During the 16th week of pregnancy, your baby will have developed enough to allow you to start feeling the sensations of your baby’s movement. At the same time, your uterus will be growing at about the same rate. You’ll also be able to start learning more about the sex of your baby.
Your uterus is growing at about the same pace as your baby
During your second trimester, your uterus is growing at about the same pace as your baby. However, you may notice some changes in your body and the shape of your bump.
Your uterus will have expanded to a size of about 2.5 pounds by the end of your second trimester. The uterus will expand to 500 percent of its original volume. This puts stress on the muscles and ligaments. The round ligaments supporting the uterus are thickening and stretching.
The baby may start to make its first movements. This may feel like fluttering or gas bubbles.
You will probably notice some changes in your skin as well. The skin will begin to develop pigments to help it with colour.
You may also notice a dark line on your belly. This is the result of more melanin being produced. This is normal during pregnancy. You may also notice a change in your posture as your center of gravity shifts.
Your baby’s ears have matured
During the third trimester of pregnancy, the human ear is in full swing. Your baby’s ears may even be covered with a fluttery membrane known as the vernix. The vernix is not to be confused with the vernicular, a non-human ear. The cochlea is also in full swing.
The true-colored skin of your baby may be a little too thick to see, but the top lip and the tip of your nose should be easy to spot. A few inches of hair should be growing on your head, and some eyebrows may be emerging as well. During the first trimester, your baby will be about the size of a small pea. You’ll see your baby gain steadily over the next 14 weeks.
As for a baby’s hearing abilities, it may take awhile, but your baby’s ears are well on their way to completing their journey from octocaudal to apical. In the long run, you’ll be able to hear your child’s heartbeat, lungs and breath.
You’re feeling your baby move
During pregnancy, you will notice your baby moving more frequently. While the exact timing of these movements is different for every woman, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends counting at least 10 movements per two hours.
A baby’s movements should also be monitored for signs of reduced activity. A lack of movement may mean the baby is asleep or the placenta isn’t functioning correctly. You may also want to call your healthcare provider if the movements are less frequent.
The earliest movements are not very noticeable to most people. They can be confused with other things such as digestion, intestinal gas or abdominal contractions. The first time a pregnant woman feels a fluttering or kicking motion, it is considered a rite of passage.
You will also notice a spike in activity around the second and third trimesters. This is because your baby is trying to stretch and grow. During periods of inactivity, the baby sleeps inside the uterus.
You can learn the sex of your baby
During pregnancy, many parents want to find out the sex of their baby. In some cases, this information can be used to determine if the baby has genetic diseases that are specific to each gender. In other cases, it can be a way to start bonding with your baby before the birth.
While ultrasounds are a great way to determine the sex of your baby, there are many factors that can affect the results. If you want to find out the sex of your baby, make sure that you ask your OB-GYN if there are any reasons for not finding out right away.
The second trimester is often a favorite time for parents to find out the sex of their babies. Many of them find the experience exciting. They get to feel their baby move and they may even feel his or her heartbeat.
When you get an ultrasound at 16 weeks of pregnancy, the genitals of the baby are usually clearer. In fact, you can tell whether the baby is a boy or a girl by examining the genitals. If you aren’t sure, you can ask the technician for a second ultrasound to confirm your results.
