The 14th week of pregnancy is the beginning of the second trimester, which for most pregnant women is considered the best. With the disappearance of unpleasant symptoms of the first trimester, the future mother begins to feel very cheerful and ready to perform even incredible feats.
The child at this stage grows and continues to form. His arms are lengthened and become more proportional to the rest of the body. The face of the child this week takes on beautiful forms. Hair and eyebrows begin to grow. The ribs and spine undergo a process of ossification, and the thyroid gland produces hormones. This week the genitals develop - in the boys, the prostate forms, and in girls - the ovaries, which slowly descend from a temporary place in the stomach into the pelvic area. The spleen begins to produce red blood cells, and the liver begins to produce bile. The esophagus, trachea, larynx and vocal cords are also in place - the body prepares for the first cries of the baby.
A growing number of nerve cells causes greater sensitivity in the child, with the exception of the upper part of the head. There are reasons for this. During childbirth, the baby should walk along the birth canal as painlessly as possible. The formation of the brain in a child allows him to grimace, frown and squint his eyes. If there was an opportunity to look at the child, you can see his beautiful smile! He opens and closes his mouth and very often puts his little finger in it and tries to suck it. During this period, a mucous plug begins to form in the cervix , which protects the child from harmful microbes and other negative external factors.
At 14 weeks of gestation, the fetus reaches 10 cm in length and weighs about 25 grams. At this time, the uterus continues to grow quite quickly. The size of the tummy is an individual question. A change in the body shape of a pregnant woman largely depends on the abdominal muscle tone. If the abdomen is not yet visible, it will appear shortly. At this stage of pregnancy, the uterus is approximately the size of a grapefruit. Until this time, a pregnant woman can gain already 5.4 kilograms, of which 900 grams falls on the fetus itself. Therefore, the 14th week of pregnancy is the period when mom begins to feel discomfort in regular underwear, so it is time to shop for special clothes for pregnant women.
The 14th week of pregnancy is also characterized by frequent mood swings. On the one hand, a woman can rejoice that she will soon become a mother, and on the other, stress and emotions can overwhelm her. Thanks to the production of hormones, the hair of many pregnant women looks simply gorgeous. But at the same time, they can be pursued by ruptures of blood vessels, varicose veins, which are also caused by hormones and weight changes.
A common sign of the 14th week is the appearance of the Negra line - a dark brown color that stretches from the navel to the pubic joint, caused by hormonal changes. There is nothing wrong with it - it should also disappear spontaneously after the birth of the baby.
This week, your doctor may suggest an amniocentesis test. Its purpose is to identify chromosomal abnormalities. It is recommended for women aged 35 and over, as well as for those mothers who already have babies with special needs. The analysis involves collecting samples of amniotic fluid from the bladder. True, there is a slight risk of miscarriage. Also, a doctor will prescribe a pregnant woman to do an ultrasound of 14 weeks of pregnancy. Already an experienced uzist will be able to see the sex of the future baby.
The 14th week of pregnancy is the time when symptoms such as constipation may appear, which is associated with an increase in progesterone, which slows down the intestines. At this time, it is better to drink more water and consume fiber-rich foods.