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Week 16 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside

British Columbia Specific Information

If you have any questions or concerns about pregnancy, labour and baby care speak with your health care provider or contact HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse anytime of the day or night, any day of the year, or a pharmacist from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

You can also read Baby's Best Chance (PDF 14.88 MB), a parent’s handbook on pregnancy and baby care.

You can also access SmartParent, a Canadian prenatal education program that provides trustworthy educational text messages to help guide you through the weeks of your pregnancy.

Topic Contents

Overview

By now, you may be looking a little more pregnant on the outside. And inside, your baby is starting to look more human and may even have sprouted a little bit of hair.

Wondering what your baby looks like at 16 weeks? Your baby is now about the size of an avocado. Average baby length is 12 cm (4.7 in.).

How your baby is changing

Here are some of the important facts and developments around 16 weeks.

  • This month, babies' faces have become more human. Their eyes have moved from the sides of their head to the front. Their ears have moved from the neck to the sides of their head.
  • By the end of 14 weeks of pregnancy, their sex organs are starting to develop. It will be a few weeks before an ultrasound can help you see whether your baby is a boy or a girl.
  • By now, your baby may have started thumb-sucking and is rolling, kicking, and moving around a lot.
  • If this is not your first pregnancy, you might be feeling your baby move. The first flutters you feel are called "quickening." It takes a little longer to notice this in a first pregnancy.

Credits

Current as of: November 9, 2022

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
William Gilbert MD - Maternal and Fetal Medicine