14 weeks pregnant
Our guide to your 14th week of pregnancy
Your Baby
Making facial expressions is new to your baby so this week he or she will be frowning, squinting, pouting and grimacing. It might also be the first time it sucks its thumb.
The kidneys, liver and spleen are preparing for autopilot mode. The kidneys are now producing urine, albeit in a diluted form; the liver is creating bile that will be used to clean the body’s internal systems and the spleen is getting ready to produce red blood cells independently of the placenta.
You
Compared to how you felt during your first trimester, the first few weeks of your second trimester are a breeze. You’ve not yet put on much weight and you do not feel sick or lethargic any more. In fact you are raring to go with libido and energy levels returning.
Sex is not necessarily a problem during pregnancy. However, you may have to experiment with new positions that accommodate your changing shape.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things on the planet and is the best way of providing your baby with the nutrients it needs to grow up to be strong and healthy. However, it’s not for everyone and some women choose to do it longer than others or not at all. Whether you choose to breastfeed or not that is your decision and yours alone. Here are some of the facts.
You start developing milk-producing cells as soon as you become pregnant. It is these changes that cause your breasts to swell and feel tender in the early stages of pregnancy.
You will begin to make milk from around 16 weeks, although this varies from woman to woman. You could start leaking milk from this point, so you might find breast pads offer some protection for your clothes.
The milk produced at these early stages is called colostrum and it is yellow and creamy. It’s a good idea to rub some of this milk onto your nipples to keep them healthy.
As your body produces more milk your breasts will grow further and by the time you give birth they could feel as though they are ready to pop. Breastfeeding itself can provide some relief although it can also be quite painful as the nipples are still tender.
In the final stages of pregnancy you should abandon your moisturising regime, which you may have begun to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. The small Montgomery glands in your breasts will secrete their own natural moisturiser and a unique smell that your baby will use to navigate itself to your breasts.
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