14th week of pregnancy: The 14th week of pregnancy at a glance
Your baby diligently consumes the amniotic fluid in the 14th week of pregnancy, but at the same time is involved in its production. Isn’t that a funny idea?
In thesecond trimester of your pregnancy, i.e. from the 14th week of pregnancy, your need for information increases. You want to know how your baby will change andhow the birth will go.
Index
ToggleThe development of your baby in the 14th week of pregnancy
Your uterus is about the size of a small melon in the 14th week of pregnancy. Well protected from external influences, your 24 gram heavy and 7.5 centimeters tall baby swims in the amniotic fluid. It swallows the slightly sweetish liquid and excretes it again via the kidneys. On the one hand, it consumes the amniotic fluid, on the other hand, it is involved in the production with the excretion of its urine. Within three hours, the amniotic fluid is completely replaced.
In the 14th week of pregnancy, around 100 milliliters of amniotic fluid are available, which are sufficient for initial swallowing exercises and physical training for muscle building in weightlessness. If you want to make sure that your baby does not suffer from hereditary diseases, malformations or chromosomal abnormalities, you can have anamniocentesisdone in the next few weeks. From the 14th week of pregnancy, ultrasound can also detect the sex of the child.
Your body in the 14th week of pregnancy
The identification with your baby and the future mother role becomes stronger and stronger. The ultrasound examination around the 14th week of pregnancy supports this even more, as the heart sounds of your baby are audible for the first time and the figure of the little person is clearly recognizable. This also triggers an increased desire for information: about the course ofpregnancy, about the development of the baby and about thebirth. Together with the increased estrogen level, the changed life situation can also draw attention to itself at night – by suffering fromsleep disorders, waking up again and again or constantly looking at the clock before the alarm clock rings.
Questions about the 14th week of pregnancy
How big is the belly in the 14th week of pregnancy?
At the 14th week of pregnancy, the belly begins to grow visibly. The baby is going through a big developmental boost and therefore needs more space. Vomiting and nausea decrease significantly in the 14th week of pregnancy and ensure that you will also gain noticeable weight. Weight gainvaries from woman to woman. According to guideline values, most women in the 14th week of pregnancy gain between 1.3 and 2.5 kilograms. Soon it will also be visible to outsiders that a baby is on the way.
Can I already feel my baby in the 14th week of pregnancy?
In the 14th week of pregnancy, your little baby still has plenty of space in the womb and uses the opportunity for lively child movements. So there is a lot going on in your stomach without you feeling anything of it. But that will soon change in the coming weeks. Many women give the 20th week of pregnancy as the time when they perceive the child movements for the first time. But this varies from woman to woman, just as every pregnancy is individual.
Are there older siblings?
Have you already had children and haven’t told them about your pregnancy? Then it is high time for them to understand the change in your body and prepare for it. There are many beautiful books for all ages that will help you.
One more trip before the child arrives?
Many couples use the second trimester of pregnancy again for a nice and relaxed holiday for two. It will probably be the last time you can do this so easily for a long time. Read here what to consider whenflying during pregnancy.
What does 14th week of pregnancy mean?
If you are in the 14th week of pregnancy, your embryo is 12 weeks old. Because there is a difference between the age and the week of pregnancy. The first two weeks of pregnancy only serve to calculate the approximate date of delivery. Thus, the calculation begins about two weeks before fertilization, with the first day of the last period.
It is counted as follows – if you are in the 14th week of pregnancy, you are in the 13th week and x days pregnant:
- 13+0= 1st day of the 14th week of pregnancy
- 13+1 = 2nd day of the 14th week of pregnancy
- 13+2 = 3rd day of the 14th week of pregnancy
- 13+3 = 4th day of the 14th week of pregnancy
- 13+4 = 5th day of the 14th week of pregnancy
- 13+5 = 6th day of the 14th week of pregnancy
- 13+6 = 7th day of the 14th week of pregnancy
Tips and hints for the 14th week of pregnancy
The second check-up
Between the 13th and 16th week of pregnancy,the second check-upis due. The gynaecologist or midwife will now check the situation of your child, as well as his heart sounds again. In addition, the fundus level, i.e. the growth of your uterus, your waist circumference, your weight and your blood pressure are measured. It may still be possible to undergo vaginal examinations to check the cervix and the position of the child.
Measurement of skull-breech length (SSL)
The verification of the gestational age by means of the so-called skull-breech length (SSL) or the transverse diameter of the head are among the most important components of the first major ultrasound examination. If the SSL is measured correctly, a very reliable determination of pregnancy progress (week of pregnancy) is possible – with an accuracy of up to 2.5 days. You can find out more about this measurement in our article “Ultrasound examinations“.
Nasal bone measurement
At the end of the first trimester, the nasal bone appears under the skin in the area of the bridge of the nose. Its length is between the 12th and 15th week of pregnancy two to four millimeters. The measurement can be carried out in the 14th week of pregnancy if thenuchal translucency measurementis borderline. It is primarily used for the diagnosis oftrisonomy 21 (Down syndrome)Â by providing an additional parameter for the risk calculation of thefirst trimester screening.
Children whose nasal bone is not yet visible at this time have a 150 times higher risk of suffering from trisonomy 21 than children whose nasal bone can be seen at this time. However, the assessment is not always possible even for experienced examiners. The formation of the nasal bone also depends on ethnicity.
Nuchal fold measurement
A nuchal fold measurement can be carried out between the 11th and 14th week of pregnancy. In this special ultrasound examination, the nuchal fold is measured and the fluid accumulating there is analyzed. This examination is intended to reduce the risk of possible trisomies, cardiac and skeletal errors.
Folic acid from the 14th week of pregnancy
Folic acid belongs to the vitamin B group. During pregnancy, your body needs twice as much folic acid as usual. Folic acid is important for the development of the baby, especially for the nervous system. Experts recommend taking folic acid from the 12th week of pregnancy. You should clarify the dosage with your doctor.
Registration for the birth preparation course
Get information aboutbirth preparation coursesnow and register in time. Most courses are closed groups that fill up quickly. This is especially true for weekend courses. Your course should start at least twelve weeks before the expected date of birth.