Your Pregnancy at Week 14

You may not be able to hide that baby bump much longer. By week 14, most women "pop." This is because your uterus rests atop your pubic bone, which tends to push your belly out a bit.

By week 14, you may experience the unwanted symptom of constipation. This is because pregnancy slows your digestive system, and your regular dosage of prenatal vitamins contains iron. Although iron helps prevent anemia, it can contribute to constipation. To help combat this, drink at least ten 8-ounce glasses of water per day, which will help you keep your intestines and baby healthy! You should also eat foods high in fiber, such as lentils, black beans, lima beans, whole wheat pasta, pears, or peas.

Another way to cure constipation is exercise! Light or moderate walking can help loosen your bowels and relieve bloating. Alternating hot and cold beverages may also naturally stimulate your bowels (and reduce gas). You can try munching on ice chips and then have a warm cup of decaffeinated tea. Talk with your midwife or healthcare practitioner with any questions or concerns. Your doctor may even recommend a safe stool softener to take during pregnancy.

This week, you may be feeling some, or all, of the symptoms listed below.

Increased energy: a most welcome symptom– the second trimester is known for providing a “boost” of increased energy. This is most likely due to the fact that nausea is decreasing and the placenta is taking over a lot of the heavy lifting for processing nutrients for your growing baby. Enjoy the surge of energy and take advantage of it to do some nesting or fun things you may have to take a break from once the baby arrives. 

Increased libido: Your sex drive may kick-in to hyperdrive as nausea fades and higher blood flow results in increased sensitivity. As your pregnancy progresses you may have to get more creative with positioning, but sex is considered perfectly safe for most, so enjoy!

Increased appetite: as nausea subsides and growth picks-up, your appetite may be growing too! Enjoy your newfound appetite as many favorite foods may taste better than ever during pregnancy! 

Round ligament pain: As your uterus continues to stretch and accommodate your growing baby, surrounding ligaments will also stretch. This may result in short, sharp pain. Rest is the best solution for round ligament pain, but talk to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing continuous pain that is not stopping.

Darkened areolas: the colored portion around your nipple is called the areola and you may notice some slight (or significant) darkening during pregnancy. It is believed that this may occur to make the breasts easier for newborns to find. 

Constipation, gas, and/or bloating: hormonal changes that slow digestion can also trigger constipation, bloating, and/or gas. This may be especially true as your increased appetite has you enjoying more foods. Take care to stay hydrated, up your fiber intake, and talk to your doctor if you are still experiencing constipation.

Larger breasts: as your breasts continue to respond to hormonal changes and prepare for lactation, you may notice an increase in size. Breast size has no bearing on milk production however, so don’t fear if you are hoping to breastfeed and don’t notice much significant change.

Have you thought much about your registry? If not, you should! Just remember, creating a registry that covers your needs should be a lot of fun. It should not be stressful! It can be difficult to know where to start, when to start, and what to choose as there are many baby products on the market and many markets with baby product registry.

First, do your Internet research.If you already know which store you want to register at, look at its baby gear department. If there is a specific product you want to register for, make sure the store has your product in stock. Read the reviews for any major item you are considering. If a stroller has received consistent, bad reviews from people using it, at least take it for a test drive before deciding it's the one for you. It is also helpful if you can start your registry online.