Pregnancy symptoms during week 16

Round ligament pain

As your amazing uterus grows, the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching. Unfortunately, this can lead to a sharp, stabbing pain on one or both sides of your abdomen called round ligament pain. If this happens, try to stop and rest – round ligament pain should ease up quickly. If you still feel cramping after resting, call your doctor or midwife.

Gas and bloating

Your body is producing way more gas than usual thanks to the hormone progesterone, which relaxes muscles throughout your body – including your digestive tract. Those relaxed muscles slow down your digestion, leading to more gas and bloating and uncomfortable sensations in your gut. To get relief from gas, eat smaller, more frequent meals and take your time when eating. Avoid carbonated drinks and the artificial sweetener sorbitol. And get moving – a quick walk can get your digestion moving.

Back pain

Many women experience back pain during pregnancy. As your uterus expands, it weakens your abdominal muscles and puts extra strain on your lower back. Hormonal changes also loosen your joints and relax the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine, causing unsteadiness and pain. Exercises such as weight training, prenatal yoga, walking, swimming, and pelvic tilts can help strengthen muscles and reduce discomfort. You can also ask your partner or a friend to give you a pregnancy massage for back pain, or book a prenatal massage with a practitioner.

Breast changes

You've probably noticed breast changes like sore nipples, breast tenderness, prominent veins, pigment changes, and more pronounced bumps on your areolas. Sometimes pregnant women develop lumps and bumps in their breasts, too. These are usually harmless and could be milk-filled cysts (galactoceles) or benign breast tumors (fibroadenomas). It's unusual for a woman to develop anything serious (like breast cancer) during pregnancy. But let your provider know about any lumps that are hard or otherwise concerning.

Forgetfulness

Is "pregnancy brain" real? Researchers aren't sure, but many moms-to-be report having moments of absentmindedness and trouble focusing. No one knows exactly why this happens, but it seems likely that a combination of stress and anxiety, fatigue, and hormones could lead to forgetfulness during pregnancy. If you're having trouble keeping track of things in your daily life, try simplifying wherever possible, asking for help, and using your phone's calendar and other apps to stay organized.

Pregnancy headaches

Headaches during pregnancy are common, and can be caused by stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, cutting back on caffeine, hormonal changes, and other regular things. If you have a severe headache in the second or third trimester, however, it could be a sign of preeclampsia. Call your provider if you have a bad headache or a headache for the first time.