Pregnancy Week 16: HCG makes way for the hormone progesterone

Your baby is and continues to be busy with the biggest growth spurt of their life. Baby is now 4.57 inches long and weighs 3.53 ounces. Baby’s whole body no longer fits entirely on the image of an ultrasound! Another milestone … time is flying by. Enjoy it!

HCG makes way for progesterone

Until now your body has been under the influence of hCG. That hormone was responsible for the known and typical pregnancy ailments. From this week, the hormone progesterone takes over from hCG. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you won’t have any more pregnancy ailments. The common ailments make way for a ‘soft body and weak mind’. Progesterone namely softens and weakens, you literally and figuratively become a softer person. But this process is so gradual you won’t feel any discomfort.

Pregnancy Hormones

From now on, you are back to being ‘on top of the world’. You will also notice that you don’t need to use the toilet as often. That is because your womb is now above the pelvic bone and your bladder has more room. You can feel your womb easily now. Lay down flat on your back with your legs pulled up and feel your stomach. That ‘ball’ you feel is your womb. It’s quite natural that your womb feels like a hard yet flexible ball, after all it has become ten times heavier since fertilization.

Whereas baby initially weighed 3.5 ounces, your belly bump is now 2.2 pounds! Some women’s stools are also harder than before because of the hormone progesterone. As it makes your body softer and weaker, stools can accumulates making them harder. By eating properly and keeping in mind that your intestines are now weaker, you can avoid ailments such as hemorrhoids.

Check our week by week weight guide.