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Week 14
How Big is the Baby at
Fourteen Weeks Pregnant?
Your baby may be anywhere from 3.2 to a
little over 4 inches long by pregnancy week 14, and likely weighs close to one
ounce! Every day of your pregnancy week by week your baby is growing more and
more proportional.
Your Baby's Growth
and Development
By pregnancy 14 weeks your baby's body is growing
quite rapidly. During pregnancy week 14 his length is catching up with his
slightly larger head. The ears have started their move to the sides of the head,
and the eyes continue to get closer and closer together.
During pregnancy
week 14 your baby's neck will elongate, and the chin will start to rise up off
the chest. Your baby's reflexes will also continue to develop this week. By
pregnancy 14 weeks your baby should be receiving their nutrition directly from
the placenta. Remember that everything you put into your body can cross the
placental wall and impact your fetus.
This includes not only things you
eat such as food preservatives, but also things that may come into contact 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 the health and well being of 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.
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 time or another 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.
Your Growth and
Development
At 14 weeks pregnant your tummy should start pouching
a little bit now. Some women find this a welcome change. You may also notice
that you start having additional symptoms such as constipation during pregnancy
at 14 weeks. Constipation is fairly common during pregnancy, and among other
things 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… 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.
Changes in
You
In addition to your expanding belly, at 14 weeks pregnant you
might find yourself more eager than ever to exercise during your second
trimester. Most women will have much more energy during the second trimester to
embark on a fitness program. You may want to join a Pregnancy Exercise program
at BabyFit.com
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. Do 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 allow 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.
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