16 weeks pregnant: Pregnancy Symptoms & Baby Development

Your baby is now the size of an avocado, and around 11.6cm in length. He or she will weigh around 100g¹. The circulatory system is now starting to run, and can pump over 28 litres of blood a day.

Around now, your baby may start flexing their arms and fingers. Their hands may even be able to meet, form a fist, and hold each other². As your baby’s nervous system continues to develop, their range of movements will also progress².

Your baby may also be able to recognise your voice. Studies have shown that babies who hear a song while in the womb react to the same song when it’s sung after they’re born. Choose your lullabies wisely³.

While they’re beginning to make facial expressions, they can’t control them yet². More importantly, your baby is gearing up for a tremendous growth spurt, more than doubling in weight over the next few weeks⁴.

You may not be able to hide your pregnancy any more. That said, baby bumps at 16 weeks are different. Some women may not be showing much at all, while others have visible bumps. Everyone’s different, so don’t worry or waste time comparing your belly to anyone else’s.

The extra hormones in your body are also increasing blood flow to your mucus membranes, so you may feel more congested. Don’t be surprised if you experience the occasional nosebleed due to this, too. Saline sprays and nasal strips are safe to help you ease congestion³.

Hormones can also cause your veins to stretch. Together with increased blood flow, varicose veins may appear. Don’t worry too much - they shrink after you give birth⁵.

There’s nothing specific to avoid during individual weeks, but throughout your pregnancy, it’s wise to give the following a miss:

• Raw and undercooked meat
• Unpasteurised milk and dairy products
  
• Liver, and excessive consumption of foods high in vitamin A

Weight gain during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy weight, and varies a great deal from mother to mother. Most women gain between 10kg and 12.5kg (22–28lb) while pregnant, some of which is the weight of the growing baby⁹. Learn everything you need to know about weight gain in pregnancy.