Welcome to week sixteen!
It is still really early but you may start to feel your baby move sometime between now and the next 4 weeks.
He/she is moving much more than you can feel, and if you do feel movement this early it will be due to a large dramatic move and not the little kicks you will feel later. So, if you feel movement one day and not again for several days that is entirely normal. We do not expect you to feel movement until 20 weeks. Every week your pregnancy and baby seem more and more real!
If you feel movement one day and not again for several days that is entirely normal because your baby is moving more than you can feel.
How my Baby Grows
- Your baby is the size of an avocado by 16 weeks which is about 4 ½ inches in length
- His/her arms and legs are even more developed, and they are very busy stretching and kicking around in the amniotic fluid
- Your baby’s head is extended now rather than in a curved position
- Those tiny ears have moved up into their final position on the head
- If you have an ultrasound this week you might be able to see the baby’s gender
Symptoms Mama may Feel or Experience
- Do you ever watch another mother as she pushes a stroller or comforts a crying infant and wonder what that will be like?
- You may daydream often about your baby’s eye or hair color, whether he/she will be quiet and calm or non-stop action, these are very normal thoughts brought on by your hormones and the reality of what is happening to your body
- This is a very special in your life, one that you will likely only do a few times so enjoy everything about it
Thoughts to Consider
- Have you started to think about baby names, if so, check out the list that we have right here on StorkAdvisor
- Perhaps there is a family name that you want to use
- Does the meaning of the name matter to you
- Do you want your baby’s name to start with a certain letter
- Start your list of names, but you might want to think twice about sharing them with family and friends unless you really value their opinion
- There are so many things to think about during a pregnancy
- Let’s just consider how you will diaper your baby
- Out of all the new baby products and gear you’ll be stocking your house, car, and bags with- there’s not a single one you’ll use more of than diapers.
- And yet, walking down the diaper aisle for the first time can be one of the most overwhelming experiences of your entire pregnancy.
- Read below to find some of the things to consider about diapers and if you would like more information, you can read the StorkAdvisor article that gives specific information on each diaper type and rates the best one in each category
- The most cost friendly
- The most absorbent friendly
- The most clean-conscious friendly (these are plant-based, cruelty free and sustainable sourced)
- The most subscription friendly
- The most earth friendly
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
- How are you doing with your water intake? Remember that it is recommended you drink at least 64-80 ounces a day
- If you haven’t tried prenatal yoga yet, here are a few reasons that you should give it a chance
- Prenatal yoga is both active enough and gentle enough for you to safely participate in throughout your entire pregnancy. You can gain all the benefits of staying active within the safe boundaries of prenatal yoga. Not only can prenatal yoga help ease the discomforts of pregnancy, but it can also help prepare your body for the demands of labor, and the unknowns of postpartum recovery. You can try prenatal yoga today no matter what stage of pregnancy you are in, it’s never too late to start.
- Prenatal yoga can be practiced just about anywhere, anytime, and can fit into a short opening within your schedule if that’s all you have available. You don’t need any fancy equipment or expensive gym memberships. Morning, noon, or night, if you’ve got yourself, and enough space to sit or lay down comfortably- you’ve got all you need. In the time it takes you to brush your teeth and check your email you could be increasing the endurance of your muscles needed for birth and postpartum recovery, reducing stress and anxiety, improving blood circulation throughout the body for you and baby, learning how to use your breath in supportive ways, decreasing swelling and alleviating pregnancy pain...just to name a few.
- No Experience Necessary- If you’re hesitant to try prenatal yoga because you’re afraid you won't know the postures, you are in luck. The constant cuing of the instructor will solve those dilemmas for you. Throughout your time the teacher will continually guide you to place your body carefully into each pose, literally step by step. They will also instruct you on how to use your breath to gain the most benefit out of each movement. The simplicity of the practice is something anyone can master, even if you’ve never stepped foot in a yoga studio before.
Dr. Cheryl Sharp,
Certified Nurse Midwife
Chief Content Officer
Chief Content Officer