16 weeks pregnant: your body, bump & baby movements

You at 16 weeks pregnant: your bump and other physical changes

Your bump

You might be showing a pregnancy ‘bump’ about now. If this is your first pregnancy, your bump might not be very noticeable.

Other physical changes and symptoms

Your breasts might increase in size.

You might feel hungrier and have a lot more energy.

Your growing uterus and changing hormones might cause ligament pain. This feels like a short twinge or cramp in your lower abdomen or groin. You might also have lower back pain or constipation.

pregnancy illustration, week 16

Your baby at 16 weeks of pregnancy

How big is your baby at 16 weeks of pregnancy?

Your baby is about 11.5 cm from head to bottom and weighs about 110 g.

What does your baby look like at 16 weeks of pregnancy?

Toenails are forming, all the joints are working, and fingers and toes are moving.
Although your baby’s eyes are still sealed, they’re sensitive to light.
Your baby can screw up their face and make other facial expressions.

What else is happening with your baby’s development at 16 weeks?

Your baby is cushioned by about 180 ml of amniotic fluid.
The umbilical cord is completely mature. It usually contains 2 arteries and 1 vein.

Baby movements at 16 weeks of pregnancy

You might start feeling your baby’s movements around 16 weeks. The feeling is often described as being like butterflies in your tummy.

Don’t worry if you’re not feeling anything, though. If it’s your first baby, you probably won’t feel movements until somewhere between 18 and 22 weeks. If you’ve had other children, you might feel movements earlier.

Things to think about at 16 weeks: smoking or vaping in pregnancy

Even if you’ve just found out that you’re pregnant, it’s never too late to stop smoking or vaping. If you stop, your baby will benefit straight away.

Smoking or vaping in pregnancy increases the risk of:

miscarriage
premature birth
lower than expected birth weight
childhood infections and longer-term health problems like asthma.

Smoking or vaping in pregnancy and after the birth also increases the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) including SIDS and fatal sleep accidents.

Ask other people not to smoke or vape around you or inside your house or car.

If you or your partner smokes or vapes, it’s a good idea to ask for advice and support to stop smoking or vaping. Call the Quitline on 137 848 or talk to your doctor or midwife.