Pregnancy Week By Week

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Pregnancy Week 16		(–) Pregnancy Week 15		(+) Pregnancy Week 17
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Your Baby

Changes In Your Growing Baby
Your baby is planning on a huge growth spurt in the upcoming weeks. During pregnancy week 16 your baby has grown strong enough to hold his head straighter. Your baby's eyes and ears are moving into their final position and your baby is focusing much of her energy on her circulation system. By 16 weeks pregnant your baby's heart is pumping roughly 25 quarts of blood each day! At 16 weeks pregnant your baby starts growing fine hair on the tope of his head, though some babies will be born very bald despite their best efforts. The color of your baby's hair and even your baby's eyes may change shortly after birth. Many babies are born with blonde hair for example that falls out and turns brown a short time after birth. Still others are born with brown eyes that turn blue within a month or two after birth! Your baby will continue to amaze you in the weeks following pregnancy.

As you continue your pregnancy week by week your baby's legs start lengthening.

Your Body's Development
By pregnancy week 16 you can proudly boast a small belly. You may find you temporarily miss your waist, but remember that will come back just a short time after delivery. Many women love this stage of pregnancy where they are just big enough to look pregnant but not so big they feel bulky and clumsy.

By this time you might start needing some maternity clothes. While you may not fill them out entirely for a couple more weeks, you may still be more comfortable wearing something that gives you room to grow. Most of the time your maternity size corresponds to your pre-pregnancy size. Most maternity clothes come in small, medium, large and extra large sizes.

Changes In Your Body
Most women report their favorite part of pregnancy is feeling their baby move inside them. By 16 weeks pregnant you might start feeling little fluttering in your stomach for the first time. This sensation may be gas, but in many cases this far along it is often your baby's way of saying hello! Most babies are enjoying the vast amount of space they have to move around the uterus around 16 weeks pregnant, thus swim about vigorously. This can result in a variety of unusual sensations in your lower abdomen.

Between pregnancy week 16 and pregnancy week 18 you will undergo certain tests at your doctors office, including the alpha-fetoprotein test or AFP test. This is a test that measures the protein coming from fetal urine. This test can indicate if a potential problem may exist with your baby. A higher level of AFP for example may suggest that your baby is at an elevated risk for certain central nervous system or spinal cord problems. Some baby's with an elevated AFP are more at risk for Down Syndrome. If you do have an elevated AFP don't panic. It may be nothing. There are many false positives. In many cases however your doctor will recommend an amniocentesis or ultrasound to confirm whether or not a problem may exist.

An amniocentesis is a test that looks for chromosomal problems or genetic birth defects in babies. During this test a health care provider passes a thin need through the uterus to withdraw amniotic fluid for testing. There is some risk for miscarriage, leaking or complications from this test. You should talk with your doctor thoroughly before deciding whether you want this test as it is somewhat risky.

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