Till today, your baby's head was larger compared to the rest of the body, yet this is no longer the situation. Though you are not significant by any type of stretch of the creative imagination, you could think about purchasing expectant mothers clothing today. You may not be able to pack them out for a couple more weeks, but if you're looking online, you'll wish to get before you're prepared for the garments, because of hang around times on delivery. The most impressive advancement this week is feeling your baby step. Not all women will be able to feel their baby's movements this early, yet you could be able to discern his/her small motions if you pay cautious focus. (Mothers that have provided childbirth previously will certainly have the ability to feel their baby's motions earlier compared to new pregnant mothers.). Your baby's motions, called "quickening," could seem like little butterflies in your stomach, or little gas bubbles. At 16 weeks pregnant, you could not acknowledge this feeling as your baby moving. Not to stress - quickening will certainly expand stronger and you'll feel them more commonly as you continue your pregnancy. At 16 weeks pregnant, you may be having one more prenatal go to with your medical care carrier. At this see, you will undertake a routine testing test called an alpha-fetaprotein (AFP) test. Beneficial Idea:. This is the excellent time for a charming vacation, or a vacation with your substantial various other. You aren't also huge yet, and you have restored electricity and few pregnancy signs. It will be a lengthy while prior to you get an additional chance to take a trip, so do not reject on this chance! PREGNANCY 411. 2nd Trimester Screening process Test: Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Test. At some point in between 16 weeks and 18 weeks of pregnancy, you will certainly go through a routine screening test called an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test. This is a simple blood test that measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein in your blood. Alpha-fetoprotein is a compound that's generated by your baby's yolk cavity and liver, and a map quantity goes across the placenta to enter your blood flow. Abnormal levels of AFP in your blood stream can indicate that there's an issue with your baby, such as abnormality. If you have higher than average levels of this healthy protein, this can indicate that your baby is at raised risk for spinal cord problems (such as spina bifida) and Down disorder. Bear in mind that an AFP test is just a choosing test, not a diagnostic test. It just indicates that your baby could be at greater risk for an abnormality. It does not diagnose your baby with a specific disease. While the AFP test is rather accurate, it's not 100 percent exact. Particular elements could skew your results. If you do obtain an irregular outcome, your doctor may recommend you undertake further screening, featuring analysis tests, such as amniocentesis (which is normally carried out in between 16 weeks and 20 weeks pregnant). An amniocentesis is much more invasive compared to the AFP test, and it does come with certain risks. Your doctor will certainly guide you through the risks and advantages of an amniocentesis in your specific situation.