Are you feeling hungrier, more energetic, and less nauseous? Many moms-to-be report that their early pregnancy symptoms subside by 14 weeks pregnant. You’ve also reached month 4 of your pregnancy – only 5 more months to go!
At 14 weeks your baby is the size of a peach. At this point in your pregnancy, your baby will begin to grow and develop rapidly, starting to look more and more like the little one you’ll meet when you give birth.
Week 14 Pregnancy Symptoms
Round Ligament Pain
At 14 weeks, many pregnant women go from looking bloated to actually “popping.” Time to show off that baby bump!
Around this time, you might experience round ligament pain. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “A woman’s body makes hormones during pregnancy to make ligaments loose and stretchy. This helps the body adjust to the growing baby. As a baby grows in the womb, it stretches the uterus and the round ligaments. This stretching can cause spasms in the round ligaments, leading to the pain.”
These pregnancy-related growing pains can feel like achy or sharp pains on one or both sides of the abdomen. The pain is often more noticeable when you change positions suddenly, cough, sneeze, or even laugh.
This common pregnancy symptom can be soothed by rest or wearing an elastic belly band to help support your baby bump. However, make sure to talk to your doctor if you have pain that won’t go away or pain accompanied by other symptoms such as lightheadedness or nausea.
Stuffy Nose
Did you know that this early sign of pregnancy can come around again in the second trimester? Those pesky pregnancy hormones are to blame. Higher levels of estrogen and progesterone are increasing blood flow to your mucous membranes.
If you’re struggling with a stuffy nose, try running a warm-mist humidifier while you sleep.
Decreased Immune System
Your immune system is designed to keep your body safe from outside invaders. To keep from triggering an immune system response to your baby (an “invader” in your body), your body begins to suppress parts of the immune system during pregnancy. While this is a good thing for your baby, it might make you more susceptible to colds, flu, and other bugs.
Wash your hands often, don’t share drinks or toothbrushes, and try to avoid anyone who is sick. If you think you’ve caught something, get in touch with your medical practitioner so they can treat you in a way that is safe for your pregnancy.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are large, swollen blood vessels that can be found anywhere on the lower half of your body but are predominantly associated with the legs. These purplish lumps may look alarming, but they’re quite common. While varicose veins can appear anytime throughout pregnancy, they’re more likely to occur as your pregnant belly gets bigger.
This pregnancy symptom will likely go away once you deliver your baby. Until then, try to keep your blood flowing with light physical activity. To help reduce the appearance of varicose veins during pregnancy, avoid wearing clothing that’s too tight.
Varicose veins are usually harmless, but be sure to let your doctor know if they develop. Deep vein thrombosis or blood clots are risks associated with varicose veins, even outside of pregnancy, so you’ll want to inform your health care provider as soon as you notice them.
Weight Gain
According to health professionals at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), weight gain during pregnancy has a lot to do with your starting Body Mass Index (BMI). If you had a "healthy" BMI before pregnancy, in your second and third trimesters, you should gain between half a pound and 1 pound per week (consult with your doctor or midwife for personalized recommendations).
The key to healthy weight gain during pregnancy is to slowly increase calories. In your second trimester, try upping your caloric intake by 340 calories per day. Always talk to your doctor, especially If you're concerned about gaining too much weight or gaining too little weight during pregnancy.
Baby on Board
At 14 weeks, your baby measures between 3½ and 4 inches long and weighs about 2 ounces. Not sure if you’re expecting a boy or a girl? The genitals are fully developed this week, though your baby’s sex might still be hard to detect on an ultrasound.
Under Construction: Facial Muscles
Is baby smiling at me? They might be! Pay close attention to your baby’s face during your next ultrasound because they can now use their facial muscles to grimace and smile.
Under Construction: Movement
Your baby is constantly on the move at this point in your pregnancy. Their movements are becoming more fluid too.
If you can’t feel your baby yet, don’t worry! They’re only about the size of your clenched fist. Rest assured, they’re being quite active inside your uterus thanks to all of that amniotic fluid. This important fluid helps your baby move inside your womb, regulate their temperature, and develop their lungs.
Under Construction: Hair and Lanugo
By week 14 of pregnancy, your baby develops eyebrows, and there’s a good chance they’re starting to get hair!
Hair isn’t just sprouting on your baby’s head. A fine coating of hair called lanugo is beginning to cover your baby’s body. This hair is largely there for warmth and will begin to shed as your baby’s fat accumulates later in your pregnancy.
What to Wear This Week
Many women find the second trimester of pregnancy to be the most enjoyable. Morning sickness and exhaustion begin to fade, and you may start to feel more comfortable in your new body. During this time, most people find their bump really starts to show, so stretchy and comfortable maternity clothes are a must.
If you’re looking for a bra that makes you feel more like yourself and is great for low-impact exercise during pregnancy, check out our Sublime® Lace Racerback Nursing Bra. You’ll love the super-soft, stretchy fabric and the lace detail in the back. This supportive racerback style bra also has removable padding and a stretchy chest band that will provide maximum comfort as your breasts grow.
As your bump begins to make more of an appearance, you might find yourself in need of everyday essentials like our Linen Relaxed Nursing & Maternity T-shirt. Made from textured linen fabric, this oversized maternity shirt is a timeless staple for any maternity wardrobe.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice that has been medically reviewed. Please reach out to your health care team with any questions.
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