14 weeks of pregnancy : what can you expect at this stage and what month is it ? What is the size of the fetus and what does the baby look like on an ultrasound at 14 weeks ? What changes occur in a woman's body during this time? Can you feel the baby's movements through the abdomen at 14 weeks?
The 14th week is the beginning of not only the next month, but also the second trimester of pregnancy, which for many women can be the most pleasant stage of waiting for a baby. The resolution of the symptoms of early pregnancy gives you a greater opportunity to focus on the positive aspects of the upcoming motherhood. Future mothers observe the changing abdomen on a daily basis - ultrasound images at 14 weeks allow them to find out what the baby looks like.
14 weeks pregnant: what month is it?
Doctors typically provide pregnancy information in weeks and days – week 14 begins at 13,1 (week 13 + 1 day) and ends at 14,0 (week 14 + 0 days). For medical reasons, accuracy is crucial, so every expectant mother should also estimate her gestational age in this way. When determining gestational age, it's important to remember that the actual gestational age is estimated by the doctor during a first-trimester ultrasound and confirmed during subsequent examinations, i.e., second- and third-trimester ultrasounds.
For those around them, however, the 14th week can be confusing, hence the frequent questions: 14 weeks? What month is it? Expectant mothers can then answer that they are at the beginning of the second trimester and in the fourth month. Compared to the hormonal flurry of early pregnancy or the discomforts associated with its end, 14 weeks and the fourth month are a time that many women experience calmly and without complications.
14 weeks of pregnancy: ultrasound of the abdominal wall
By now, every woman should have at least one transabdominal ultrasound (the 14th week is the last chance for the compulsory 13,6st trimester ultrasound - performed up to 14 weeks). It shows the baby's movements, the size of the fetus and most of its appearance. During the 6,7th week of pregnancy, the size of the fetus increases from 8 cm to 93 cm (CRL - parietal length). On average, it then weighs XNUMX g.
Due to the fact that the fetus is getting bigger and better developed, starting from the XNUMXnd trimester, ultrasound also determines other dimensions concerning different parts of the body, e.g .:
- head circumference at the widest point (HC) head circumference) - in the second semester it allows to estimate the age of pregnancy;
- femur length (FL) femur length) - helpful in determining the age of pregnancy and limb length
- the circumference of the abdomen at the level of the liver and stomach (AC) abdominal circumference) - allows you to assess whether the child's development is harmonious.
The condition of the internal organs is assessed during a routine 2D ultrasound - you can then. see also details, e.g. facial features of the fetus and check for so-called hare lip (cleft lip or palate). Obtaining a three-dimensional, clearer image is possible using 3D ultrasound - pictures from the inside of the abdomen in this technique allow you to more accurately see what the baby looks like in the 14th week of pregnancy.
14th week of pregnancy: ultrasound pictures and the sex of the child
In the 14th week of pregnancy, many expectant parents would like to know whether a boy or a girl will be born. Compared to previous weeks, it can be much easier due to the size of the fetus, but it is better not to choose the test with the assumption that the 14th week of pregnancy will provide XNUMX% certain information about the sex. If the ultrasound through the abdomen allows the doctor to see her in the pictures, he asks the parents if they want to know her and provides this information on their request.
However, if the image is blurry or the baby's back is turned, it's difficult to determine whether it's a boy or a girl. 3D and 4D ultrasounds offer the best chance of seeing what the baby looks like at 14 weeks and what its gender will be, but even the most modern equipment and the experience of the doctor performing the examination won't guarantee this.
At this stage of pregnancy, all of the baby's already developed organs are developing and maturing. Nails are becoming visible on the toes, and facial features are beginning to resemble those of a newborn. The head gradually straightens and becomes less dominant in relation to the rest of the body.
14 weeks pregnant: belly and other changes in mom's body
The uterus, along with amniotic fluid, weighs about 0,5 kg at this stage . This means that the belly will be clearly visible in bikini photos from the 14th week of pregnancy, although it can often still be hidden under loose clothing. The uterus, which at this time is about 6 cm below the navel, can even be felt through the abdomen.
Enlarging breasts can still be slightly tender. Pregnancy at 14 weeks can also mean exceptionally sensitive gums . Therefore, it's recommended to have your oral health checked early, as not all procedures can be performed at this stage, and tooth decay is particularly aggressive. If your gums are bleeding, the remedy is to switch to a softer toothbrush.
The least pleasant symptoms of pregnancy at 14 weeks include:
- frequent visits to the toilet,
- nose bleeds
- pain in the back and lower abdomen.
Pains in the abdomen and spine are related not so much to the size of the fetus, but to the activity of hormones and the stretching of the uterus while waiting for the growing baby.
14 weeks of pregnancy and the baby's movements
Many women at 14 weeks of pregnancy mistake the baby's movements for the growing and shifting uterus, which begins to press on surrounding organs. Add to this the intestinal and digestive problems typical of this stage of pregnancy (including indigestion and bloating), and 14 weeks may prove to be a time when the expectant mother mistakes these for the baby's first movements.
In fact, the fetus still has a lot of room in the uterus, which means it can move freely and without pushing through the womb. As for the movements performed at this time, there are quite a lot of them. The fetus swallows amniotic fluid, trains the digestive and excretory systems, makes breathing movements, exercises the legs, can also change facial expressions (facial expressions) and suck the thumb. Although when assessing the size of the fetus on ultrasound in the 14th week of pregnancy, you can see the baby's movements, but not yet feel them through the abdomen, e.g. by putting your hand to it.
The lack of baby movements felt by the future mother in the 14th week is therefore completely natural and no conclusions should be drawn from this, for example, about miscarriage.
Recommendations for the 14th week of pregnancy and the beginning of the second trimester
A large number of mothers in the 14th week of pregnancy already have the most tiring symptoms of the first trimester, such as nausea, and the abdomen and the size of the fetus are not yet so large as to interfere with everyday functioning. However, it may happen that the discomforts typical of early pregnancy persist until it is halfway through or even longer.
What is worth remembering when you are 14 weeks pregnant?
- By the end of the 14th week it must be done the second urinalysis during pregnancy - recommended between weeks 11-14. Blood morphology should be checked monthly (4-5 weeks) throughout pregnancy.
- The 14th week of pregnancy is the last chance to perform the PAPP-A test, i.e. measuring the concentration of PAPP-a protein and free beta hCG in the blood of a future mother. It is recommended along with prenatal ultrasound to assess the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in the fetal DNA (trisomy).
- At the beginning of the second trimester in pregnant women energy demand increaseswhich is related to tissue development (enlargement of the uterus and mammary glands, increase in plasma volume, accumulation of adipose tissue). Assuming an average body weight (approx. 65 kg) and moderate physical activity, the diet should provide the body with 285 kcal more per day, compared to the period before pregnancy, when the recommended energy intake is 2200 kcal.
- In the second trimester, future mothers should still take care of a sufficient level of folic acid - the recommended daily dose is then 0,6-0,8 mg.
- When it comes to immunization during pregnancy, the second trimester is the optimal time for vaccination against influenza and Covid-19.
Consultation:
Ph.D. n. med. prof. IMID Tadeusz Issat - Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at the Institute of Mother and Child;
Maria Krowicka-Wasyl – resident physician during specialization in gynecology and obstetrics, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Institute of Mother and Child.
Źródła:
Fetal Size and Dating: Charts Recommended for Clinical Obstetric Practice, ULTRASOUND, August 2009, Volume 17, No. 3
Estimating Fetal Gestational Age, Radiology Key
Fetal Development, Perinatology.com
