Congratulations! You are now in your second trimester. At 14 weeks pregnant, you are probably feeling much better than you did last week. Your morning sickness is likely gone (though some pregnant women may experience nausea throughout their entire pregnancy), and you will soon have more energy.
The second trimester of pregnancy is often the most enjoyable time for many expectant mothers. Not only are your morning sickness and fatigue gone, but you look beautifully pregnant without that huge, bulging belly. Many pregnant women use the second trimester as an opportunity to travel while they still can.
Your breasts continue to grow in the second trimester. By now, you may have noticed that your breasts are becoming fuller. If your husband or partner wants a touch, your beasts will probably be off-limits, as they continue to be very tender.
New Pregnancy Symptoms in the Second Trimester
At week 14 of pregnancy, you may start to experience new pregnancy symptoms, such as backaches, gas pain, and water retention. These are all very common in the middle part of pregnancy, and they are caused by changes in your pregnant body.
Over 50 percent of all pregnant women will experience back pain at some point during their pregnancy. You may have low back pain when you stand or sit, or even when you're in bed. Backaches are caused by the extra weight of your uterus straining your back muscles. You can try to minimize your back discomfort by wearing low-heeled shoes with good arch support, being aware of your posture (standing straight is best), sit in chairs with good back support, avoid lifting heavy objects, and sleeping on a firm mattress.
Though backaches are a normal pregnancy symptom, watch out for severe back pain. This can be a sign of a serious problem or pregnancy complication. If you experience severe back pain accompanied by fever or other symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
Gas During Pregnancy
If you start to experience a strange fluttering in your belly at pregnancy week 14, you may think its gas. You are probably right, especially if you are also bloated. Gas during pregnancy is very common, and it can be triggered by certain foods, including carbonated soda drinks, beans, and pasta. To get gas relief, you may want to eat smaller meals throughout the day, instead of large meals.
Pregnancy Swelling
During pregnancy week 14, you may begin to notice that your feet and ankles are swollen. Pregnancy swelling, also called water retention, is uncomfortable, but a normal experience in pregnancy. Because your body produces 50 percent more blood and body fluids but a lower concentration of protein that keeps blood in the blood vessels, this can cause swelling and bloating.
Sometimes lifestyle habits can contribute to your water retention. Standing for long periods of time, and consuming too many salty foods can make your swelling worse.
Weight Gain at Pregnancy Week 14
Your pregnancy weight gain at 14 weeks pregnant might be anywhere between five and six pounds. If you are carrying twins or multiples, you may have gained a couple more pounds than this. The more babies that you’re pregnant with, the heavier that you will be.
Starting at 14 weeks pregnant, you will start to pack on at least one pound or two as your pregnancy week by week continues. It’s during the second trimester that your baby is rapidly gaining fat layers.
Fetal Development at 14 Weeks Pregnant At 14 weeks pregnant your baby is now about 3.4 inches from crown to rump, and he or she weighs almost 1.5 ounces. That's pretty impressive, considering your little one has lived less than four months! In the next few weeks, your baby will double his or her size!
Do you remember the yolk sac that provided nourishment for your little baby in the first trimester? It is now completely gone, as your baby is totally dependent on the placenta at pregnancy week 14.
Your doctor or healthcare provider can feel the top of your uterus (also called the fundus) for the first time. From now on at all your prenatal visits, your doctor will feel the fundus to ensure that your baby is growing properly.
Compared to the rest of the body, your baby's head is still huge. At 14 weeks pregnant, the head accounts for half of your baby's total length. As your pregnancy week by week continues, your baby will slowly become more symmetrical. In the second trimester, your little one's body will catch up with his or her head.
During pregnancy week 14, your baby's facial features are becoming more defined. By the end of the week, his or her eyes and ears will have reached their proper positions on the head. Your baby's eyebrows are growing too! Pretty soon, your little one will have his or her own distinct face.
Did you know that your developing baby can now pee? By pregnancy week 14, your baby's bladder empties every half hour. Your baby is constantly swallowing amniotic fluid, which is filtered through his or her kidneys and passed out as urine.
Pregnancy Complications at Pregnancy Week 14: Miscarriage and Incompetent Cervix While the risk of miscarriage is greatly reduced at 14 weeks pregnant, some women may experience a late miscarriage due to a weak or incompetent cervix. Roughly 25 percent of pregnancy losses are due to this condition.
In a normal pregnancy, the cervix stays firm and closed until the last weeks of the third trimester. At that time, it starts to soften and dilate as your body prepares for labor and delivery. For women with incompetent cervixes, their cervix is softer and weaker than normal. As a result, the cervix may start to dilate without any contractions in the second and third trimester, as the weight of their uterus puts extra pressure on it.
Pregnancy Complications due to an Incompetent Cervix
Incompetent cervix, also called cervical insufficiency, can result in miscarriage, preterm premature rupture of the membranes (when your water breaks before real labor), premature labor (before pregnancy week 37), and early preterm delivery (before 32 weeks of pregnancy).
How is an Incompetent Cervix Diagnosed?
You are often diagnosed with this condition in the second trimester. Unfortunately, unless you've experienced this complication before, there is no way to tell whether this will happen. Sometimes a first-time pregnant woman is diagnosed with cervical insufficiency after she experiences a second trimester miscarriage or early pre-term labor (before 32 weeks of pregnancy). After diagnosis, she will be better prepared for future pregnancies.
Doctors and healthcare providers diagnose incompetent cervix using pelvic exams and ultrasounds.
Symptoms of Incompetent Cervix
At pregnancy week 14, symptoms of an incomplete cervix may include: menstrual cramping, vaginal bleeding, pelvic discomfort, and change in your vaginal discharge.
At 14 weeks pregnant, you are at higher risk for an incompetent cervix if:
You've had previous surgeries on your cervix
Any cervical trauma you've experienced, including dilation and curettage (D&C) from any past abortions
Bloating
Pain on one side of the abdomen (ovary)
Your mother took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) during her pregnancy with you.
You have a very short cervix.
Treatments for Incompetent Cervix To treat an incompetent cervix, your doctor may perform a procedure called a cervical cerclage. This procedure involves placing stitches in your cervix to hold it closed. It is often done after week 12, very often performed at week 14 of pregnancy. As with any medical procedure, it does come with some risks, including a small chance of miscarriage, excessive blood loss, infection, and damage to the cervix during the surgery. As scary as these side effects sound, they are very rare. Most healthcare providers consider a cervical cerclage a life-saving and necessary procedure.
Sadly, in some cases, it may be too late for a cervical cerclage. This procedure
may not help you if your cervix is dilated more than 4 centimeters, your
baby has already died, or the amniotic membranes have already ruptured.
Women with an incompetent cervix may be placed on bed rest during the latter stages of pregnancy. Your doctor will probably ask you to refrain from having sexual intercourse too.
The stitches from the procedure may be removed at delivery, or they can be left in place if the mother has a c-section. In many cases, cervical cerclage will save your baby's life.
If you are concerned about this pregnancy complication, feel free to talk to your doctor about it.
Pregnancy Week by Week
Pregnancy Explained A to Z
Pregnancy Blog
Ask Our Doc - Pregnancy Q & A 
Share Your Pregnancy Pictures
Follow us on FaceBook
Follow us on Twitter
