16th Week Growth...

How your baby's growing: At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

You're not the only one who's smiling! Baby can now make facial expressions because of the development of her facial muscles. This week she can squint, smile and frown. This is probably not an indication of mood, but may be linked to random impulses in the developing brain.
Overall growth continues—your baby now weighs about 2.8 to three ounces and is about four or five inches long.
Other highlights this week include:

• Her ability to make some voluntary muscle movements means she can now hold her head somewhat erect.
• Baby is developing a sensitivity to light, and may respond with heart rate accelerations to projections of light on the abdomen. This can serve as a test of well-being before birth.
  Hiccups may start now, but you won't hear or feel them because the baby's system is filled with fluid rather than air.
• Baby's heart is now pumping the equivalent of 25 quarts of blood each day.
• Arm and leg movements are becoming more coordinated.
• Baby's bladder will empty about every 40-45 minutes.
  

How your life's changing: Have people been telling you how wonderful you look? The "glow of pregnancy" is real, thanks to increased blood flow to the skin. You may be enjoying yourself more, too, now that your hormones have stabilized and nausea has eased up. You're also probably less anxious about something happening to your baby (the risk of miscarriage drops dramatically after the 14th week) which likely adds to your overall sense of well-being.Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, most don't until about 18 weeks or more. If this is your first baby, don't be too anxious — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so. The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll start to feel unmistakably like kicks.

As your pregnancy progresses, it's important for you to get plenty of rest. The best position for you now is lying comfortably on your side, perhaps with a pillow propped against your back and another between your legs. The best sleeping position, specifically during the last couple of months of pregnancy is on your left side. By lying on your left side, you'll experience better digestive functioning, improved blood and nutrient flow to the placenta, and less swelling of hands, feet and legs. This is because, when lying on your left side, you are reducing pressure on the vena cava, a large vein which transports blood from the lower part of your body to your heart. Additionally, this position allows for both you and Baby to receive more oxygen. Avoid lying on your back, because your uterus could block important blood vessels in the back of your abdomen and interfere with circulation to you and your baby. Also avoid lying on your stomach, which puts too much pressure on your growing uterus. If you move suddenly you may a feel an ache in your sides. Not to worry… what you’re feeling are the ligaments on the sides of your uterus and pelvic walls stretching as your baby grows. It's normal to feel some discomfort, but if it continues for a few days or if your discomfort increases, you may want to talk with your doctor.