Week 14

Your Baby is about the size of a Lemon!

Your baby now measures about 3.5 inches in size and weighs between 1-2 ounces in weight. This week your baby begins to practice inhaling and exhaling movements. Your babies eyes and ears are continuing to grow and move into their correct position. Your babies neck is now elongating, the chin no longer rests upon the chest. Your babies hands are now functioning and your baby is beginning to learn how to use and move them (this is more reflex than anything technical just yet!).

Your baby now gains nutrition from the placenta and if you were to use a doppler you may now be able to hear your babies heartbeat. Try not to do this at home as often parents to be get stressed out when they cannot find a heartbeat, leave it to the midwife and the process will be much more enjoyable!

You may be experiencing the following symptoms:

• The beginnings of a ‘baby bump’
• Increased energy
• veins may be darker and more visible due to the 40-50% blood volume increase which takes place during pregnancy.
• Areolas of breasts may begin to darken and grow in diameter in order to prepare for feeding your baby.
• acne
• mood swings
• constipation (as the hormones tend to relax the bowel muscles, the uterus also presses against the bowel).
• abdominal aches and pains (due to stretching of the uterus, this is referred to as ’round ligament pain’)
• increased and improved appetite
• cravings
• headaches are common due to blood volume increase.
• Lightheaded/ Dizzy – if this persists see a Doctor.

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