Your Baby at 14 Weeks Pregnant
 At 14 weeks pregnant, your baby has grown to 3.5 inches long from crown to rump. This is comparable in size to a small guava fruit. He or she is now close to 1.5 ounces in weight.
Your baby continues to grow rapidly during pregnancy week 14, and he or she is now receiving nutrition directly from the placenta. The yolk sac (which provided nutrition for your baby in the first trimester) has completely disappeared by now.
| | Fun Fact:
Your baby can now urinate! At 14 weeks pregnant, your little bundle of joy's bladder empties every 30 minutes. He or she is always swallowing amniotic fluid, which gets filtered through the kidneys and passed out of the body as urine. Then, the cycle begins all over again. | | |
Your midwife or obstetrician can feel the fundus (top of the uterus) for the first time at 14 weeks pregnant. From this point onward, your healthcare provider will feel your fundus at each prenatal visit to ensure that your little one is growing normally.
At 14 weeks pregnant, your baby's ears have started their journey to the sides of the head, and the eyes are continuing to get closer and closer together. The eyebrows are starting to grow this week. It won't be long before your little baby has a recognizable face.
Mom's Changes at 14 Weeks Pregnant
At 14 weeks pregnant, your abdomen should start pouching out slightly. The uterus is just above your pubic bone, and this may give you a slightly rounder belly - but not too much. You may be excited by this change, even though you won't be looking too pregnant for several more weeks. (If you're pregnant with twins or multiples, your belly can be nice and round by pregnancy week 14.)
Along with your growing belly, you may have also noticed that your breasts are larger and fuller. Your partner or husband may love this physical change, but you'll probably want to slap his hands away. Your breasts are still pretty sore and tender.
If you're dealing with anxiety, worries, or you find that you're too emotional, just try to relax. Emotional changes are normal, and they're the result of raging hormones and the life-changing experience that comes with having a baby. To help you deal with your feelings, why not discuss what you're going through with a close friend, family member, or your significant other.
In the meanwhile, enjoy this precious time with your partner. Go on a "babymoon," or just take a fun trip somewhere. The second trimester is often the best time to travel, since you have the renewed energy and your belly isn't getting in the way. So, why not plan a weekend getaway at 14 weeks pregnant?
Second Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms
At 14 weeks pregnant, the nausea and fatigue that plagued you in the first trimester is most likely gone. You are feeling better, and your energy levels might be returning to what they used to be. The second trimester is often called the "honeymoon" of pregnancy, since you're feeling better and all those annoying symptoms from the first 13 weeks are virtually gone. You aren't completely out of the clear, though. You will soon battle a new onslaught of pregnancy symptoms.
Backaches are headed your way at 14 weeks pregnant. As your uterus continues to get larger, your center of gravity will shift, resulting in posture changes. Consequently, this may strain your back muscles and lead to backaches. All those additional pounds you're carrying around doesn't help either. Backaches are a universal pregnancy symptom and affect upwards of 75 percent of all expectant mothers.
Low back pain in pregnancy isn't anything to worry about, although you should expect your backaches to become worse as your pregnancy week by week progresses. Though backaches are normal, it's a good idea to contact your doctor if you start to lose feeling in your legs, buttocks or genital area, or the pain is severe and continues to get worse in a short period of time.
Gas and bloating are normal pregnancy symptoms that might strike at 14 weeks pregnant. The main cause gassiness or bloating is the increase in progesterone (a hormone), which slows down your digestion. To prevent bloating and gas, it's important that you avoid food triggers, such as pasta, beans, and carbonated sodas. You'll also want to eat smaller meals, rather than big meals, since this might make it easier for your stomach to digest.
Swollen ankles and feet are another pregnancy symptom to expect at 14 weeks pregnant. Swelling (or water retention) is caused by changes in your blood chemistry - you have 50 percent more fluids and blood running through your body. Swelling can be made worse by certain lifestyle habits, such as eating very salty or fattening foods, or from standing for an extended period of time. Mild swelling isn't anything to worry about, but severe or sudden swelling may indicate a problem. Talk to your doctor if you're worried.
Stomach itchiness is another symptom that you may notice at 14 weeks pregnant. It's not unusual for your breasts or growing stomach to itch as your skin stretches to accommodate your growth. Hormonal changes can also contribute to itchiness in pregnancy. To get relief from your itchiness, you may want to try an oatmeal bath and to keep your skin well moisturized.
Itchiness is relatively normal, but if you start to get itchy, red bumps or even a hive-like rash on your stomach, this might be a sign of a pregnancy complication called pruritic uritcarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP).
Weight Gain at 14 Weeks Pregnant
 Your weight gain at 14 weeks pregnant is roughly 5 or 6 pounds. Some women may have gained more, others less. This is just an average. If you're pregnant with twins or multiples, you may have gained double or triple this amount.
In the second trimester, all your baby's organs have developed, though some are still immature. Your baby is rapidly gaining fat layers. From 14 weeks pregnant onward, your baby will simply gain more and more weight. As a result, you will start to gain weight steadily (at least one or two pounds a week) and look more pregnant!
Remember to aim for a total weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds at the end of your pregnancy. (Overweight women will need to gain less; underweight women should gain slightly more.) You can maintain a healthy weight gain by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
Spotlight on Constipation in Pregnancy
 At 14 weeks pregnant, you may notice that constipation is a regular annoyance. Constipation is fairly common during pregnancy, and among other things, it may be related to the increased amount of iron you are consuming to stave off anemia during pregnancy.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to alleviate constipation naturally. You'll want to do this, because chronic constipation can lead to or worsen hemorrhoids during pregnancy. First and foremost, you'll want to be sure that you are drinking lots and lots of water. If you are thirsty, then you are probably already dehydrated.
Eating high fiber foods can also help reduce constipation at 14 weeks pregnant … but be careful. Incorporating too many high fiber foods all at once can lead to excess gas, which is extremely uncomfortable during pregnancy. Start incorporation high fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables into your diet slowly, so your body can adapt to them and break them down more easily. This will lead to less discomfort and less constipation.
Overview on Exercising During Pregnancy
 In addition to your expanding belly, at 14 weeks pregnant you might find yourself more eager than ever to exercise. Most women will have much more energy during the second trimester to embark on a pregnancy exercise fitness program.
If you have never engaged in a physical fitness program before, be sure to get your doctors clearance before doing so during pregnancy. It is important that you start out slow. Due to the increasing levels of hormones in your body, you are more prone to injury during pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester when your body starts releasing a substance called relaxin.
Relaxin helps soften and lengthen the cervix and the area of the body called the pubic symphysis, or the place where your pubic bones come together. This will help ease your transition into labor. It also improves the likelihood for injury due to falls or sudden movements. Be sure that you take things slowly.
Your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you keep your heart rate below 140 during pregnancy. This will help ensure that you don't get over fatigued and this allows your baby to get an adequate supply of oxygen during physical activity.
While it is safe to lift weights during pregnancy, you'll want to be sure that you aren't lifting heavy weights. If the weight you are lifting causes you to hold your breath and push hard, then it is too heavy. Lifting weights that are too heavy can cut off the oxygen supply momentarily to your uterus, something you want to avoid during pregnancy.
You'll also want to avoid any exercises that cause you to lie flat on your back during the second trimester. When you are in a supine position, the weight of the uterus presses on a large vein called the vena cava. This large vessel carries blood from the legs to the heart. When you lie on your back, you might decrease the blood flow to your heart, and your heart may start to race. This can result in shortness of breath. You can and will pass out if you do not change your position.
Pregnancy Health Tips at 14 Weeks Pregnant
Avoid Dieting When Pregnant
Along with your increasing girth comes the extra weight you gain during the second trimester. Some women are tempted to diet to reduce the amount of weight they gain. It is important that you never diet during pregnancy. Your baby relies on you for vital nutrients during pregnancy. If you try to lose weight, you put the health of your baby at risk. Dieting during pregnancy can result in a malnourished, low birth weight baby and a more complicated delivery.
You should also avoid any medications for dieting such as diuretics, which can result in dehydration and can negatively impact your baby.
Make Healthy Food Choices
You CAN however make the decision to eat more healthy foods during pregnancy. Consider cutting out refined sugars and avoiding foods that are overly processed. These foods usually have more calories and provide less bang for your buck when it comes to nutrition.
During your second trimester, starting at 14 weeks pregnant, you will start needing 300 to 500 more calories than you normally would in order to facilitate a healthy weight gain. Most women will consume on average between 2000 and 2400 calories a day during pregnancy, depending on their physical activity level.
While pregnancy isn't a license to eat cake and ice cream all day, it does afford many women the opportunity to relax a little bit about their diets and splurge a little more on items they may not have considered prior to getting pregnant. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having an extra bowl of ice cream here and there, provided you aren't having ice cream and cake every day for breakfast.
Most days, you should aspire to choose foods that are low in saturated fat and nutrient dense. You should aspire to eat a diet that is well balanced and incorporates foods from each of the four food groups. Calcium is particularly important during pregnancy, so be sure to fill up on foods rich in calcium, including yogurt, cheese, milk, and dark leafy green vegetables.
Exercise Throughout Pregnancy
 One thing you can do to promote your overall health and to ensure that you are able to drop your weight once you deliver your baby is to continue exercising throughout your pregnancy. Exercise will not only help expedite the labor and delivery process, but will help you feel better about your body before, during and after pregnancy. Some great choices during pregnancy include: walking, swimming, stationary biking and prenatal yoga.
Remember that your growing body is a beautiful reflection of the life you are carrying within. As you grow and expand, the baby inside of you is thanking you for nurturing and keeping them safe.
Avoid Harmful Substances
Remember that everything you put into your body at 14 weeks pregnant and throughout your pregnancy can cross the placental wall and impact your baby.
This includes not only things you eat such as food preservatives, but also things that may come into contact with your skin, such as house sprays or other cleaning agents. Remember that lotions penetrate the skin, so why wouldn't household cleaners? At this time more than any other time in your life, it is important that you make safe and healthy choices with regard to your health and well being.
Anything you eat or inhale could directly or indirectly affect your baby. Eating a healthy diet is vital to the well being of your child. Avoiding alcohol during pregnancy as well as avoiding certain foods is important to ensure a happy, healthy environment for your unborn baby. If you are smoking during your pregnancy, please stop now.
 One thing that you should never do when pregnant is change a cat's litter box. Doing so could put you at risk for contracting a disease called Toxoplasmosis. This is an infection that can occur via contact with the stool of an infected cat. The risk to your baby is substantial. Cats are often infected from outside sources including rodents.
Most pet owners that have had cats for a long time have likely already been exposed to the disease at some point in their life, and this will not necessarily result in an increased risk for your baby. However during pregnancy, you do have an excuse to have someone else change the litter pan for the time being.
You should also avoid gardening to some extent, as outdoor cats sometimes prefer to leave their stools in the soil of a garden.
If you absolutely must garden or change a cat box, be sure you wear gloves and a mask, and carefully wash your hands after performing any of these higher risk activities.
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