Pregnancy Week 16

Pregnancy Week 16: What to Expect This Week

Pregnancy Week 16 can feel like a bit of a turning point. Your energy might be coming back (hello again, personality), your bump is starting to round out, and you may be feeling a little more you—just… hungrier and slightly more out of breath.

Let’s look at what’s going on this week.

Baby at Pregnancy Week 16

Your baby is around 11–12cm long and weighs approximately 100g—about the size of an avocado, but more likely to make you cry (in a good way).

Inside the womb:

Tiny muscles are developing, and baby’s practising all kinds of movements

Their facial features are taking shape, and they’re pulling all sorts of expressions

Eyes are still closed, but they can sense light

Ears are in place, and baby may start to hear muffled sounds

And… they’re growing taste buds, even though there’s not much on the menu yet

You might not feel it yet, but baby is moving lots—rolling, stretching, hiccupping, and maybe even thumb-sucking.

Your Symptoms at Pregnancy Week 16

This week might bring some welcome relief from early pregnancy symptoms, but a few new sensations too:

A small bump is likely appearing now (or growing rapidly!)

Round ligament pain—brief aches in your lower abdomen as everything stretches

A boost in energy—finally!

Glowing skin or shiny hair (thank you, pregnancy hormones)

Constipation or bloating

Increased discharge, which is totally normal (but pantyliners are your friend)

Top tip: Round ligament pain is common around now—especially when you move suddenly. A warm bath and a gentle evening massage with our Pregnancy Massage Oil can make a world of difference.

Browse our pregnancy-safe oils

What to Do at Pregnancy Week 16

This is a good week to ease into some practical prep while enjoying the mid-pregnancy lift.

Book or attend your 16-week midwife appointment—a great chance to ask questions and hear baby’s heartbeat
Keep up gentle movement—walks, swimming, or pregnancy yoga are ideal
Start exploring antenatal classes (you’ll want to begin around 28–32 weeks, but classes fill quickly!)
Stock up on nourishing snacks—your metabolism is working overtime
Begin thinking about how you want to feel supported in birth (emotionally and practically)

Honest Midwife Thoughts

Pregnancy Week 16 is often the first week people start to feel properly pregnant. That’s not to say it all clicks into place, but you might feel a bit more in control of your body, your plans, and your shopping habits.

This is a brilliant time to start thinking about birth preparation—not because you need to know it all now, but because giving yourself time to learn slowly makes it feel more manageable later on.

We’re here to help you figure out what matters most to you, so when the time comes, you feel calm, confident, and ready for anything.

Feeling Ready? Join Us for a Class

We recommend:

Free Natural Labour & Birth Class – your introduction to how birth works and how to work with it
Hypnobirthing Course – a 4-week live course filled with practical tools and mindset support
Infant Feeding Class – if you’re already thinking ahead to those early newborn weeks