You're now into the
middle phase of your pregnancy. For the majority of women, the next three months is the
best part. You'll probably be feeling much better than you have been. Any sickness you've
had is likely to have gone and you won't feel so tired. In fact, you may feel quite
energetic.
You'll be noticing some changes in how your body looks. Your nipples and the area
around them may be darker in colour. There may also be a brown line starting to appear
down the middle of your abdomen. This will gradually fade after the baby is born. Some
women get brown patches on their faces too - these can get worse if you're exposed to the
sun a lot. Your tummy is becoming more rounded and your clothes are starting to become too
tight for you. As you get bigger, stretch marks may
start to appear.
Click here to find out about minor discomforts |
Your baby is now
completely formed, and by week 16 he is about 15cm long. For the rest of your pregnancy he
will be growing and maturing until he is able to survive outside the womb. Fine dark downy
hair (called lanugo) is beginning to grow on his body and the eyebrows and eyelashes are
starting to appear. Some babies have hair on their heads too. His bones are getting
harder, and tiny nail buds are appearing on his fingers and toes. He can curl his hands
into fists and make grasping movements.
His muscles are getting stronger too, and he is moving more vigorously. You probably
still won't be able to feel it yet, though by week 16 you might just begin to sense some
slight fluttery movements in your lower abdomen, especially if
you've already had a baby.
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If you're feeling
more energetic, this is a good time to get into the habit of doing some regular exercise, like swimming, walking, yoga or
an antenatal exercise class. If you're not already doing pelvic floor exercises, start
now. Pregnancy is not just a means to an end - it's a good time to
really start looking after yourself and getting into good habits!
As your baby's spine has now developed, you don't need to continue taking a folic acid
supplements unless your doctor advises otherwise.
Around week 16, you may be offered a blood test (either an AFP test,
a double test or a triple test) to indicate the likely level of risk that your baby may
have Down's syndrome, or a neural tube defect (an abnormality caused by the brain or
spinal cord not developing properly). It's up to you whether you have this test or
not, make sure you understand the full implications of the test
before you agree. If
you do have it, it's important that it's done at the right time in your pregnancy, so you
need to have an ultrasound
scan to confirm when your baby is due. If you're having an amniocentesis,
this may be done in week 16 too.
If you're working, this may be a good time to invest in a couple of
suitable maternity outfits that will last throughout
your pregnancy.
In the UK, find out whether you're entitled to Statutory
Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance. These are explained in the booklet Babies and
Children, which you can get from your local Benefits Agency or Post Office. Talk to your
employers about what their policy on maternity leave is.
Click
here for more information about rights and benefits
All pregnancies are different, so don't worry if you're not experiencing everything
exactly as it says here. |
