14th Week of Pregnancy: Body Changes, Symptoms, Food & Care

Welcome to your second trimester! Now that you are in your week 14 it means you are probably feeling much more energized and thankfully a lot less nauseated. Take some time to acknowledge that you have finished your first stage.  If there was something called a “honeymoon phase” of any pregnancy then the second trimester is going to be it.

14th Week of Pregnancy: Body Changes, Symptoms, Food & Care

Most women say that the second semester is the time to enjoy your pregnancy. With the chances of miscarriage significantly reduced and the first-trimester pregnancy symptoms gone, now is the time to enjoy yourself in your pregnancy. 

Also, chances are you have finally started showing and your baby bump has finally arrived. So you have to share the news if you haven’t done that yet, and congratulations from friends and family will be in order.

What to expect in the 14th week?

• You can experience pain and ligament sprain at this stage.
• Since your baby is growing now, you can experience minute difficulties in moving.
• You will feel hungry but your doctor will already have advised vitamins to keep you full.
• You can feel the changes to your mood, so stay in a light and happy environment always. 

Common pregnancy symptoms in week 14

Of course, the changes to your body continue. You are probably starting to gain weight owing to increased blood volume and increased appetite. Your doctor will provide you with the recommended weight gain amount depending on the body mass index (BMI) of your pre-pregnancy body.

If your pre-pregnancy BMI was within the normal range then your doctor would typically suggest 350 to 500 additional gains per week in the second trimester. 

Even though the early pregnancy symptoms are fading, it won’t completely go away this week. Some of the symptoms that you may feel during this time are

Round ligament pain- 

This pain is caused by the stretching and thinning of the ligaments that support your abdomen. Your belly starts expanding, to accommodate for the expansion of the uterus, and getting heavier; this weight pulls on the ligaments and causes sharp pains. 

Increased appetite- 

It is okay to indulge in a bit of chocolate sometimes but it is very important to keep an eye on your diet. Maintain a diet rich in proteins and nutritious carbohydrates and fats. Avoid trans-fat foods and foods with high sugar levels. Eat small servings and at regular intervals to keep your appetite in check. 

The appearance of new moles- 

Pregnancy may lead to the formation of new moles or even make the existing moles appear bigger. Even though they are pretty natural during pregnancy, it is best to get any new or changing mole checked by your doctor.

Stuffy nose-

During pregnancy, the immune system in the mother’s body remains suppressed so that it does not reject the developing baby. Spend less time outside in the cold or flu season.

Avoid contact with sick or infected people. Often use hand sanitizer to wash your hands. Even though it is much safer in your second trimester, you should still consult your doctor if you catch a cold. 

As your progesterone and estrogen levels increase the blood flow to various mucous membranes, those membranes (including the ones in your nasal cavity) may swell up and soften causing you to develop a stuffy nose. Try to humidify the air in the house to ease breathing easier with a stuffy nose. 

Varicose veins- 

During this time you may start to notice prominent veins appearing on various parts of your body such as the abdomen, legs, or even breasts. If the veins of your legs become extremely enlarged or develop bumps then you may have varicose veins. Varicose veins are very normal and they can happen at any point during pregnancy.

It also depends on genetic predisposition. If you do suffer from varicose veins, try to control your weight because the additional pounds may put more strain on your circulatory system and cause it to worsen. 

Vitamin C in your diet will help your veins deal with the increased pressure. Regular physical activity will improve your leg muscles and ensure that blood circulation remains active.

Wear comfortable clothing and padded shoes or compression stockings to reduce the pressure on your venous walls. Try to avoid sitting with your legs crossed or standing up for a long time. 

Continued growth in breasts but with less tenderness-

Most women reports that breast tenderness reduces during the second trimester. However, the breast tissue will continue to grow to produce breast milk and this may continue to be uncomfortable. 

Mood swings- 

Due to tremendous fluctuations in hormones, it is very natural to experience mood swings. Physical changes and the associated stress also lead to mood swings. However, your mood swings may reduce during your second trimester.

Your Baby’s Development in Week 14

A lot of things are happening with your baby. At week 14, it is developing at a rapid pace now. Your baby has started wiggling around and stretching. Your baby can fully move its arms and legs. It can even suck its little fingers. During this period a lot of new things are also happening. 

• Your baby is developing its grasp reflex. Whenever your baby senses any movement from you, it will try to grab some object. It can be the umbilical cord or even the fetal membrane. 
• The facial features are now starting to form. The facial muscles have started functioning. Even though you can’t see it, your baby has now started making faces at you, be it frowning, squinting, or even smiling. Your baby can even open and close its mouth.  The eyebrows and eyelashes have also been growing.
• The movements of your baby from now on will be more coordinated because its joints are well developed now. The head is no longer curled because the neck muscle has become stronger. 
• The unique pattern on the fingers has now started developing and it will be completely developed by week 24. Your baby’s body is now covered by tiny hairs called Lanugo.  They will mostly disappear by the time of delivery. 
• As the lungs have not started functioning yet, your little one will continue to breathe using the placenta. 
• Various internal organs have started actively performing. The liver is now actively performing its digestive function. The kidneys have already been producing urine or amniotic fluid. The bone marrow was also started forming blood. The intestines of your baby are gearing up for its first-ever bowel movement, known as meconium.
• Your baby’s body has also started to release hormones such as insulin from its fetal pancreas and thyroid hormones which is secreted from its fetal thyroid gland around week 14 or15.
• If it’s a baby boy, then the prostrate has started producing testosterone. In baby girls, the ovaries will have shifted to the pelvis by this week. The external sexual organs are also almost completely formed. 

You have also started to affect the mood of your baby. From this week onwards, your nervousness will make your baby excited and your baby will be calm and happy whenever you are in a good mood. Thus, it is important for you to properly deal with your emotions and stress for the sake of your baby’s future stress dealing skills. 

Very soon you will be aware of your baby’s responses and movements without any device. However, for now, you can observe your little one on the ultrasound screen.

Size of your baby

By week 14, your baby will become as big as a peach or a nectarine. From head to rump, your baby has now grown into approximately 10 cm. Your baby weighs approximately 25 to 35 grams. Your baby will have almost doubled in its weight from the last week and it will now keep on growing at this rapid pace.

Pregnant belly at week 14

At week 14, your baby bump is finally here. A pregnant belly may feel painful and sore because your uterus has started to expand to give ample space to your rapidly developing baby. Your protruding belly should feel like a soft and smooth oval. It is high time to get your hands on maternity clothing if you haven’t done that yet. 

However, keep in mind that it is very normal to have a pregnant belly that is bigger or smaller than others. Pregnant mothers have different baby bumps depending on the height, body structure, and figure and also on the number of pregnancies. So no matter what your baby bump looks like chances are it is perfect. In case you are worried about your baby bump, talk to your doctor.

14 weeks ultrasound

Generally, in most countries, doctors don’t perform a 14-week ultrasound. The first-trimester ultrasound happens typically between week 8 and week 12. The second ultrasound, known as mid-pregnancy ultrasound, usually takes place between weeks 18 and 22. If you plan to get amniocentesis, your doctor will in that case use an ultrasound between week 15 and week 20.

If you do get a chance of a week 14 ultrasound you will be able to see that your baby is moving its toes and fingers, and may even be sucking its thumbs. However, even then you probably won’t learn your baby sex in week 14. Your doctor a technician will inform you about your baby’s sex, with greater certainty, in your next pregnancy scan.

Tips and reminders for week 14

Even though pregnancy is always overwhelming, you need to follow and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat fresh and eat well. Your diet should contain different kinds of foods from a wide range of recommended food groups. Include fresh fruits and nutritious vegetables into your diet. Hydrate yourself with at least 6 to 8 glasses of water.

Start your doctor-approved and/or pregnancy-appropriate exercise routine. In case you weren’t feeling up to it in your first trimester, now that you have some extra energy you should take advantage of it. If you are feeling exceptionally refreshed then try including morning walks into your routine. You can also join a prenatal yoga class, and water aerobics or walking groups also can be a fun exercise option.

Takeaway

Now that you don’t experience intense nausea, you may experience an increase in libido and a heightened desire to engage in sexual activity. Now would be a great time to get a bit more intimate with your partner before your little one comes along.

Sex can also be a great way to stay fit and active. It is also perfectly safe to have sex during your pregnancy unless your doctor advises otherwise. You may experience mild contractions after sexual activities. Such contractions are natural and should fade quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

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