 inches and weighing roughly 3 ounces. His heart is now pumping 25 quarts of blood every day and his bladder is emptying every 45 minutes.
His limbs are even more developed and their movements have become increasingly coordinated. He doesn't have any hair yet but the patterning of his scalp has begun.
What's in the future for your little one? A growth spurt is just around the corner! In the coming weeks he will double his weight and add inches to his frame.
Mom
Feeling butterflies in your stomach? It's time to prepare yourself for one of the most amazing experiences of your pregnancy, the first time you feel your child move inside you! Referred to as "The Quickening", these first movements might feel like the fluttering of butterfly wings, bubbles or even gas.
If this is your second child, you might already be able to detect his little movements. Mostly because you are already familiar with what they feel like, but it can also be attributed to the fact that your uterus is more stretched out than it was in your first pregnancy.
Most first-time mothers begin to recognize fetal movements around week 22. So get ready! In just a few short weeks you should be able to detect him moving and shifting around!
In the beginning, you may only detect these movements sporadically but as your pregnancy progresses, they should become increasingly regular and those little flutters in your stomach will feel distinctly like kicks. Other members of your family will soon be able to feel them too! Though they won’t be able to feel those first fluttery movements, they should be able to feel your baby move around 24 weeks!
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