14 Weeks Pregnant
During the 14th week of pregnancy you might feel like you can finally relax since your body has pretty much adjusted to the internal changes that have been happening. You have entered the 2nd week of your 2nd trimester and although the critical points of your baby’s development have come and gone, from now on it’s extremely important that your watch what you put into your mouth, as everything is being transferred from your system into your baby’s system that is functioning on its own.
Your Baby’s Development
Finally, your baby’s body is catching up with its rather large head. The ears and eyes continue to shift into their correct positions, as the ears move to the sides of the head and the eyes draw closer to one another. As the neck grows longer, your baby’s chin lifts from the chest. Reflexes of the limbs, joints and muscles continue to develop, however the baby is still too small for any of these movements to be felt by mom. The baby is gaining all of its nutrients directly from the placenta, so again, it’s very important you watch what you put into your mouth. The baby is fully developed and is growing larger in length and weight, and the system is continuing to expand. During ultrasounds, you’ll be able to see that the baby is opening and clenching fists, as well as spreading its fingers apart. The baby’s heart is beating twice as fast as yours, but this is normal. The baby is 3 inches long and is weighing closer to an ounce during this week. The external genitalia and sex organs are still developing, but by now many people are able to find out the sex if wanted. Your baby will be able to suck his or her thumb at this stage and make facial expressions like frowning and squinting. Plus, the liver of the baby begins to produce bile while the spleen begins to produce red blood cells.
Changes in Your Body
As mentioned before, you’re probably relieved of most pregnancy symptoms at this week, since you are definitely pregnant! As your waistline continues to expand, you will also continue to gain weight. Be careful, as at this point your appetite increases and you feel the need to ‘eat for two’. Spots and freckles will continue to darken and your breasts will continue to be sensitive, possibly growing in size as you prepare for lactation. Occasionally, moles are reported on the body, however this is normal. Mood swings tend to increase during the second trimester, but talking with a support group, your partner or your healthcare provider can help with this symptom.
Week 14 Tips
As your appetite increases, it’s important that you continue to eat properly and exercise accordingly. If you feel you have gained too much weight, do not begin any sort of diet, as you can negate your baby from crucial nutrients it needs to continue to grow. Start an exercise routine, after discussed with your doctor, and make sure you eat smaller portions more frequently through each day.
