16 Weeks Pregnant: What To Expect

EP 86:

You're 16 weeks pregnant! 🎉 Your baby is growing, your body is changing, and let’s be real—you’re probably Googling every little symptom right now. In this episode, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about week 16 of pregnancy, including:
 ✔️ How big your baby is right now 
 ✔️ The incredible way your baby is developing taste buds 👅
 ✔️ What’s up with those weird pregnancy nosebleeds? 👃
 ✔️ When you might start feeling those first baby kicks 🦶
 ✔️ Must-know tips to feel your best this week

Resources & Links:
✨ Need expert guidance on pregnancy & birth? Check out my Bump to Bundle Blueprint!
 

Transcript

0:05

Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founder and CEO of Birth Prep Academy. I'm on a mission to help pregnant moms prepare for their first hospital birth. I'm sharing revealing conversations about what it really takes to successfully transition into motherhood. So join me. We're here to discover things like what to expect in childbirth, how to prepare for your birth. We'll also talk about breastfeeding and so much more. I'm so grateful to share it all with you right here on Oh, Baby, the podcast created for pregnant moms, preparing for their first hospital birth. Let's get started. You're 16 weeks pregnant. Congratulations. Your baby is growing. Your body is changing. And let's be real. You're probably Googling every little symptom right now and that's okay because we've all done it. But what actually happens this week? What's normal? What's not? And what's one weird but super common symptom that no one talks about? I'll give you a hint. It has to do with your nose. Stay with me because today I'm breaking down everything you need to know about being 16 weeks pregnant. That's right. We're going to talk about what's happening with your baby, what's happening with your body and the must know tips to feel your very best this week. And trust me, there's a lot happening that might surprise you. So without further ado, let's get into it. All right. First up, let's talk about what your little one is up to this week. First up, your baby is about the size of an avocado. Yep. They're around four to five inches long and they weigh about three and a half ounces, so they're still tiny, but they're growing fast. And here's a crazy fact for you right now. Your baby has all of their taste buds. Fully developed. Yes, fully developed. That means that they can actually taste flavors from the amniotic fluid. So whatever you eat, they get a little taste of that too. And if you love spicy food, well, your baby just might love it later in life. So keep that in mind. All right, let's talk about facial expressions. Your baby is starting to make little expressions, frowning, squinting, even sucking their thumb. And here's the coolest part. These aren't just random movements. Your baby is actually practicing their facial muscles for later when they're born. Now let's talk about their bones. Their bones are hardening. Your baby's tiny bones are going from soft cartilage to actual bone this week. That means that they're getting stronger and pretty soon you might even start to feel those little kicks with more intensity. We'll talk about more of that in just a second. Let's talk about you because your body is doing some wild things right now. First up, let's talk about your increased blood flow. It might cause weird symptoms. Did you know that by now you have 50 percent more blood in your body than before you got pregnant? That extra blood is flowing great for your baby, but it can also cause things like nose bleeds, which are super common. So if your nose feel dry, grab a humidifier or a little coconut oil. It can also cause you to have a little bit more energy. Some moms start feeling like they finally are getting their groove back. So be on the lookout for that. Also, it causes that glowing skin. Hello. What we call the pregnancy glow. You can thank your extra blood circulation for that. But with all that being said, let's talk about round ligament pain. This is when you feel sharp, quick pains on the side of your belly, especially when you stand up or change positions too fast. It happens because ligaments, holding your uterus are stretching, which is totally normal, but super annoying. So try this to help move slowly when getting up and do gentle stretches to help loosen things up a bit. right. So we've talked about feeling those little flutters before, but at 16 weeks, some moms start to feel the first real movements, especially if this isn't your first pregnancy, it might feel like tiny bubbles or butterflies, or even like little muscle twitches. If you don't feel anything yet, don't stress out. Most first time moms feel movement closer to 18 to 20 weeks, but it is coming. So. So get ready for those kicks. Now, here's a question for you. Are you feeling any symptoms this week? Comment below and tell me what's been the weirdest or most surprising thing about pregnancy so far. I would love to know and I want to chat with you in the comments. Now, let's get into some must know tips to help you feel your very best. First up, you know what I'm going to say if you've seen any of my other videos, which is to hydrate like crazy. Also, start sleeping on your side. Your belly isn't huge yet, but getting into the habit of sleeping on your side now will help your circulation later on. And here's a pro tip. Use a pregnancy pillow because it is an absolute game changer. Now I want to mention this next because it's really important and that is to up your protein intake. Your baby's muscles and bones are growing really fast. So focus on protein rich foods like eggs, lean meats, beans, and Greek yogurt. Now, here's another bonus tip. If you're dealing with pregnancy brain, aka forgetting everything, try keeping a little notebook or using your phone notes app to track important things like appointments, cravings, or just some of your random thoughts. That was a lot. 16 weeks is such an exciting time. Your baby is growing like crazy and your body, well, it's making some big changes too, but what happens next? When will you definitely feel your baby kick? And is it true that your belly suddenly pops overnight? Make sure to hit that subscribe button and turn on notifications because next week we're talking all about week 17 of pregnancy. And trust me, you don't want to miss it until then take care of yourself, drink lots of water, and I'll see you in the next video.