This is the first week in your second trimester, the one a lot
of women find the most comfortable of the three. Your nausea and
exhaustion are likely to have lifted, or are starting to and you
won't be so big that you feel awkward and cumbersome. Expect a
surge of energy in the next few weeks as your body really starts
pumping out those feel good hormones.
When you are 14 weeks pregnant, it is time to look into an
exercise programme specifically designed for pregnant women. It is
important that you start doing pelvic floor exercises now, which
will help your body to support the increasing weight of your
uterus. Many potential problems can be avoided by doing regular,
daily repetitions which will strengthen your pelvic floor
muscles.
If possible, book in with a class of women who will be
experiencing the same changes as yourself. Many long term
friendships have been forged over ante-natal exercise classes,
where it is often impossible not to laugh at yourself, as well as
others. You may find your greatest emotional support is coming from
your female friends around now, close as you are to your partner.
There's just something about shared experiences which sets off a
sense of connection.
your physical changes this week
- Oestrogen is stimulating your skin cells to produce more
darkening pigment from now on. Look for the "Butterfly" mask of
pregnancy which can start on each cheek and extend over your nose
and mouth. This sometimes happens as well, in women taking the oral
contraceptive pill.
- Feeling a little warm? That's because of the huge increase in
your circulating blood volume. Your heart is working very hard to
supply both yours and your baby's body with adequate oxygen. Your
red blood cell count is much higher than when you were not
pregnant, so make sure you are supporting this by eating lots of
iron rich foods such as red meat, green leafy vegetables and
cereals.
- You may feel as if you are not quite with it this week. A
little more forgetful and even vague. Blame those hormones and
Mother Nature. Somehow, the excitement of being pregnant just seems
to eclipse everything else, making most of the daily stress fade
into being almost insignificant.
- If you have a navel piercing, you may want to think about
taking it out around this time. It won't harm the baby but as your
tummy enlarges, it may start rubbing onto your clothing and be
irritating. If you're keen to keep the hole open, just make sure
you re-insert the stud or ring through it every couple of
days.
- At 14 weeks pregnant, your tummy may stick out on some days
more than others. This is probably because of the distention in
your bowels. You will probably find that after you've been to the
bathroom, your tummy is flatter. Don't worry; this is completely
normal at this stage of pregnancy.
- If you have a retroverted uterus, that is one that tilts
backwards rather than to the front, this is around the time it will
right itself. Very occasionally, a retroverted uterus causes
problems with weeing so if this becomes a problem, check with your
doctor.
your emotional changes this week
- As your body is changing, you may be feeling stressed,
wondering if you'll ever look the same. As long as you are careful
about the quantities and type of food you eat and keep up some form
of exercise, your body is more likely to return to its
pre-pregnancy weight. There are good reasons for the changes to a
pregnant woman's shape, so let nature take its course.
- Mood swings may cause you to be up and down this week. One
minute you could be close to tears and the next, almost overcome
with happiness. Because pregnancy is a time of great emotional
changes, you and the people close to you are going to need to learn
to just go with the flow.
- You may be feeling a lot more relaxed about being pregnant and
the anxiety of possible miscarriage is lifting. This frees you up
from extra worry and stress, giving your mind so much more freedom,
simply because you're not dwelling so much on the "what ifs".
your baby's changes this week
- This week your baby's eyelids are fused over their eyes, which
though fully developed, are too sensitive to be exposed to anything
which could irritate them. Your baby may even be growing hair on
its head.
- Your baby's neck is obvious now and instead of its little head
resting on its chest, there's actually a neck separating the two.
Its chin is jutting out more and those little ears which until now,
were positioned quite low down, have moved into their rightful
place on the side of the head.
- Your baby's heartbeat will be beating at around twice the rate
of your own. When you hear it at your ante-natal appointments, it
will sound like a steady and regular beat, making your own beat
just a little faster. Occasionally, the umbilical cord gets in the
way which gives more of a whooshing sound.
- This week your baby is making facial movements such as frowning
and squinting. It's still flickering around in your uterus, making
sudden jumping movements which you won't be aware of. If you've had
a baby before and are extra alert, you may be conscious of these
movements, but you are more likely to be sure of them in the next
couple of weeks.
- If you are having twins or a multiple pregnancy, your tummy may
be much bigger than you expect it to be. One of the first signs of
carrying more than one baby is excessive nausea and being large for
dates. An ultra-sound will soon pick up if there is more than one
baby inside.
- When you are having your ante-natal checks and having your
tummy palpated, the baby will move away from all that gentle
prodding and poking.
hints for the week
- Use your hunger as a prompt for when to eat. You are likely to
be looking at food in a completely new light around now. Make sure
you have plenty of healthy snacks on hand and don't think about
dieting. This isn't the time to be losing weight.
- Don't forget your fibre! Fruit and vegetables are essential as
they are bulk forming and help to push everything along in the
bowel. Fibre and roughage need water to work best, so don't forget
to drink lots of fluids and keep yourself well hydrated. By the
time you are thirsty, you are already partially dehydrated so
remember to sip water frequently through the day. You'll feel so
much better if you do. Water will also help with that brain
fogginess. Well, a bit anyway.
- Planning a holiday? Now's the time to pack your bags and take a
little vacation. The second trimester is the best time to travel,
while you have the energy to enjoy it and the risk of early labour
is reduced. If you intend to fly, check out each airline
restrictions regarding flying during pregnancy. You may need a
letter from your doctor confirming your gestation.
- You might want to go shopping for new clothes this week.
Whether you invest in maternity clothes or just bigger sizes is
entirely up to you. What works for a lot of women is to do a
combination of both. There is a certain thrill to buying maternity
clothes though. There is only a limited time in your life when you
qualify to do so and in some way, they just confirm what you've
known for a while. You are pregnant, you are having a baby. Still
seems amazing doesn't it?
Week 15 to come.