- 14th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 14 of pregnancy
- How your baby develops in the 14th week of pregnancy
- How you feel in the 14th week of pregnancy
- What investigations are now pending?
- What special features are there in the 14th week of pregnancy?
- What you should look out for in week 14 of pregnancy
14th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 14 of pregnancy
You and your baby are now officially in the 14th week of pregnancy. It is the second week in the 2nd trimester of your pregnancy - and the development of the foetus is progressing in leaps and bounds.
How your baby develops in the 14th week of pregnancy
Your baby has now reached a size of seven to eight centimetres. You can imagine it to be about the size of a lemon. This also changes the weight: in week 14, your baby weighs between 25 and 31 grams. You can see the face more and more clearly on the ultrasound image. You may already be able to recognise the eyes, lips and nose. It can even make faces with its tiny face. The little miracle's limbs and organs are now also formed. Your baby is busy training its sucking reflex and sometimes sucks its thumb. And that's not all: because it can already grasp, it occasionally plays with the umbilical cord. Over time, the reflexes will mature so that your baby will soon be able to do even more with a little practice.
The lanugo hair
At the beginning of the second trimester, so-called lanugo hair develops. This means that your baby may already have delicate body hair in week 14. However, it is also possible that this hair will only develop over the coming weeks. Lanugo hair is a type of insulation that protects the thin layer of your baby's skin. The hair usually disappears before you give birth to your baby.
Will I find out the gender in the 14th week of pregnancy?
A special feature that many parents are eagerly awaiting: from the 14th week of pregnancy, it is often possible to recognise the sex of the baby. However, you should be aware that it can sometimes be a little difficult to reliably determine the sex at this stage. Tip: Wait to buy special baby clothes if you want to determine the gender. As soon as it is clear whether it is a boy or a girl, you can start shopping for baby clothes with a clear conscience. However, it would be much better for your baby if you were aware from the outset that gender-specific expectations are not good for your child's development. Pink dresses or blue romper suits not only correspond to adult expectations of one gender, but also to certain character traits. This quickly leads to the expectation that girls play with dolls, are bad at maths and are incapable of parking a car. But also that boys drive cars, roughhouse and fight, are bad at learning languages, but are perfect with numbers. Your baby will already benefit if you think about gender expectations. If you would like to read more about this, you can find an article on my blog about the Role models.
How you feel in the 14th week of pregnancy
Some women are asked about their slightly bulging belly in the 14th week of pregnancy - because the baby and uterus are now getting bigger and bigger. Don't let this unsettle you: Sometimes it takes a little longer before you can clearly see a small baby bump. Because every body is different.
The fact that everything is getting a little bigger now is also due to the growing placenta. Your body is producing larger amounts of blood and even more amniotic fluid to ensure optimum care and safety for your baby. By the way: You could already read in the 13th week of pregnancy that your baby's body is now contributing to the production of amniotic fluid. This continues; mother and child are now working together as a small team - and in week 14 your little treasure is swimming in around 100 millilitres of amniotic fluid.
The enlargement and increase in blood vessels and fluids has an effect on your body. You may see on the scales that you have gained a few kilos in the 14th week of pregnancy. This could be up to 2.5 kilograms in the current week. Here, too, the following applies: there is no set standard for how much a woman gains during pregnancy. The values fluctuate. Tip: If you would like to find out more about what is happening to you and your baby during this exciting time, you can find everything about the 2nd trimester here.
Restless days and nights for mums-to-be
You may feel a little tense or restless in the 14th week of pregnancy. This is not unusual: although many mums-to-be in the second trimester are happy that the initial pregnancy symptoms have subsided, you may still feel restless. After all, your hormone balance is going a little crazy - and your body now contains larger amounts of progesterone and oestrogen. Both hormones are important for your pregnancy and the time afterwards. For example, the active ingredients ensure that your breasts are prepared for milk production.
Which examinations are due in week 14?
If you would like to have a first trimester screening, this will take place between the 10th and 14th week of your pregnancy. It is therefore important that you make an appointment beforehand. This particular type of screening is often carried out, for example, if you have a high-risk pregnancy. Additional tip for you: Find out everything you need to know about prenatal care here.
You don't have any special examinations coming up - but you have complaints, questions or uncertainties that you need to clarify? Contact your emergency midwife now. If you have acute problems, it is also important to consult a doctor.
What special features are there in the 14th week of pregnancy?
Your baby is growing - and your belly is growing with it. As early as the 14th week of pregnancy, many mums-to-be are concerned about their body: What will it look like after pregnancy? How can I prevent stretch marks?
One thing is certain: stretch marks are part of almost every baby bump, because your body is now doing an incredible amount of work. So that you feel comfortable in your skin, loving care is now required. Treat yourself to a plucking massage and pamper your skin with mild oils or a moisturiser to increase its suppleness. It is not only important to look after your skin, but also your entire body. This includes keeping your body moving during pregnancy. After pregnancy, it is important that you moisturise your body with Postnatal gymnastics fit again.
Do you already have problems with your pelvic floor? This is because it becomes soft due to the hormones during pregnancy. It's completely normal to have to go to the toilet more often. However, if you leak urine when you laugh or sneeze, this is an indication that your pelvic floor muscle needs help with training. You may not be able to achieve perfect strength now. The hormones of pregnancy are preventing you from doing so. But with the exercises from the course, you can get your pelvic floor so stable that it can hold urine and carry your increasingly heavy baby well.
What you should look out for in week 14 of pregnancy
You are in week 14 of your pregnancy - and are perhaps wondering what you should pay particular attention to now. Here are some practical tips for week 14:
1. make time for the partnership: At the beginning of a pregnancy, many couples are unsure about how to proceed with their love life. This is especially true for the first pregnancy: the focus is now on the little miracle in your belly, which is slowly growing. Because the first trimester is already over in week 14, you can relax a little - and may feel like having sex with your partner. This is also due to the pregnancy hormones and the increased blood flow to your reproductive organs.
Basically, there is nothing to say against enjoying sex during pregnancy. However, special care should be taken when penetrating the penis in certain cases. This is especially true for the first trimester if you have already had a miscarriage. This also applies if you are carrying multiples or are expecting a premature birth in the last trimester. If everything is fine with you, then you can give free rein to your desire.
2. plan tasks realistically: You are already in the second week of the 2nd trimester - and you may feel much better now because the discomfort is subsiding. The motivation to cross pending tasks off your to-do list is certainly high. But: plan realistically now. It is also important to be mindful of yourself and your baby during this special week. Now is a good time for a relaxing trip or to decide on a suitable holiday destination, for example. Birth preparation course to be entered.
3. rituals for better sleep: You may also be suffering from poor sleep due to your inner restlessness in the 14th week of pregnancy. The increased hormone production often leads to a particularly changeable emotional life: Sometimes you feel exhausted, sometimes alert and sometimes irritable. Consider introducing a ritual before bedtime - perhaps together with your partner. This could be a relaxing tea or a short massage. Keeping a pregnancy diary will help you to organise your thoughts and feelings. It can be a nice memory for your baby later on. Use the old-fashioned pen and paper for this. This is because the LED light from your mobile phone or tablet disrupts your hormone levels and can increase problems falling asleep.
4. combat flatulence and constipation: Whether during week 14 of pregnancy or even before, pregnant women often experience unpleasant side effects. Constipation is caused by the hormone progesterone and the fact that the uterus exerts more and more pressure on the bowel. What you can do about it:
- Make sure you drink enough water.
- Consume fibre to aid your digestion. This includes, for example, sufficient fruit, vegetables and wholemeal products.
- Avoid anything that is bloating or difficult for your body to digest. This could be onions, cabbage or beans and chickpeas, for example.
