WEEK 16 DEVELOPMENT
If you have been experiencing cravings you might be wondering if it’s because you are lacking nutrients. No, it is simply a hormone-related side effect of pregnancy. You've probably noticed that certain foods seem "different" or less appetizing. Others, however, feel like they are indispensable! Welcome to your body while pregnant. No rhyme or reason to it. Just do your best to think “moderation” in all you eat. Try and balance treating yourself right is one way for both you and your child.
If you haven’t already, it is possible that you feel your little love move for the first time this week (or in the coming weeks). These movements are still very subtle, so don’t expect massive sensations. Be on the lookout for what feels like butterfly wings inside your belly or small bubbles. It is exciting and wonderful when it happens.
NUTRITION
Vitamin A is important when you are pregnant but in just the right amounts, neither too much nor too little. Cryptic enough for you? Excessive intake could be harmful to your developing child. Know that some skin treatments that contain Vitamin A it is forbidden for pregnant women. Foods to eat that are rich in Vitamin A include milk and dairy products, butter, eggs (the yolks in particular), bright vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, parsley, tomatoes or carrots, and orange and yellow fruits (apricots, melon, mango).
TIPS
When you’re in the 6th month, it may be recommended that you and your partner go to an ante-natal class to prepare for your child’s birth, especially if this is your first child (or if your first child was born ages ago!). You will learn about the birth, and relaxation techniques like breathing for pain relief. A visit to a delivery room, exercises for fitness in pregnancy, answers to your questions about breastfeeding and many other useful things can also be on the programme. Ante-natal classes are the ideal opportunity to get to know other mothers or couples as well. What better way to share your experience.
Related articles
Morning Sickness in Pregnancy: Causes, Coping Tips, and When to Get Help
Despite the name, morning sickness rarely keeps polite hours.
4 mins to read
3-Week pregnant: Development and diet
3 weeks pregnant: what's happening at the cellular level, debunking eating for two, and the key nutrients and food safety rules for early pregnancy.
3 mins to read
20-Week pregnant: Development and diet
There’s so much going on in your belly this week that you may want to take a little nap after reading about it! Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
9-Week pregnant: Development and diet
9 weeks pregnant: understanding early exhaustion, your baby's heartbeat and growth, smart sugar swaps, and guidance on alcohol and hydration.
3 mins to read
14-Week pregnant: Development and diet
14 weeks pregnant: entering the second trimester, your baby's coordinated movements, healthy fats for brain development, and safe travel tips.
3 mins to read
8-Week pregnant: Development and diet
About the size of a robin’s egg, your little one measures about 30 mm long. Learn more about this week.
3 mins to read
7-Week pregnant: Development and diet
At 7 weeks, your baby is about 9–13mm long — roughly the size of a small blueberry.
3 mins to read
6-Week pregnant: Development and diet
At 6 weeks pregnant, your baby's major organs are already beginning to form, even though bump changes aren't visible yet.
2 mins to read
Noticing the early signs of pregnancy can help you plan ahead, whether you're trying to conceive or simply paying closer attention to your body.
2 mins to read
C-sections: What you need to consider
How you bring your junior into the world is a very personal decision, with different factors at play. Here are a few things to consider about an elective caesarean, also known as a C-section.
4 mins to read
3 Tips to Reduce Stress for Mothers
The journey of motherhood is a joyful adventure with ups and downs. Though it is rewarding, there are times when you will feel stressed.
3 mins to read
Not sure what to pack in your hospital bag? We have put together a simple hospital bag checklist with all the essentials. Forget packing light, it’s about packing right.
3 mins to read
Giving birth is less daunting if you have an easy birth plan in mind to help the day go as smoothly as possible. See our birth plan guide below.
2 mins to read
What exercise can I do and when?
Exercising while you’re pregnant is important for you and your child’s health. Physical activity can help you control your weight gain, lift your mood, and even help labour go more smoothly.
3 mins to read
5 ways to reduce your child’s chances of having allergies
Find out how breastfeeding from birth and beyond and taking certain probiotics may also help reduce your child’s allergy risks
5 mins to read
Questions to ask at your first prenatal appointment
Your very first prenatal appointment is here — you must be excited! With so much going on, it helps to have a list of pregnancy questions on hand to ask your healthcare provider.
2 mins to read
Pregnancy Symptoms Week By Week: Week 1 – 12
Pregnancy is a joyous (sometimes tiring) journey of your body’s development for your newborn to enter the world. At times you’ll be excited, at other times you’ll be tired.
3 mins to read
Pregnancy Symptoms Week By Week: Week 26 - 40
You’re almost there! This is the part where you’re really getting in the mood for motherhood.
5 mins to read
Pregnancy: The Start of Loving and Protecting
The moment you know another being is growing inside your body, your maternal instincts are awakened.
4 mins to read
Related tools
Determine when you are likely to ovulate can improve your chances of conceiving.
Search the perfect name for your child
Find out what changes you can expect in your body, your emotions, your life and your little one.
