Welcome to week 16 of your pregnancy! 

Your baby is around 11.6cm long from head to bottom, which is the size of an avocado!

At this stage, your little one's facial muscles are beginning to move, laying the groundwork for future expressions - though they can't control them yet.

Meanwhile, their nervous system is rapidly evolving, enabling your baby to flex the muscles in their limbs. Around this time, their hands can even reach each other, forming tiny fists and grasping when they touch.

Now, let's focus on your wellbeing at 16 weeks. Itching during pregnancy can sometimes indicate a rare liver disorder called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, also known as obstetric cholestasis or OC. It's essential to be aware of this and know when to reach out to your midwife or maternity unit for guidance.

Did you know? You're entitled to free prescriptions and dental care throughout your pregnancy and up to one year after the birth. You can get your maternity certificate, known as the MATB1 form, from your midwife to confirm your eligibility for these benefits.

You can have the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine at any time in your pregnancy, but the best time to have it is from week 16 to week 32. This vaccine helps protect your baby from this serious illness.

Finally, it may not be long until you start feeling your baby move! Most women usually start to feel their baby move between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not notice your baby’s movements until you are more than 20 weeks pregnant.

⬅️  YOUR PREGNANCY: WEEK 17

➡️  YOUR PREGNANCY: WEEK 15

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