Pregnancy calendar - week 16

Your baby’s development

Your baby is now around 15cm long and has tiny little fingernails and toenails at the end of their growing hands and feet. Although it may be still too early to feel your baby inside you, they can now turn their head and exercise all 40 sets of muscles. Although their eyelids are still closed, they can sense light from outside their cosy little world.

You & your body

Many women say that they get pregnancy food cravings, ranging from hot, spicy curries to ripe, juicy peaches – even marmite and beer (it’s a yeast thing).

If the craving is not all-consuming, it can usually be indulged without too much concern – although your partner may not appreciate being woken in the night to be told to go out and buy you cheese and onion crisps! Just try and make sure you’re eating a healthy, balanced diet too.

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, it’s best to resist these urges! If you feel you have these cravings, do discuss them with your midwife.