At 14 weeks pregnant, you're at the start of your second trimester.
Here’s all you need to know about what your baby and your body are doing at 14 weeks pregnant.
What’s my baby doing at 14 weeks pregnant?
They are standing up straight and their neck is getting longer, helping the head stand more erect. At 14 weeks, your little one could be growing some hair, although their hair colour might not be determined until birth and their eyebrows are filling in. At this stage, your little one will also have hair all over their body called lanugo, which helps keep them warm. Luckily, this will disappear later in pregnancy, once they get some more body fat.
Around now, your growing baby will have its first wee! As they start to swallow little bits of amniotic fluid, they will pass into their stomach. The kidneys will start to work and the swallowed fluid will pass back into the amniotic fluid as urine. Although they get all the oxygen they need via the umbilical cord, at week 14, your baby will start to practise their breathing – an important skill for when they're born!
Other developments this week include the forming of the roof of your baby’s mouth, and the intestines will start to produce meconium – this is the substance that makes those first few nappy changes black and tar-like.
What is my body doing at 14 weeks pregnant?
Welcome to trimester two! This is the time most pregnant women enjoy the most and there are a few reasons why. You’ll probably feel a bit more like your pre-pregnant self, the morning sickness should have eased off and your breasts (hopefully) aren’t quite as tender. Your energy levels should be returning too and in turn, so should (hopefully) your appetite.
Even better, this week, you’ll probably start noticing that cute baby bump has started showing. Your uterus is finally rising out of the pelvic region and into your low abdomen. You’ll have started producing more blood from the beginning of your pregnancy, but from around now, there’ll be more blood cells as well as fluid in the bloodstream.
You may have also noticed some yellow stains in your bra - this is nothing to worry about and is just colostrum which is the first form of milk you will produce.
How big is my baby at fourteen weeks pregnant?
Your baby is now about 8.5cm long, about the same size as an apple.
What will my week 14 pregnant belly look like?
Good news, you’ll probably get the first signs of a baby bump this week! Your uterus is rising out of the pelvic region and up into your abdomen.
Don't worry if your belly is not yet showing. Every body is different and we all show at different times.
How much should my baby be moving at 14 weeks?
You probably still won’t be able to feel any movement at week 14, but by now, your baby is moving constantly. The movements are now much smoother and more fluid compared to the early jerky movements we mentioned a few weeks ago.
Is it normal to gain weight at 14 weeks pregnant?
Yes, in fact, your weight gain will really kick off during this trimester. It’s normal to gain as much as four pounds a month for the remainder of your pregnancy.
14 weeks pregnant symptoms
Catching a cold
Just when a few of your symptoms started to ease off, the second trimester brings a whole host of new ones to worry about! One of these is being more susceptible to colds and flu. At the moment, your immune system is weaker, but this is a good thing as it stops your body from rejecting your foetus. On the other hand, this makes you more likely to pick up bugs, so be sure to wash your hands and carry hand sanitiser wherever you go. If you do feel like you are coming down with something, get in touch with your GP as soon as you can.
Varicose veins
These are large, swollen blood vessels which show up on your legs. Although they might not look too nice, they are caused by the extra blood your body is producing to look after your baby. Minimise the appearance of these veins by keeping the blood circulating around your body by walking throughout the day.
Breast changes
They’re finally feeling less tender, but they are still growing. It’s totally normal for your areolas to darken and your nipples to look different. Now might also be a good time to invest in a maternity bra to keep them comfy.
Round ligament pain
For some women, around this time of their pregnancy, they’ll experience round ligament pain. This is a fancy way of saying pregnancy growing pains, which will feel like achy or sharp pains on one or both sides of the abdomen. This is normal and is caused by the ligaments supporting your womb stretching and thinning out to accommodate the increasing weight. You’ll probably only notice it when you’re getting up, stretching or twisting and the best way to get some relief is by putting your feet up in a comfortable position.
Stuffy nose
The high levels of oestrogen and progesterone cause the mucous membranes in the body (including the nose) to swell and soften. This can leave you with a stuffy nose, but rest assured, it’s normal.
Increased appetite
Now you’ve stopped feeling so sick, you feel constantly hungry. Remember to continue with a healthy diet throughout your pregnancy. Avoid binging on sugary snacks, no matter how much your baby is craving them!
Swelling
This is caused by the increased blood in your bloodstream. You might notice your rings feel tighter and your legs and ankles look like you’ve been on a long-haul flight. Now is not the time to do a Kim Kardashian – ditch those uncomfortable strappy shoes or heels. If you can, avoid standing for too long and try to raise your feet above your heart for at least an hour a day.
Things to think about at 14 weeks pregnant
Book that pregnancy fitness class: Hopefully, the start of trimester two will bring that boost in energy we’ve been talking about for the past few weeks. If you feel up to it, take advantage and sign up to a pregnancy fitness class.
Do those pelvic floor exercises: These are the muscles that support your bladder, bowel and womb. Now you have a growing baby, the extra weight puts pressure on those muscles, so it’s vital that they remain strong. Make exercising those muscles for labour part of your daily routine.
Now's the time to tell work if you haven't already: Many women will wait until around 12 weeks when they've had their 12-week scan to tell their employer about their pregnancy. Make sure you're aware of your maternity rights and it's a good time to ask for extra support if you need it.
Avoid alcohol, smoking and caffeine: Try your best to give up smoking and alcohol and go easy on the caffeine (it's recommended by the NHS that you don't have more than 200mg of caffeine each day during pregnancy).
About the expert
Malena Monteverde is a registered Midwife specialising in pregnancy, wellbeing and mindfulness and breastfeeding. Starting her midwifery training in 2001, Malena worked on a Labour Ward for approximately 10 years and in the community for another seven years.
Stephanie Spencer is the Deputy Digital Editor at Mother&Baby and auntie to four aged 8 to 6 months old. With a particular interest in health, she loves discovering products that make parent’s lives easier.