Week By Week Pregnancy Guide Weeks Sixteen To Eighteen
Week Sixteen
Around this time, the baby’s bones start to harden. If you are overweight, have a thick uterus or this is your first pregnancy, you may not be able to feel the baby yet. However, the legs are now longer than the arms and all four limbs are moving frequently, Fingernails and toenails are starting to grow.
If you are expecting twins, each one will be around four inches and weigh around one hundred and twenty grams.
You may experience nosebleeds or congestion as you blood volume increases by forty to fifty per cent. This can affect oestrogen levels, which in turn swell the nasal membranes. Increased blood volume means that your heart has to work harder throughout the pregnancy. Your ligaments continue to stretch and you may feel aches and pains around your tummy. Breast tenderness and nausea should have subsided and you may feel your feet swelling at the end of each day.
Week Seventeen
Around this week , fat starts to form under the baby’s skin and the baby grows quickly. Baby and placenta are about equal in size. Refluxes are in place as the baby can suck, swallow and blink.
You are going through a rapid growth spurt at this point in your pregnancy. Average weight gain is between five and ten pounds.
Week Eighteen
By now, the baby weighs around eight ounces and is starting to look human. The eyes are looking out of the front of the head rather than the sides. Meconium, the baby’s first bowel movement is accumulating in the bowl. Pads are forming on the fingers and toes and if the baby is a boy, his prostate gland is starting to form.
You may notice your belly making jerking movements – your baby has the hiccups!
You may experience dizziness, light headedness or feel faint. These are all harmless symptoms of pregnancy (unless they occur regularly or severely. In cases like these please see your GP.) These conditions are all symptoms of Postural hypotension, or low blood pressure, due to a change in position and happens frequently in pregnancy when your cardiovascular system doesn’t react as fast.
Add to del.icio.us
Digg this