You are now 16 weeks, or 4 months pregnant. The biggest thing this week is that your baby can now
hear! You can start talking to your baby or playing music and your baby will hear it. Get ready for your baby to
really start growing now! As the next few weeks pass, your baby will begin doubling in size and weight. The
baby is now a little over 4 ¼ inches long from head to rear end and weighs 5 ounces, about the size of a
softball. The legs are better developed now, and the ears and eyes are in their final position. The heart is now
pumping 25 quarts of blood a day which will continue to increase as your baby grows bigger and stronger.
Toenails and fingernails have developed also. If you are having a girl, this is the week that her eggs are
developing in the ovaries. These will be your future grandchildren! On an ultrasound, you will be able to clearly
see the gender. After you find out the gender, if you are having a 3D/4D ultrasound done, you will be able to
distinctly see separate fingers and toes as well as a little button nose and eyes. Sometimes on the 4D motion,
you can see the baby kick the feet or rub the head with the hands. You might even get lucky and see the mouth
open or the thumb go in the mouth. Babies are a lot more active at this stage than you may think since the
baby is too little yet to feel all the movements it is making. Do not be alarmed on the 3D still pictures if your
baby still looks skinny, that is normal until about 24 weeks when they start to chub up. Remember, this baby of
yours is still growing and getting bigger. This is also when babies start making facial expressions. The color
ultrasounds may let you catch them smiling in the 3D or HD. Motor movements become more specific, and it is
at 16 weeks that I really start seeing babies reach down and play with the toes or reach up and grab their own
nose.
