Sixteenth Week of Pregnancy: The Complete Guide
Introduction
Time flies and here you are finally ready to face the sixteenth week of pregnancy.
I'll start by telling you that, during this period, your little one is more or less the size of an onion.
For an even more complete and conscious journey towards birth, I recommend you join the Academy to access all the best video courses to support your health during pregnancy (multidisciplinary antenatal course, pelvic floor, breastfeeding, nutrition, pilates, etc.) and the development of your baby (motor development, language, cognitive, self-weaning, pediatric disobstruction, etc.).
Also, on my Instagram profile @drsilva.com_official and on my Youtube channel you will find lots of content designed for you and your little one.
How many months is 16 weeks of gestation?
The days of the sixteenth week of pregnancy are part of the fourth month , which in turn falls between 13+2 and 17+4.
Symptoms of the sixteenth week of pregnancy
From the point of view of movements, during the sixteenth week of pregnancy it is very likely that you will start to feel a slight fluttering sensation .
Always considering the subjectivity of each case - first pregnancy or subsequent ones, more or less represented adipose tissue etc. - we remember that it is a very different perception compared to clear and sharp movements , but still very exciting.
Another important peculiarity of this period is the farewell to the hormonal nausea typical of the first trimester.
You may even start to enjoy foods that you couldn’t tolerate in previous weeks again.
Typical symptoms of the sixteenth week of pregnancy also include:
Back pain: Due to the progressive overload of the lumbar muscles, it is normal to have to deal with lumbago. To alleviate its symptoms, it is very useful to have a specific pregnancy pillow at home (be careful: you absolutely cannot recycle it while breastfeeding, but you will have to buy another specific one).
Sore breast.
Skin discolorations.
Gums that bleed more easily.
Focusing on back pain , we remember that, among the solutions to alleviate it, in addition to the use of the aforementioned cushion, there is also work on positions.
As early as the sixteenth week of pregnancy, you can start experimenting with some that will later be useful during labor.
Any examples?
The one on all fours with all the abdominal muscles relaxed.
As you can see in this video, another very useful one involves standing with your knees slightly bent and starting to rotate your pelvis as if to form the infinity symbol.
Since, as mentioned above, around the sixteenth week of pregnancy you begin to have to deal with sensitive gums , to prevent annoying bleeding it is advisable to regularly replace your toothbrush , trying to use models with soft bristles.
Be sure to floss and brush your tongue thoroughly, as it is a breeding ground for bacteria that, if they accumulate in excessive quantities, can cause tooth decay.
Oral hygiene during pregnancy should absolutely not be neglected.
Remember that the risk of gingivitis , a condition caused by plaque buildup, is among the risk factors for premature birth.