How big is the fetus at 16 weeks of pregnancy

Pregnant women at every stage of pregnancy want to know how the baby is growing in their belly, and the baby's growth is different at each stage of pregnancy. Moreover, generally in the early stages of pregnancy, the baby exists in the form of an embryo or germ, and mothers cannot directly observe the baby's shape at this time. When a pregnant woman is 16 weeks pregnant, the baby has already taken shape. How big is the fetus at this time?

How big is the fetus at 16 weeks of pregnancy

At sixteen weeks of pregnancy, the fetus is about 16cm long from head to hip and weighs about 110g. The mean biparietal diameter was 3.62±0.58 cm, the mean abdominal circumference was 10.32±1.92 cm, and the femur length was 2.10±0.51 cm.

The fetus' arms and legs are fully developed, the joints begin to move, hair begins to grow on the fetus's head, the stomach begins to secrete digestive juices, and the kidneys begin to secrete urine. Now the circulatory system and urethra are in full working order, the fetus's lungs are also starting to work, and he is able to continuously inhale and exhale amniotic fluid.

Pregnancy check-up items for 16 weeks

1. Routine prenatal examination items:

The second prenatal check-up is at 16 weeks of pregnancy. Routine examinations will include blood pressure, weight, uterine fundus height, abdominal circumference, and fetal heart rate. These basic measurements allow the doctor to understand the basic physical condition of the expectant mother and fetus.

2. Key prenatal examination items: Down syndrome screening in the second trimester

Down syndrome screening is a general survey conducted on all pregnant women in my country to prevent the birth of children with congenital mental retardation. Down syndrome screening can reduce the birth rate of children with Down syndrome. Children with Down syndrome will suffer from severe multiple congenital malformations (special facial features, congenital heart disease, major organ dysfunction and limb abnormalities), accompanied by severe mental retardation and are basically unable to take care of themselves. Most children die before they reach adulthood. Therefore, in order to prevent the birth of children with congenital idiocy and to achieve early detection and early resolution, prenatal Down syndrome screening is very important.

The fetus will begin to move at sixteen weeks of pregnancy, so expectant mothers should learn how to count fetal movements and record them so that they can tell the doctor during the prenatal check-up and let the doctor judge whether the fetus is healthy. In addition, starting from this week, expectant mothers can also start conversational prenatal education, which will be beneficial to the development of the fetus's language and hearing.