Your baby at 16 weeks pregnant: Week-by-week guide to development

Welcome to week 16 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as an avocado. Here's what else you can expect this week.

Your baby You guys are doing great! Baby is about the size of an avocado — around 10cm — and now weighs more than the placenta. Those new sucking motions could actually mean your baby is tasting what you had for dinner, as the taste buds have developed. Somersaulting and grasping — the umbilical cord gets held and pulled a lot — are new talents. Underneath those sealed eyelids, the eyes are moving and even perceiving light. Your amazing baby's skin is currently quite translucent, and if you could take a peek, you’d be able to see blood vessels under their skin. You You may be “showing”. Feeling sharp pains and aches on the sides of your abdomen? These are caused by the ligaments supporting your uterus stretching out to accommodate its growing weight. It’s often more noticeable when you change positions suddenly, get up from sitting or lying down, or when you cough. Rest and they should pass. Anything else? As you're nearing the halfway mark of your pregnancy, it's a good time to start thinking about your birth preferences and discussing it with your midwife or obstetrician. Don't forget to avail of the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, which covers many of your prenatal visits. It's also the right moment to consider any genetic screening tests if that's something you'd be interested in or if you haven't already. Continue to chill, and maybe have a glance at Pinterest if you've a spare room going – baby's room bits are ca-YUTE. More: Why Having A Bump Is BOSS

Your baby at 16 weeks pregnant: Week-by-week guide to development

Welcome to week 16 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as an avocado. Here's what else you can expect this week.

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