Pregnancy - week by week: Week 16 – 17

Pregnancy - week by week: Week 16 – 17

Week 16
The baby’s bones harden now day by day. One of the results is that you will eventually begin to feel movement. If you are overweight, have a very thick uterus, or if this is your first pregnancy, you may have difficulties feeling something at this stage of pregnancy. Just give it a little more time. You will feel it soon enough. In the meantime baby’s legs have grown so far that they are longer than baby’s arms. For now the baby has enough room in the uterus to move around. Already at this stage fingernails and toenails are growing. Sometimes some babies need their nails clipped right after birth because they are so long and sharp.

The increased blood volume might cause you to have a stuffy nose or even nose bleeding. Why you may ask? The higher blood volume during pregnancy affects your estrogen level, which in return can swell your nasal membranes. If you have a weak heart or heart problems in general you have to keep in mind that your heart has to work much harder during pregnancy to pump the additional blood through your veins. Your ligaments continue to stretch, and you may be feeling a little pain in your abdomen. If you're planning to have a prenatal amniocentesis test done, it will eventually be scheduled between the 16th and 18th week.

Week 17
The 17th is another period of rapid growth. The body fat begins to build up underneath the baby's skin. The baby’s heart is pumping about 20-25 quarts of blood a day already. That is a lot of work for such a tiny person. The placenta and the baby are about equal in size at this point. The baby can blink his eyes, suck, and swallow starting around the beginning of the 17^th week of pregnancy. The baby is also developing reflexes and responds accordingly to stimulation.

Mom’s uterus is now at about 1.5 to 2 inches below the belly button. The baby is still on a growth spurt. You will be gaining some weight are showing a little more at the same time. The average weight gain is between five and ten pounds at this point of pregnancy. Have you felt your baby moving yet? Moving and kicking will increase and you might feel it as if it would be little bubbles in your belly.