Week 16

Your baby is now about the size of an avocado. All their limbs and joints are now fully formed, and they might even have learned to suck their thumb. Around this time is when you might start to feel pregnancy cravings, if you haven’t already. Read on to find out what you can expect this week.

Your baby is now around 15cm long. He or she can now move their head from side to side and exercise all 40 sets of muscles. Fingernails and toenails have formed at the end of their growing hands and feet and, although their eyelids are still closed, they can sense light from outside.

At this stage, many women say that they get pregnancy food cravings, ranging from hot, spicy curries to ripe, juicy peaches and marmite because of its yeast content.

Cravings can usually be indulged as and when they strike as long as you’re still eating a healthy, balanced diet. However, some women suffer from ‘pica’; a craving for non-food including plaster and paint chips from walls, clay, coal, washing powder and chalk. It’s sometimes suggested that the craving is the result of a mineral deficiency, but needless to say, these are cravings that shouldn’t be indulged! If you’re experiencing non-food cravings, discuss them with your doctor .

If pregnancy hormones are making your eyes feel dry and itchy, your doctor may suggest some eye drops that can help. If you wear contact lenses, it may be more comfortable to go back to wearing your glasses.

Learn about pregnancy cravings >>

It’s natural to have questions about your pregnancy, even if you’ve done it before. Our Careline team is available to give advice and support. You can ask them your questions in person by calling 800 6458 6262 (UAE)/ +971 4 420 9489 (Other countries) between the hours of 9am and 6pm Saturday to Thursday.