14 Weeks Pregnant
Hey there, mamas and dadas-to-be! You’re 14 weeks pregnant (as am I)!! Hopefully by now, most of your first trimester symptoms have disappeared. Week 14 brings some exciting changes for you and your hairy (wait, what?) little one. Right now, I’m anxiously awaiting the results of the chorionic villus sampling (or CVS) diagnostic test I underwent last week. The procedure was uncomfortable — just as I remembered from my first pregnancy. Wondering what your baby is doing this week and what you should expect when you’re 14 weeks pregnant? Let’s get to it!
14 Weeks Pregnant: Recurring Symptoms
14 Weeks Pregnant: Common Symptoms
Thicker, Shiny Hair
Pregnancy glow — it’s finally here! Compliments toward my hair, which is definitely a lot shinier, always make my day and boost my self-esteem, which is so important during pregnancy! Because of heightened levels of estrogen production in your body, your hair will experience a prolonged stay in its growth phase with a decreased period of shedding. So while you may curse pregnancy hormones for morning sickness and headaches, you must thank these little devils for bestowing great hair.
Weakened Immune System
Your body is hampering its immune response so that you don’t reject your baby (it is a foreign body after all!). Especially given the pandemics our world has faced, I’ve become proactive in preventing illness. I wash my hands frequently, wear a mask in public, refrain from touching my face, and avoid sick people. When I did get sick in prior pregnancies, I always heeded my doctor’s advice to focus on getting better as fast as possible for my sake and the baby’s.
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Fun Fact About Pregnancy Your baby can taste sweet, sour, and bitter flavors in the amniotic fluid! Chances are if you’re puckering after eating a lemon, your baby is, too! |
My Pregnant Belly Progression
Ahh! My bump is definitely getting bigger! My jeans are getting pretty tight, so I’ve still been wearing mostly yoga leggings. My exercise has stayed constant and not changed much, and luckily I can still make it all the way through my traditional at-home one-hour yoga/barre routines. My body has actually been feeling really good — thank goodness for the second trimester — although I’m still experiencing hip and groin stiffness. Check out my 4 months pregnant belly!
Pregnancy Weight Gain Distribution – Where’s it all Going?
At around this stage in my prior pregnancies, I began to feel gross and yucky. I knew I was growing a baby and that weight gain was necessary; however, I didn’t feel good about my appearance. I especially worried about my butt! However, this time around, I have found that actually learning about where my increased weight is located has helped give me a better understanding of the importance of weight gain and ultimately, has made me feel more confident in the way I look. Here’s a quick rundown on how much you should expect to weigh by your due date:
Stages of Fetal Development: Baby Growth & Size at 14 Weeks
At week 14, your baby weighs 1.5 ounces and is 3.4 inches long, about the size of a nectarine. A lot of exciting things are happening with your baby this week. Your baby is beginning to practice facial movements for the first time. Note that your baby’s frowns or smiles, although heartwarming, are just reflexes since your baby is not actually experiencing those emotions!
Surprise — your baby is fuzzy like a peach! This fuzz is referred to as lanugo and acts like a blanket, keeping your baby warm. Once your baby gains fat, which will take over in regulating temperature, the lanugo hair will go away. This sometimes occurs after birth.
Your baby also is beginning to produce meconium, the material that will show up in your baby’s first diaper. This dark and sticky substance is composed of the elements your baby ingested while in the amniotic sac. Fascinating and gross, right?
Doctor’s Appointments and Testing Options
The following prenatal tests are available this week:
Cell-free DNA screening (cfDNA)
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
I had my CVS last Thursday. Everything went just fine, although it was definitely an uncomfortable procedure. First, I was given an injection of a pain reliever. This hurt more than the actual test. After applying an antibacterial cleanser and carefully separating off the area, the doctor inserted a long needle into my belly. Into that needle went a catheter-type plastic piece, which he used to catch a sample of the fetal cells they will test for chromosomal abnormalities. The entire test took less than a few minutes. The doctor advised me to take it extremely easy for the next five days. I will be getting the test results back soon so please say a prayer for me!
First trimester combined screening
Second Trimester Quadruple Screening (Quad Screen)
The Quad Screen test takes a sample of your blood to test for four different substances produced by your baby’s liver and the placenta, including estriol, inhibin A, AFP (alpha-fetoprotein), and hCG. This blood analysis screens for chromosomal and anatomical abnormalities. This procedure is generally conducted when prenatal testing was not conducted during the first trimester. The Quad Screen has no risks associated with it and can be conducted between Weeks 14 and 22 of pregnancy.
Week by Week Pregnancy Food Guide: Healthy Foods for You & Baby
Check out Week 4 and Week 5 for foods to avoid and enjoy and check back in each week for a healthy pregnancy recipe.
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Fun Fact About Pregnancy Your baby can taste sweet, sour, and bitter flavors in the amniotic fluid! Chances are if you’re puckering after eating a lemon, your baby is, too! |
How Many Months Is 14 Weeks?
Doctors typically don’t measure your pregnancy based on months because months have a different number of days and weeks. So the month during which your pregnancy began would influence the month of pregnancy you’re in. However, in case you’re asking yourself this question (or others are asking you) 14 weeks corresponds to being around 4 months pregnant.
Week 14 Pregnancy Checklist
- Schedule a dental cleaning! You want to avoid gum recision during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Schedule an amniocentesis
- Keep exercising, eating healthy and drinking tons of H2O
- Expand on your maternity clothing wardrobe
- Research birth and childbirth classes
- Start investigating baby names (I have a new book coming out!)
- Purchase a humidifier
- Research crib bumpers
Resources
- What to Expect & What to Expect When You’re Expecting – 5th Edition (2016)
- The Bump
- Baby List
- Parents.com
- Healthline.com
- WebMD
- The Mama Natural Week to Week Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth (2017)
- Mayo Clinic’s Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy – Second Edition (2018)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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