Week 16 Size: Avocado
About the size of a ripe avocado.
Relative Visual Scale
Solid circle represents your baby's size. Dotted circle shows the full-term week 40 size threshold.
Baby's Development
The baby's eyes can make slow movements, and the ears are closer to their final position. The nervous system is connecting to the muscles, so movements are becoming coordinated.
Weekly Milestones
- ✦ Quickening (First Movements)
- ✦ Coordinated Limb Control
Your Body & Symptoms
You may feel the baby move for the first time, a sensation known as 'quickening' (often feels like butterflies or bubbles). Your skin may glow due to increased blood flow.
Common Symptoms this Week
Doctor & Care Recommendations
- ✓ Pay close attention to your body to catch those subtle first movements.
- ✓ Wear supportive shoes to help with backaches.
- ✓ Use artificial tears if your eyes feel unusually dry.
PregWeeks
CHECKLISTUltimate Hospital Bag & Birth Plan
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Weekly Health Guides & Resources
Second Trimester Guide
Read comprehensive clinical milestones, screening checklists, and developmental guidelines for this phase.
Track & Relieve Symptoms
Learn why symptoms occur, home remedies, and clinical indicators for this week:
Food Safety Checklists
Verify safety statuses, listeria and mercury risks, and safe alternatives for:
Frequently Asked Questions: Week 16
Evidence-Based Clinical Sources for Week 16
PregWeeks is dedicated to medical transparency. Every milestone, symptom tip, and fetal development guideline for Week 16 is sourced directly from clinical guidelines published by leading obstetric authorities. Read more about our editorial methodology on our Medical Sources page.
Prenatal Diagnostic Testing for Genetic Disorders (Practice Bulletin No. 162)
ACOGClinical recommendations for mid-pregnancy screening options, including the anatomy ultrasound scan commonly scheduled between weeks 18 and 22.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (Practice Bulletin No. 190)
ACOGPractice standards for screening and diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), typically scheduled between weeks 24 and 28.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Implementing a Gestational Diabetes Screening Protocol (Committee Opinion No. 798)
ACOGStandardized protocols for glucose screening tests to detect gestational diabetes and optimize maternal-fetal metabolic health.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Get weekly pregnancy updates
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