14th week of pregnancy – baby’s development, ailments, tests

Proven content

Your 14th week of pregnancy begins. By this time, the child is already the size of a clenched fist. See how it is developing right now and what symptoms you can expect now.

14 weeks pregnant – what month is it?

Congratulations! You just started your second trimester of pregnancy. 14 tc is the beginning of the fourth month and also the beginning of the second trimester. The 14th week of pregnancy is usually very pleasant. Perhaps you have already got rid of most of the bothersome symptoms that are characteristic of the first trimester. If this is not the case, you should feel better soon, but there may also be a pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy and other mild symptoms. However, usually at this stage, women also have more energy, their appetite for sex comes back, and they look very good.

Meanwhile, your baby is growing fast. The size of the CRL, or the parietal-seat distance, should now be approximately 9 cm. With the baby, the uterus also enlarges and the amount of amniotic fluid in which the baby is immersed increases. The entire pregnancy, including the placenta, now weighs about half a kilogram. It is not yet so much that you feel the unpleasant effects of the extra “weight”.

Read: How many weeks does pregnancy last – pregnancy calculator

14 weeks pregnant – what does the baby look like?

In the 14th week of pregnancy, your baby’s motor system is still developing intensively. Bones harden and muscle tissue becomes stronger. These changes stimulate, among other things, intense movements of the fetus. It is still small enough to have a lot of space in the uterus. Therefore, it can straighten the limbs and change position all the time. When he grows up, his stomach will feel a bit tight, which will make it much more difficult for him to move freely.

Something surprising appears in the external appearance. The skin of the fetus is covered with fine hair called fluff. They can also appear a little later than the 14th week of pregnancy. Parents usually have no idea that their little one was covered in “hair” because the baby is losing hair before birth. It is also around this time that your baby will develop delicate eyebrows.

A toddler has quite well-developed sense organs. Although the eyes are still closed and “ripening”, they have moved to the front of the face. The auricle is forming and growing, but the middle and inner ear are ready. The baby already has olfactory cells and taste buds that will not be functional for some time. In the 14th week of pregnancy, his skin is also sensitive to touch.

More and more internal organs are taking up work. The liver functions better. The thyroid gland begins to produce its hormones and the spleen produces red blood cells. Interestingly, the spleen performs such a function only in utero. At a later stage, the bone marrow takes over.

The sex organs of the fetus develop more and in the 14th week of pregnancy ultrasound examination should show them quite clearly. Girls’ ovaries move down to the pelvis, while boys develop a prostate gland.

About the 14th week of pregnancy, meconium (first stool) begins to build up in the intestines of the fetus. The meconium is very dark in color, and has a high viscosity and density. This is due to its composition. It contains fetal sludge and epithelium, which peels off over the next months. Yellow bilirubin and green biliverdin give it an unusual color. So if your baby’s meconium appears to have a “suspicious” color after the birth, you shouldn’t be concerned about it.

See also: Newborn poop – what might worry you?

14st week of pregnancy – changes in your body

You need to know that during pregnancy, an additional organ is formed in your body – the placenta. By the 14th week of pregnancy, the placenta is fully developed. It is shaped like a pancake, and the word placenta means “flat cake” in Latin. It is highly supplied with blood, pumps nutrients, oxygen and hormones to a growing baby. At the same time, it removes waste products such as carbon dioxide. Importantly, the placenta protects the fetus from viruses and bacteria, and also transmits protective antibodies from mother to baby.. The placenta is very firmly attached to the uterus and connects to the baby through the umbilical cord.

You should be feeling very well in the 14th week of pregnancy. Most pregnant women no longer feel sick at this stage and the appetite returns. You also feel more refreshed, which you should use (of course, if you need it). The last trimester of pregnancy will be physically tiring again, so now try to relax in advance.

Some women experience complaints already at this stage due to the fact that the uterus is growing in your abdomen. It can put some pressure on the stomach and intestines, causing indigestion. The golden rule of pregnancy should help you with this – eat less and more often. It will also relieve your heartburn.

In the 14th week of pregnancy, the uterus can also compress large vessels, which in turn leads to swelling, especially in the legs. Try to take short walks and rest with your legs slightly raised. It will also minimize the risk of varicose veins.

Growth of this organ also causes pain in the lower abdomen, which may also be felt in the groin. This is due to the fact that the round ligaments on which the uterus hangs are stretched. The pain may be a bit like the pain you feel after stretching too much.

In the 14th week of pregnancy, gum pain and even bleeding when brushing may occur. In itself, it is not dangerous and it results from changes in the blood system, the vessels of which are now more fragile. However, you should take special care of oral hygiene so as not to lead to serious infections.

For the same reasons, in the 14th week of pregnancy you may also experience nose bleeds. Moreover, your nose may be constantly blocked, which is related to “hyperactivity” of the mucous membranes, which also manifests itself as more abundant vaginal discharge.

Perhaps you also feel like having sex. For many women, this is due to the fact that the breasts, while still growing, become less painful. If you still don’t feel like petting, it’s no wonder. It is a very individual matter, and hormonal changes mean that some women have a lowered libido throughout their pregnancy.

In the 14th week of pregnancy, you may start to observe your breasts getting bigger and bigger. Many women will, of course, like this, but others may find it a bit of a problem. Women with abundant breasts, whose breasts are additionally growing during pregnancy, may experience, among others, back pain. In addition, stretch marks may appear and the veins accentuate. As always, the main culprit is your hormones as well as the extra blood that’s now circulating in your body.

At 14 tc there may also appear:

1. urinary tract infections,
2. vaginal infections
3. darker skin on the face or brown discoloration (this is caused by the increased production of melanin),
4. oily skin of the face, eczema,
5. thicker and shinier hair,
6. symptoms from earlier weeks such as morning sickness, strange pregnancy desires, increased sense of smell, mood swings, milk discharge. 

Read what pregnancy discharge can mean.

Abdomen at the 14th week of pregnancy

Now that you are officially in your second trimester, you can start looking for maternity clothes. Although your belly will not be very big yet, you can slowly complete new items in your wardrobe, as it will get bigger and bigger every week.

But remember: your 14 week old tummy is normal no matter if it’s big or small. All pregnant women carry the baby differently, depending on their height and shape, and whether it is the first pregnancy or not. Breathe a sigh of relief and know that your 14-week-old baby is perfect, no matter what your belly looks like! And of course, if you have any questions feel free to contact your treating physician.

14th week of pregnancy – baby movements

In the 14th week of pregnancy, only some expectant mothers feel their baby’s movements. It is very rare for primiparous women (women who become mothers for the first time) to feel their baby moving this week, more likely to happen in women who have given birth for the first time. The baby, of course, moves a lot in the fetal bladder, flips the dumbbells, straightens up and bends, but the large amount of amniotic fluid means that the mother usually does not feel it yet.

See: Amniotic Waters Departure – What Can They Mean?

Tests in the 14st week of pregnancy

Between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy, you should have a urine test, body weight measurement and blood pressure measurement. In addition to this, you also need to be tested for the pH of the vaginal discharge. It is very important to perform a genetic ultrasound, and at the same time it is recommended to do the PAPP-A test. Based on the neck translucency, beta-hCG and protein A levels, and your medical history, the likelihood of Patau syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Down’s syndrome will be estimated.

14th week of pregnancy – take care of your health

During pregnancy, your body is more susceptible to a variety of viral and bacterial infections due to decreased immunity. The key to staying healthy is good hygiene, eating healthy fruits and vegetables, being outdoors, and avoiding people who are sick.

Wash your hands often – and use hand sanitizer when you’re out and about. Do not share meals or drinks, this may be a risk of contracting food infections, for example.

If you develop cold or flu symptoms, see your doctor immediately. Untreated infections can pose a huge threat to your child’s health and life. Your doctor will decide to start treatment, but remember if you are prescribed antibiotics for a bacterial infection – take them. There are many antibiotics on the market today that are safe for pregnant women.

In order to avoid infections and strengthen the body, try to eat plenty of foods containing vitamin C. Not only will it improve the immune system, but also inhibit the development of urinary tract infections and gestational hypertension. The greatest amounts of this vitamin are found in black currants, citrus, broccoli, wild strawberries, spinach and tomatoes. You can buy prenatal vitamins for pregnant women now on Medonet Market. Appropriate supplementation will strengthen the mother’s body and have a positive effect on the child’s development. You can also order Pregnancy Complex – Viridian pregnant woman, which is currently available at a promotional price.

See Labor Induction – What Does It Mean?

Especially important in the 14st week of pregnancy

Try to enjoy the most enjoyable trimester of pregnancy as you can. When your belly gets really big, fatigue will return and other ailments will arise that will make you need a constant rest.

An interesting fact about the 14nd week of pregnancy

On rare occasions, a newborn does not lose lanugo in utero and is born hairy. Usually, the nap all over the body causes a lot of surprise to the parents. Fortunately, after a few days, the hair falls out by itself.

Also check: 13th week of pregnancy and 15th week of pregnancy

The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website.