Canada's Largest & Oldest Cord Blood Bank
You are now four months pregnant! Is your baby bump finally starting to show?
This Week’s Highlights
Your baby has eyelashes and eyebrows
Your baby’s heart is in full working order
You may feel your baby move
Your Baby at 16 Weeks
Your baby is the size of an avocado, measuring about 4.6 inches (11.6 centimeters) from head to rump and weighing in at about 3.5 ounces (100 grams). He or she will double in size in the next three weeks.
Baby Development at Week 16
Your baby’s development is far along enough that he or she can hold their hands together. The scalp pattern is starting to form at the top of the head. Your baby’s circulatory system is working at stop speed pumping 24 liters (42 pints) of blood around the body.
Your baby is able to hold his or her head more upright since the neck muscles and the back bones are much stronger now.
Even though your little one will keep his or her eyes closed until about 27 weeks, the eyes are able to move from side-to-side and perceive light at this point.
It is time to start talking and singing to your baby, because your little one can now hear you. Studies show that babies recognize tunes they hear in utero after birth.
Pregancy Tip
Having trouble falling asleep? Consider adding extra pillows to your bed to give you more comfort.
Your Bump at 16 Weeks
At this stage, your bump is becoming more and more obvious. Soon, it will be very difficult to hide your secret. Did you know that your uterus is growing as fast as the baby now?
We can’t stress enough the fact that every bump looks different. There is no normal and you may be a rare mom-to-be whose belly hasn’t popped yet. Remember your bump is unique to you; so don’t compare it to any other bumps.
How Your Body is Changing
In big news, you may experience quickening or start feeling your baby move this week. Quickening can happen anywhere between 16 to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
If you feel a low rumble or an unusual sensation in your belly, sit down and concentrate because it may be your first experience of quickening. Every pregnancy is different, so don’t worry if you can’t feel your baby move just yet.
Skin changes are normal during pregnancy. This week, increased blood flow and the pregnancy hormones will finally give you that ‘pregnancy glow’ you’ve been longing for. Some women continue to experience bouts of dizziness and nosebleeds (both resulting from increased circulation) this week.
Your breasts are likely much bigger at this stage of pregnancy, fully prepared for breastfeeding. Make sure you add bra shopping to your pregnancy checklist, so you can find comfortable underwear. If you are planning to breastfeed, you may want to think about investing in a nursing bra at this stage, and save money.
How Far Along are You?
16 weeks in, 24 weeks to go! You are in the second trimester of your pregnancy. Even though pregnancy is measured in weeks this means you have completed your fourth month of pregnancy.
Exercise at Week 16
You have probably gained about 5 to 10 pounds (2.2 to 4.5 kilograms) of weight at this stage. So, you may start experiencing both round ligament pain from stretching of your abdomen and back pain.
Light exercise, regular stretching and good posture can help ease your back pain. Remember, staying active has other benefits such as lower risk of gestational diabetes, curbing your weight gain and easier labour.
Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury
Future treatments using cord blood are extremely promising and are also being studied in ongoing clinical trials. For example, in 2019, Japan became the first country in the world to approve using stem cells to treat spinal cord injuries. Depending on where the injury to the spinal cord happens it can be classified a complete injury, where all sensation and muscle function is lost, or incomplete, where some nerve signals can travel past the injured area of the spinal cord. Common symptoms associated with spinal cord injuries include loss of sensation and muscle function to part of the body below the level of injury.
To learn more about how stem cell transplants are being used to treat skeletal diseases and injuries, visit the clinical trials page: https://www.healthcord.com/cord-blood-usage-overview/cord-blood-clinical-trials/skeletal-diseases-injuries/
Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 16
Breast changes – Your breasts will continue to grow during pregnancy as milk ducts develop. At this point, colostrum (the first milk) is being produced as well. Some moms go up in several cup sizes and put on about three pounds of weight in their breast during pregnancy. You may also notice colour changes in your nipples (the areolas) due to increased blood flow. Once you wean your baby, your breasts will likely go back to their pre-pregnancy size.
Back pain – If your back is starting to hurt at this early stage of pregnancy there are a few things you can do to ease the pain. Stretching, low-heeled (not completely flat) shoes, exercises that strengthen your back and wearing a belly band can help.
Faintness and dizziness – These symptoms mostly occur in the second trimester and may be due to several different factors including changes in circulation, pregnancy hormone levels and your growing bump. You are sharing your blood supply with the baby, which means sometimes your brain may not get enough oxygen to support your body. Make sure you don’t spend too much time in hot, stuffy rooms and aren’t letting your blood sugar levels drop too low.
Dry eyes – Dry-eye syndrome is caused by changes to the amount or type of tears produced by your eyes. As with many of your other pregnancy symptoms, pregnancy hormones also cause dry eyes. Increasing the humidity in your home, massaging your eyelids and taking plenty of breaks when working with screens can help.
Constipation– Constipation usually affect moms in their second or third month of pregnancy. The same pregnancy hormones that relax your muscles and joints, also relax muscles in your digestive tract. This means food is passed along at a slower rate through your system causing your system to be backed up a bit. Including fibre-rich foods in your diet can help.
Cord Blood Banking is Easier than You Think
