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16 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby, Your Body and What to Do
Your baby's muscles are getting stronger, and you might feel the first flutters.
Before you use this guide: Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period. Sizes are rough averages, and healthy babies vary. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor or midwife.
How your baby is growing
Your baby's eyes can now move, though the eyelids remain closed, and the ears are in their final position. The skeleton is firming up and the muscles are growing stronger, so your baby is on the move all the time.
The heart is pumping strongly, and your midwife can often pick up the heartbeat with a handheld device at your antenatal appointment.
How you may be feeling
Between weeks 16 and 25 many people feel their baby move for the first time. This is called quickening, and it can feel like bubbles, a flutter or a gentle tap. People who have been pregnant before often notice movement earlier. Your bump becomes more noticeable, and you may have more discharge, nasal congestion and heartburn.
Your to-do list for week 16
- Notice when your baby seems most active. Knowing your baby's usual pattern will help you later.
- Ask your midwife which vaccines they recommend. The whooping cough vaccine, for example, is offered from around 16 weeks in the UK, but later in pregnancy elsewhere, such as between 27 and 36 weeks in the US.
- Keep up your fluids, fibre and gentle exercise.
- Plan any trips you want to take. The middle of pregnancy is often a comfortable time to travel.
When to ask for help
Mention itching, a smelly discharge, burning when you pass urine or ongoing severe back pain at your next check, or sooner if you are worried.
For heavy bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, a severe headache with vision changes, or a baby who is moving less than usual, do not wait for your next appointment. Contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. Our guide to pregnancy warning signs has more detail.
Not sure which week you are in? Use the due-date calculator to estimate your due date and current week.
Useful at this stage: pregnancy weight gain calculator.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own care team and local health service.
- NHS: Pregnancy — Pregnancy care, common symptoms, screening and complications.
- NHS: Week-by-week pregnancy guide — Pregnancy development and care by week.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.