14 Weeks Pregnant
What’s happening this week?
You’re now 14 weeks pregnant. Find out about your baby’s development, including the various facial expressions he can do this week.
How is my baby developing?
You’re 14 weeks pregnant and your baby can now smile, squint, frown and possibly suck his thumb! At this stage, his body is getting more proportional in relation to the head, with arms and legs lengthening.
He’s very active, kicking and punching, but it’s too early for you to feel him. Very fine downy hair (called lanugo) covers your baby’s skin, but this will disappear before birth.
At 14 weeks pregnant, kidneys are producing urine, the liver is producing bile and the spleen is producing red blood cells. Your baby’s hair is also growing, but this could change in texture and color after birth.
Your baby now measures about 8 cm and weighs about 40g. The placenta is the only source of nutrients now, as the yolk sac has completely disappeared.
How is my body changing?
At 14 weeks pregnant, you’re feeling better as most of the first trimester symptoms have disappeared, but that won’t last long!
Soon you’ll get a new batch of symptoms to deal with… These include back problems, gas and bloating, swollen ankles and feet, and itchy skin. You probably had your first ultrasound scan by now.
This is called a dating scan to confirm when fertilization occurred and is offered between 10 and 14 weeks. You may also have opted to have a nuchal translucency scan, to check the chances of your baby having Down’s syndrome.
This is usually done between 12 weeks and 14 weeks. Your weight gain so far is about 5 or 6 pounds, and the top of your uterus is now sitting just above your pubic bone. This week you may start showing, especially if this is not your first pregnancy.
Constipation as a side effect of pregnancy
Possibly the most annoying 14 weeks pregnant symptoms are constipation and hemorrhoids.
It’s probably due to the increased amount of iron you’re now consuming to prevent anemia during pregnancy, but fortunately, there are many natural ways to alleviate this problem.
First, make sure you drink plenty of water and avoid getting dehydrated. Second, eat high fiber foods, such as fruits and vegetables, but don’t change your diet overnight.
In order to avoid excess gas, increase your fiber consumption gradually over a few days, so your body can adjust. If the symptoms persist, contact your doctor.
