In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 14 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to expect in your body and pregnancy health, nutrition and wellness advice.
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14 Weeks Pregnant – Your baby, your body & you
Your Baby
Your baby is approximately 9 to 10 cm and around 45 grams, or about the size and weight of a small carrot. This is a period of rapid growth.
Your baby can now move their limbs, right down to their fingers and toes. Fingerprints and fingernails are now forming.
Your baby is also practicing breathing movements. It is starting to sprout a fuzzy little coat of soft downy hair, called lanugo, which keeps your little one cosy and warm while they are bulking up.
The lanugo will shed as your baby gains insulating fat, although wee ones can often still come out fuzzy, especially if they arrive early. As their little brain is developing, brain impulses are firing up and your baby is working on moving their muscles to give you sad faces and big smiles.
Your Body
Not only is your baby rapidly growing but you are too!
Your breasts will continue to enlarge due to the increased blood supply and veins will become more pronounced. Your breasts may also start producing a thick substance called colostrum. This is often referred to as ‘liquid gold’ and is a nutrient dense substance that will feed your baby for their first few days.
As your uterus enlarges, it may begin to push on your bowel, this can cause constipation. To help reduce symptoms of constipation, drink lots of water, eat nutritious whole foods, lots of plant fibre and don’t forget to exercise regularly.
You
Now that you are out of the woods of the first trimester and your symptoms have hopefully subsided, it’s a great time to start focussing on your best health.
Start implementing exercise in your daily routine. The rule of thumb is that if you did it before pregnancy, you can do it during pregnancy, be it cardio, weightlifting, CrossFit, or any other form of exercise, provided that you have a normal, healthy pregnancy.
If you have been told your pregnancy is high risk or you are under the care of an obstetrician, heed their advice. Use your initiative and listen to your body when working out.
n the past there has been a misconception that pregnancy should be spent with your feet up and now research shows that exercise during pregnancy can have a lot of benefits including a lower risk of gestational diabetes and a shortened labour.
If before becoming pregnant you hadn’t done much exercise, now is the perfect time to start incorporating it into your day. Walking and swimming are great low impact activities to start with. Try walking for 30 minutes each day. Use a Fitbit, pedometer or free walking app on your phone, plug into some good music, a podcast or a book too!
Your Relationships
Keep your lines of communication open with your partner and support people.
It can be valuable for them to know about how you are feeling. Letting your support people know that your stomach has been uncomfortable, or that you are feeling a bit self-conscious about your newly changing body can help them better understand and support you.
Whilst normal, healthy pregnancy is not a ‘medical condition’, it can be a tough job growing a human, and you have every right to expect a bit of extra help, rest, and back rubs during this time!
This Week’s Preparation
Increase your water intake to prevent constipation
Increase your consumption of fruit and vegetables and cut back sugar and fat
Have a conversation with your loved ones about how you are feeling
Get out every day and exercise!
Back to 52 Weeks of pregnancy.
