The 14th week of pregnancy is the beginning of the new phase. After completing a successful first trimester, you have now moved on to the second trimester! Considering everything went well, you probably have started making a cute baby belly that can be seen by most people. But even if you don`t show that you`re pregnant, there`s no need to worry, ladies. The weeks ahead will be equally exciting as your baby embarks on a journey of rapid growth. More importantly, your body will undergo quite a few changes; a nice big baby belly is one of them!
Baby Growth
Your baby will now be as big as your fist and will always move. Even though you can`t see or feel much, your baby may grimace, squint, and even frown. Your baby`s kidneys have started producing urine because of the amniotic fluid that the fetus will inevitably sip. It stands with its neck and feet extended, but you still do not feel a nudge in this posture. Along with these changes, your baby`s heartbeat will be clearer, but this can only be heard or felt by a qualified medical practitioner.
Baby Size
By now you can compare your baby`s height to kiwi, peach or lemon. Your little peach weighs about 43 grams inside your belly. Also, your baby is 8.7 cm long. While Baby may not seem very exciting to you, even its kiwi-sized structure is more than enough to reveal its presence by creating changes in your body and contributing to pregnancy symptoms.
Common Body Changes
Your second trimester will definitely be more smoothly than your first trimester. Most women feel less tired, have less morning sickness, and generally feel better and more energetic. It is recommended to gain one or two kilograms. However, be careful not to lose weight as it can be worrisome.
Of course, the most exciting part of the 14th week of pregnancy is when your baby is starting to become more and more obvious from the outside. Also, the risk of miscarriage greatly reduced, therefore, if you haven`t announced the big news yet, you can give the gospel to everyone.
Pregnancy Symptoms
Each week of pregnancy brings a new symptom, but there will always be some recurring symptoms from the previous weeks to the 14th week and beyond. Some of these symptoms are listed below.
- Ligament pain
- An increase in energy
- Increased appetite
- Mood swing
- Decreased breast tenderness
- Nausea
- Significant weight gain
- Pain in the stomach
- Varicose veins or enlarged veins in the legs and feet
- Congested nose.
Abdomen
Your belly is growing fast! As mentioned, most of you will do a baby belly. You are destined to feel a rather sore stomach due to the fact that your body is trying so hard to adapt to your rapidly growing stomach.
Since it is recommended to gain some weight, make sure you get some exercise to stay fit and deal with aches and pains that should have already started to show up.
Ultrasound
It is extremely rare to schedule an ultrasound at week 14 of your pregnancy. Still, if you go for the ultrasound, you have cute surprises. Your little one can show off its new ability to suck its cute little finger!
A closer look will also reveal that your baby is now able to wiggle its toes. The spleen and liver should be working fine and of course your little one`s kidneys are producing urine. Your little peach-sized miracle will also display the formation of peach fuzz, or lanugo, a protective layer made of hair that will help keep it warm.
One of the topics you are most curious about is gender prediction, isn`t it? If you haven`t learned by now, this information will become clear with the activity in the reproductive system this week. Because if the baby is a boy, the prostate gland will be formed this week, and if it is a girl, the ovaries will be formed. As a result, this week, gender can be understood more clearly by looking at the developed genitals with ultrasound images.
Diet
Food choices during the 14th week of pregnancy should be varied and full of nutrients that both you and your baby need. In fact, it`s very important to eat rainbow-colored foods throughout your pregnancy, so a variety of foods that have every color of the rainbow. These include beets, green leafy vegetables, proteins, calcium-rich foods, etc.
A common misconception during pregnancy is that you need to overeat because your baby is getting its nutrition from you. Be sure to ignore this idea, because what you really need to do is not eat for two! It may sound confusing, but your doctor will definitely plan a diet for you that can support both you and your baby without overeating.
In the meantime, if you crave for frequent snacks, have some fruit ready. Be sure to stock up on nuts and yogurt because it`s wise to make healthy choices for snacks. To prevent birth defects, eat foods rich in folic acid and do not forget about fatty fish varieties that contain the required amount of Omega 3 fatty acids. Milk and dairy products should be part of your diet because bone strength is also important.
Tips and Care
In summary, the goal is to keep yourself and your baby safe and healthy throughout pregnancy. As you have successfully completed the 1st trimester and have come so far, make sure you practice healthy habits for it as well.
Check out our list of do`s and don`ts that will work for you not only in the 14th week of your pregnancy, but also in the weeks ahead.
- Get plenty of rest and sleep regularly.
- Get a body pillow that will give you some comfort.
- Think positive and stay cheerful.
- Read good parenting books.
- Have sex with your partner unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
- Pay attention to oral hygiene.
- Pay attention to personal hygiene.
- Make sure you are eating good food that is cooked properly.
- Do exercise and some yoga.
Don’ts
- Do not smoke or use alcohol.
- Do not stay in stressful situations.
- Don`t worry too much.
- Do not overdo your exercises.
- Do not expose yourself to radiation.
- Do not expose yourself to places with questionable hygienic conditions.
- Do not starve yourself or your baby.
- Do not forget to take your medications as recommended by your doctor.
Shopping
At this stage of pregnancy, you need to keep yourself as comfortable as possible. Buy loose cotton clothes that allow you to breathe. Investing in stylish maternity wear is a good choice if you think you`ll need it later. More importantly, it`s time to switch to comfortable shoes, preferably padded, and drop your stilettos and stylish shoes. Buy lotion as your skin can tend to be dry. Get stretchy bras because your breasts will soon get bigger. You may also want to invest in nursing bras as you will need them soon.
Since you are just entering the second trimester, the new changes may worry you. Learning and reading about how a normal pregnancy progresses and what changes to expect in your body will help you calm down and enjoy the journey.