14 weeks of pregnancy

Week 14

Now that you are 14 weeks pregnant, amazing things are happening between your baby and the amniotic fluid. This week, your baby has begun to urinate into the amniotic fluid. This means the amniotic fluid has to replenish itself about every three hours. For this reason, it’s vital that you drink lots of fluids to ensure a clean and happy wombs. Your baby’s lungs are also ‘working’-they are ‘breathing’ in the amniotic fluid.

BABY HAS EYEBROWS NOW

Baby’s hair is sprouting on the head, including fine little eyebrows. Lanugo, that fine, dark hair that grows all over your baby’s body in order to protect the skin, also starts to grow this week. Lanugo will continue growing until just prior to delivery.

There are also some reproductive developments taking place in your womb. For those who are pregnant with boys, the prostate gland is developing; while for those who are having girls, the ovaries are descending down from the abdomen and into the pelvis. And, hormone production starts because the thyroid gland has now matured.

THE SECOND TRIMESTER BEGINS

Congratulations  - now you have made it into the second trimester! You may notice some changes in your body and these are due to hormonal changes; your nipples may be darker and larger and a dark line, called the lines negra, may run from your belly button right to your pelvis bone. At this stage of pregnancy, your uterus will be about the size of a grapefruit.

13 weeks of pregnancy

Week 13

You are 13 weeks pregnant! Your baby now weights around 28 grams, or about one ounce. Baby’s intestines now starting to move from the umbilical cord to the stomach, and the villi are even starting to form in the intestines. Your baby’s pancreas is now formed and functioning and is already secreting insulin.

YOUR PLACENTA

As you get closer to the end of the first trimester of your pregnancy, your placenta has developed and is giving your baby oxygen, nutrients and waste disposal. The placenta also helps to maintain the pregnancy by producing hormones called progesterone and estriol. This week, your baby could put his thumb in his mouth, however the sucking muscles are not entirely developed. Tissue that will eventually form bones is developing around your baby’s head, arms and legs. Also, several ribs may be visible.

Try to make frequent prenatal care visits with your doctor. At these appointments your doctor will check:

• Blood Pressure
• Weight
• Fundal Height (Growth of the Uterus)
• Baby’s Heart Tones
• Urine
• Nutrition. Yous should be taking prenatal vitamins as they help in the growth and development of your baby.

Now that you are past many of the early pregnancy discomforts, you are entering into a great stage in your pregnancy. You are probably have renewed energy are beginning to ‘feel’ pregnant.

Your family and friends will start to notice your pregnancy soon. And if you’ve been hiding the news, it is a very happy occasion when you finally let everyone share in your excitement.

Week 12

Now that you are 12 weeks pregnant, your baby already weights 14 grams, has reflexes and because of muscular development, can even move its limbs! You would now be able to hear you baby’s heart beat with the aid of a Doppler, which your practitioner should have. Your baby’s heart rate will be very fast, at about 160 beats per minute.

HOW DOES MY BABY LOOKS?

Pregnancy weeks 12

ow able to swallow, and its tiny fingernails and toenails are forming.

At this stage of your pregnancy, you should start to feel a little better. You’ll feel less tired and your nausea will begin to subside. Expect compliments on your “pregnancy glow”; the increased blood volume and pregnancy hormones work together to increase oil gland secretion, resulting in flushed, plumper and smoother skin appearance. You’ll also notice the appearance of the line nigra, a dark line drawn from your belly button.

The risk of a miscarriage is now greatly reduced and sits below five per cent. Your placenta is now taking over the production of hormones.