14th Week of Pregnancy – Symptoms, Ultrasound

How is the second trimester treating you? Much better than the first trimester, right? Well, this is what happens when the raging hormone levels start falling. The symptoms might have improved considerably and you might have started loving food again. Food aversion is a common symptom in the 1^st trimester but as the hormone levels have dropped, you’d start feeling hungry now and would also be able to get a better taste of the things you eat.

While fatigue was prevalent throughout the first trimester, you’d also get your energy back in the second trimester. This often leads to increased sex drive as well. Know that it is completely alright to have sex during pregnancy if you do not have a history of miscarriage or early labor. You can also talk to your doctor to get a better idea of how you should proceed.

How about the baby in the 14^th week? Well, while you are at ease now as the symptoms have got better, your baby doesn’t really have any time to rest. Your baby has already started sipping the amniotic fluid in which it is resting and is able to digest and eliminate it through urine. The digestive tract and kidneys are fully operational by now. Read this post to know more about what else you should expect this week.

Baby’s Development in the 14^th Week

Now that the baby has got all the major organs, they are now busy working and developing further. The liver has started secreting bile, production of insulin has begun in the pancreas and the kidneys can turn waste into urine. While the head was almost half of the entire body, the remaining body too is growing now. The arms and legs are longer and the baby can now move them freely.

Babies also start sucking their thumbs around the 14^th week. It is around this period that the baby starts developing a thin layer of hair all over the body, known as lanugo. This helps keep the body of the baby warm. Once the second trimester begins, the baby also starts developing facial features and would soon start using the facial muscles for smiling and grimacing.

Even the genitals would be almost developed by the end of this week; however, an ultrasound might still not be able to give a confirmed answer. If you are about to have any chromosomal testing around the 14^th-16^th week, the test might be able to detect the gender of your baby. However, it is recommended that you should wait for the mid-pregnancy ultrasound.

As the heartbeat of your baby is now more evident, you could be able to hear it very easily through a Doppler. There are now also Doppler devices that are now available in the market which you can purchase to listen to your little one’s heartbeat at home. However, using these devices correctly is a little complicated. You’ll need more than a few tries to get it right.

Physical Changes in Women in the 14^th Week

The uterus has now expanded considerably to accommodate your baby and most people could easily figure out that you are pregnant. When the second trimester begins, most pregnant women start gaining weight rapidly, especially if they are pregnant with twins. So, keep monitoring your weight scale as you’d gain some serious pounds pretty soon.

There is no stopping the breasts as well. They’d continue growing throughout the pregnancy to make sure that they prepared for breastfeeding once the baby is out in the world. If you’ve developed some skin related problems like acne in the past few weeks, make sure that you consult your doctor before applying any cream or taking any kind of medication.

Symptoms of 14^th Week Pregnancy

While symptoms like fatigue and morning sickness would have eased up by now, it is still not what you’d call a happy phase. There are still plenty of symptoms and they’ll probably remain throughout the pregnancy. However, things are considerably better than what they were in the first trimester. You’ve been through the worst and the symptoms in the 14^th week generally won’t result in anything too severe. Some of the most commonly observed symptoms of the 14^th week are as follows-

Leaking nipples
Round ligament pain
Continued breast growth
Increased appetite
Visible veins
Stuffy nose
Mood swings

Tips for 14^th Week Pregnancy

The second trimester has already begun and things have started to get better. If you haven’t been able to focus on exercising in the past weeks due to the severe symptoms, use this increased energy levels to start working out. You can look for an exercise program for pregnant women or consult a professional trainer for the same. Also, don’t forget to talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise regime. Some other tips that can help are-

Avoid sitting at a place for a long time
Exercise regularly
Eat healthy
Add more fruits and vegetables to your meals
Quit smoking
Take the prenatal supplements regularly
Consult your doctor if you are suffering from anxiety, stress, or depression

Conclusion

It felt like forever to wait for finishing the first trimester and it is finally over now. You have now started feeling better and don’t feel that pregnancy is as bad as you’d imagined in the first trimester. Maintain this positive attitude throughout the remaining weeks of your pregnancy. Try to make good use of the extra energy that you might have this week and be very cautious about the things you eat.

You should also start focusing more on your physical movements as they can severely affect the baby. In case if something feels wrong or if any of the symptoms are unbearable, make sure that you get in touch with your doctor or midwife as quickly as possible.

Pregnancy Checklist at 14 Weeks Pregnant

Sign up for a pregnancy workshop or exercise program
Start preparing for your mid-pregnancy appointment
Rapid weight is normal is around this period
Spend more time with your partner and loved ones

Baby’s Development in the 14th Week

Physical Changes in Women in the 14th Week

Symptoms of 14th Week Pregnancy

Tips for 14th Week Pregnancy