16 Weeks Pregnant

In the 16th week of pregnancy we have some interesting baby developments to cover including big news with baby's ears, and some symptoms that might be new for you as well. We will also be going over what you might want to add to your “Think” and “Do” list this week.

Hormone changes that are happening in the second trimester may cause some challenging symptoms at 16 weeks pregnant.

Just as the nausea and vomiting subsides you may notice that heartburn and indigestion may appear. Eating smaller meals could help with these symptoms. The hormonal fluctuations along with your growing uterus may also lead to constipation and gas this week.

Speaking of growing belly, you're probably noticing quite a change to your abdomen in the 16th week of pregnancy. I'm a huge believer in documenting these changes, taking weekly belly photos is a great activity to do with your partner.

Here’s a fun video of belly transformation that was done by one of our expecting mamas that we've been following.

Now is a great week to get that discussion started. Here’s what's happening with baby’s development at 16 weeks:

Thinking about setting up a room for the new baby? Now is a great time to get your registry process started. Whether or not you're having a baby shower, setting up a baby registry is a great way to organize your thoughts when it comes to what you're going to need for the baby.

Two of the registries that I recommend are Amazon's baby registry and baby list . Those are both super easy and very helpful.

It might feel early to start thinking about child care but in many places there are waiting lists. The earlier that you tackle this the better. You might not even know what you want for child care, which is totally normal, but it's a great time to think about it.

Talk to your partner about what might work for you, whether that's a parent staying at home, a nanny share, or a child care center.

Because leg cramps often occur in the second trimester of pregnancy, I am thrilled to have a great brand that can be used to tackle this challenge.

Meet Better Shea Butter Magnesium Cream. My favorite is lavender, which I love the smell of, and is great for sleep. There's also an unscented version, a vanilla rose scented option and a peppermint option. This cream contains a high concentration of magnesium, and unlike other magnesium creams that I have tested out, this one is not sticky. It actually has a really luxurious feel on your skin. 

Better Shea Butter is a small company that is based in Austin, Texas. They have a formulation lab inside their warehouse making these products by hand. The company shared with me that these creams were actually created after an employee who was pregnant.

She was actually struggling with leg cramps and they wanted a natural solution. Now, their formula contains no artificial fragrances and is fast absorbing.

Thank you so much Better Shea Butter for helping us out during pregnancy, and thank you for supporting childbirth education.

Make sure you're getting our Weekly Newsletter . You can also find it at Birth toolbox.com newsletter . I hope your 16th week of pregnancy is a good one. don't forget to hit the “Subscribe” button so that you can follow along through the weeks ahead.