How Does Your Body Change During Week 16 of Pregnancy?

3 min read

Written by Gayathri Lakshminarayanan

Gayathri Lakshminarayanan

CA, B.Com

Gayathri’s passion for writing had its foundation at the very early stages of her life when she was on her college editorial board and also won several awards for writing events and book review competitions. She combines her corporate experience with her writing skills and her experience as a homemaker makes her an empathetic contributor in the parenting domain . Her shift from full-time accounting professional to a homemaker gave her career a new direction.

Pregnancy week 16

Your weighing scale may show a higher weight this week. Your pregnancy belly might start showing up this week. Some women might still need to show up. While it might be difficult for you to accept the weight gain, there is always a reason for it. Embrace your body as it takes you forward. You may experience several new pregnancy symptoms this week, and some symptoms from the previous weeks might continue to haunt you. Let us learn how does your body change during week 16 of pregnancy.

How Does Your Body Change During Week 16 of Pregnancy?

You are marching towards the completion of halfway through your pregnancy period. During week 16, you may find it difficult to sleep on your tummy. You may be advised to sleep on your side. The following are other symptoms you may experience during week 16 of pregnancy:

1. Heavy Breasts and Continued Breast Growth

Your breasts might have become heavy in the previous weeks. It may continue to be sore and heavy this week. You may also notice that your breast is growing. Some women might also develop bumps and lumps in the breast during pregnancy. These lumps might be milk-filled cysts, also known as galactoceles, or breast tumors, also known as fibroadenomas. They are usually harmless. However, it is better to consult a medical practitioner about the cysts.

What to do?

If you develop any cysts, it is better to consult your medical practitioner.

2. Pregnancy Brain

Pregnancy Brain is also known as Forgetfulness. Though no research studies prove that pregnant women are forgetful or what causes the absent-mindedness, many pregnant women have reported that they find it difficult to focus and remember things. The possible causes could be hormonal changes, fatigue, nausea, and anxiety.

What to do?

If you are forgetful, take the help of the people at home. You can also keep reminders on your telephone or use sticky notes.

3. Skin Radiance

It is now time to enjoy the glow of your pregnancy skin. During pregnancy, the increased blood cells, along with the pregnancy hormones, produce more oil in the skin and make it glow. Most women love the way the skin glows. It might be different for some women. Some pregnant women might begin to develop dark spots.

What to do?

Wash your face twice with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser to keep your skin healthy and glowing. If you face more skin problems, consult your dermatologist.

4. Gingivitis

The pregnancy hormones might cause gum inflammation. You might still notice that your gums bleed when you brush your teeth. It is a widespread symptom during pregnancy and is not harmful.

What to do?

It is important to use floss regularly. If you feel irritation and pain, consult your dentist soon.

5. Constipation

You might not be used to getting constipated. The increasing pregnancy hormones and the growing uterus put pressure on the bowels.

What to do?

Include more fibrous fruits and vegetables in your diet. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself well hydrated. If constipation causes pain and discomfort, consult your doctor.

6. Dizziness

Dizziness is yet another common pregnancy symptom. The increasing pregnancy hormones are the main culprit for dizziness.

What to do?

Only stand for a short time. Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated. Sleep on your side. If you feel much discomfort, contact your doctor immediately.

7. Back Pain

As the pregnancy progresses, you may notice an increase in back pain. Your body weight, along with the pressure on your back, may make it a discomfort. Though back pain is widespread during pregnancy, you need to be careful and keep an eye on it when you experience extreme back pain or abdominal Pain. Especially if there is gushing fluid from the vagina. You are at risk of miscarriage.

What to do?

You can use the following strategies to overcome back pain:

Take warm baths or showers.
Stretch your body often to ensure that your muscles relax.
Check your posture while sitting
Avoid wearing heeled shoes
Follow a few pregnancy exercises to get rid of back pain.

Note: The above symptoms are not exclusive. You may or may not experience all or any one of them.

The pregnancy journey is like being on an express train to the midweeks of pregnancy. You may experience so many symptoms along the ride. Keep an eye on and stay cautious of the symptoms. They make you stronger every day to reach your destination.

Happy Pregnancy!