Welcome to Week 14 of Your Pregnancy!
Your Baby in Week 14 of Pregnancy
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Those little hands on your baby are becoming functional in week 14 of pregnancy. They have movements that look like reaching and grasping, but they are probably only reflexes. The tiny movements or reflexes they are practicing now will build their flexibility and coordination so they can grasp things in the future. Right after they are born, they will be able to grasp your finger tightly, which may surprise you.
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Your baby is one of a kind already by week 14 of pregnancy! On your baby’s tiny fingers, the fingerprint is already mapped out. It may not be apparent yet, since their skin in virtually transparent and thin, but their unique fingerprint is in place and will never change.
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During week 14 of pregnancy, lanugo develops to protect the skin. Lanugo is very small, fine hairs that will eventually cover the entire body for the duration of the second trimester and part of the third. The purpose of these hairs is to protect the skin from all of the fluid it is floating in. The lanugo also acts as insulation, and helps to regulate the body temperature of the baby until fat is developed under the skin. Around week 25 or 26, the lanugo will fall off and be ingested by your baby. But don’t worry! This is normal and will become part of baby’s first bowel movement.
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The blood vessels are now connecting the dots in week 14 of pregnancy! The blood vessels and arteries are a complex system running all through the body. During week 14, they have been growing in length and are connecting to each other in various locations. Over the next few weeks, the vessels and arteries will continue to connect and the whole circulatory system will be complete in the next month or so. Then, blood will circulate within the baby and help pass nutrients and hormones within its system.
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One of the other major organs that has significant development in week 14 of pregnancy is the liver. The kidneys are already working and producing urine, but now the liver is working and will produce a bile substance. The liver functions within your baby’s body as a giant processor. Almost anything that enters your baby’s body, such as food, liquid, and even air, is processed via the liver. The liver filters out toxins, from the environment, food, alcohol and whatever else is not needed in the body’s system. Those toxins and waste exit the body in the form of bile.
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Your baby won’t have its first solid bowel movement until after birth, but the liver is already working on it at week 14 of pregnancy…so get ready!
- Your baby can bring its hand up to its mouth, and even put its thumb inside the mouth. The coordination is a little bit off at week 14 of pregnancy, however, so the hand may go up near the eye, the ear or even in the nose! These movements are all practice for future movements when they have better coordination.
- Your baby’s bladder is now functioning by week 14 of pregnancy! It is working in tandem with the kidneys and the urinary tract system to process amniotic fluid and expel it as urine. It is becoming very proficient at this, as it empties its tiny bladder every 35 to 45 minutes around the clock. The urine goes in to the amniotic fluid and is circulated out from baby’s protective sac every three hours or so.
- By the end of week 14 of pregnancy, your baby will have a fully formed roof to their mouth. Once the roof of the mouth is in place, the sinus cavities above it will begin to form above it. The tongue is beginning to develop to its full length also, and will be practicing sucking and swallowing motions using the roof of the mouth.
- The sex of your baby is becoming more pronounced by week 14 of pregnancy. The external organs are continuing to develop into their respective gender, but may still be hard to determine for another few weeks with an ultrasound. A very clear ultrasound, and a cooperative baby may let you tell what it is, but don’t worry if you can’t determine your baby’s gender yet. Time will tell soon enough.
- The joints and muscles have formed enough to where full movement of most of the body is now a possibility. While having full movement, the brain may not be controlling all of the movements and they may only be reflexive in nature. The muscles and joints aren’t at their full size yet, but the structures are all in place around week 14 of pregnancy. The arms can move at the wrist and elbow, even though a full range of motion may not be possible yet. The legs can move at the knee, ankle, and even flex at the hip.
Your Body in Week 14 of Pregnancy
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To ensure the healthy development of muscle and tissue for your baby, eat lots of food that is high in protein. The protein goes directly to muscle production in your baby, as well as for yourself. If you have strong and healthy muscle tissue, it will aid you in the birthing and recovery process. Foods high in protein include meats, dairy and peanut butter.
- You are officially in to your second trimester of your pregnancy when you reach week 14 of pregnancy. The second trimester is a little easier than the first, and a “resting” period before the third. During your second trimester, you may not be as tired, your appetite will come back if it had waned with morning sickness, and best of all, you may have increased libido.
- The added hormones flowing through your system are not only increasing your breast size, but your sexual energy. The thought of sex may never be far from your mind right now, but don’t be alarmed. It’s natural with all of the extra hormones. Take advantage of the feelings now, since you may feel too tired or “big” during your third trimester to have sexual activity.
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