Pregnancy Week 14
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Your Baby's Growth and Development
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By pregnancy week 14 your baby measures in at over 4 inches and is roughly one ounce! Your baby will continue to grow exponentially as you continue your pregnancy week by week in the upcoming months! By pregnancy week 14 your baby's body attempts to catch up with its head, helping your baby appear more proportional.
During pregnancy week 14 and beyond your baby's neck will lengthen and the chin will start to rise off your baby's chest. Your baby will also start developing his own reflexes. By week 14 pregnancy your baby is receiving most of his nutrition through the placenta, so be sure you stock up on healthy foods including many fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. This is one of the most important times during your life, so avoid dieting and stock up on good, wholesome foods!
Changes In Your Body
By now your tummy is starting to look a little pregnant. If nothing else you look like you have started to gain a little weight. I always refer to the early second trimester as the interim period, the time where you don't yet look pregnant but people start suspecting something may be up because it looks like you've added a few pounds.
Many women find it difficult to get into a comfortable position as their body continues to expand each week of pregnancy. During the second and third trimesters your body will undergo an intense series of changes. When laying you’re your left or right side, you will find resting much easier if you have a supportive pregnancy pillow available. Pregnancy pillows including Snoozer full body pregnancy pillows are among the best pregnancy pillows available to pregnant and nursing women.
When using a pregnancy pillow, simply wrap your body into a comfortable position, with part of the pillow between your legs, part supporting your abdomen, and part resting comfortably under or by your head. Some women find pregnancy pillows are also useful for supporting their back, or preventing them from rolling onto their back during pregnancy. Much like lying on your left side, using a pregnancy pillow during pregnancy week 19, or during any time of your pregnancy, can help promote better circulation, comfort and a restful night of sleep. We offer a wide selection of pregnancy pillows, so you can choose from one that fits your style, budget and comfort preferences. If you want to really feel pampered and extravagant, try the European Goose Down Full Pregnancy Pillow. It’s like sleeping in heaven.
Even if you haven't gained much actual weight yet, you may look more bloated than usual. This is perfectly normal, just be sure to drink up and stock up on as much water as you can. This will help not only with bloating but also with constipation, which is a common side effect for most pregnant women around 14 weeks pregnant and beyond.
There are many causes for constipation during pregnancy, including the increased volume of iron you are consuming to help prevent pregnancy related anemia. Iron can often inspire constipation even in women who normally have no troubles when it comes to their "elimination."
Don't worry, and definitely don't struggle. If you allow constipation to persist you may end up with a case of hemorrhoids. Fortunately you can help reduce your risk by drinking extra water. Exercising also helps because it keeps things "stimulated" in all the right places.
You can also try eating more high fiber foods to help combat constipation during pregnancy. Be careful however, because if you don't normally eat many high fiber foods and then stock up all at once, you will find you are prone to some very serious gas attacks!
Start incorporating fiber into your diet slowly. Good choices may include fruits and vegetables. Select a few and add them in each morning. You might also try some appealing alternatives like fig bars or cookies, which can help loosen things up a bit for pregnant women with constipation.
How Do I Start An Exercise Program During Pregnancy?
Even if you haven't enjoyed a regular physical fitness routine prior to becoming pregnant, you may find you can easily enjoy regular exercise during pregnancy. Exercise is important for pregnant women. It cannot only help ease constipation and bloating but may also help facilitate an easier labor and delivery. A helpful source for safe exercises during pregnancy can be read in the pregnancy book, “Surviving the Joy of Pregnancy”.
Keep in mind during pregnancy your risk for injury is often much higher than when you are not pregnancy. Increasing levels of various hormones throughout your body, including a substance called relaxin, may increase your risk for soft tissue injuries.
Fortunately if you take enough time to warm up and cool down, you should be able to enjoy an exercise program without too many complications. Just be sure to talk with your healthcare provider first. Most women with normal pregnancies can exercise up until the day they deliver.
If you already exercised regularly before becoming pregnant, chances are you can maintain your fitness simply by scaling down your exercise program a bit. I remember jogging at a modified pace throughout my second trimester during my third pregnancy, and then opting for the stair climber as I started to get bigger and bigger during pregnancy.
At all times when exercising during pregnancy remember you should stop if you feel cramping, excessive fatigue, nausea, dizziness or any other alarming symptoms. Don't hesitate to contact your healthcare provider if you have any questions!
Read next about your baby's growth and development, as well as the changes in your body during pregnancy week 15.
