14 weeks pregnant: pregnancy symptoms and your baby’s development  

At this stage in your pregnancy, you’re now firmly into your second trimester. You may have had your first scan, and things might be starting to feel a little more real, especially if you’ve told friends and family that there’s a baby on the way.

Some women describe this trimester as one of the more enjoyable stages of pregnancy, as the tiredness and nausea start to ease, and they feel more energetic, and boats what’s often referred to as the ‘second trimester glow’! Around now, you may look ahead to things like antenatal classes, pain relief, breastfeeding, and other baby feeding options.

Here we’ll explore what you can expect at week 14 of your pregnancy journey.

14 weeks in months is just under four. You’re now in your fourth month of pregnancy and well into your second trimester. 

At 14 weeks pregnant, your baby is likely starting to swallow some amniotic fluid. When your baby swallows this fluid, it moves through their stomach to their kidneys, which are now beginning to function. Your baby will then pass this as urine¹.  

If you go for an ultrasound scan, you might now be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat¹. If you’re thinking about screening for Edwards syndrome, Patau’s syndrome and Down’s syndrome, this will be the last opportunity for the combined test. If you miss your scan, or you change your mind about having the screening, you will be offered a quadruple test between 14 and 20 weeks of your pregnancy, although this is not as accurate².

Measuring around 8.5 cm long from their head to their bottom, at 14 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a kiwi fruit. They’re looking a little more in proportion this week, as their head is getting rounder and their body starts to catch up in size¹.

In addition, your baby’s eyelids are developing, although they remain closed for now. Their tiny ears are fully formed and in place, but it will be a little while yet until they can hear sounds³.

By now, you may have noticed the beginnings of a 14-week bump as your baby grows. Let’s look at what else is happening inside your body at 14 weeks pregnant.

Your baby will be kicking and moving around in your uterus at 14 weeks pregnant. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll feel this just yet, especially if this is your first baby. You won’t have to wait too long to feel those first kicks, though, with most women experiencing this anywhere between weeks 16 and 24, not long to wait now! 

Since early in your pregnancy, your body has been growing a whole new organ - the placenta. Along with your baby, the placenta has been growing since you became pregnant, and by 14 weeks, it will be fully formed¹.

The placenta is full of blood and is essentially your baby’s lifeline. It sends them nutrients, oxygen and hormones through the umbilical cord, removing waste products like carbon dioxide, and creating the perfect conditions for your baby to grow¹.

As early as 14 weeks of pregnancy, your body prepares for breastfeeding. You might start to notice your first milk coming through, which could show up as yellowish stains in your bra. This first milk, called colostrum, is packed with nutrition that will be great for your baby¹.

Some people collect their colostrum to give their baby an extra boost once they’re born, but you should ideally wait until the later stages of pregnancy if that’s something you’d like to do⁴. You can always ask your midwife for advice about colostrum during your antenatal appointments.

Some or most of your first-trimester symptoms might be fading now. However, whilst some women report feeling more energetic, others will continue to experience pregnancy symptoms well into the later stages of pregnancy. You’ll find some common pregnancy symptoms below. 

While your baby grows, your body changes to make room for them. Sometimes, this can cause twinging pain in the side of your abdomen as your ligaments stretch. This is called round ligament pain⁵.

Most of the time, round ligament pain is nothing to worry about. But if you’re experiencing abdominal pain accompanied by vaginal bleeding and spotting, unusual vaginal discharge, or lower back pain, talk to your midwife or doctor right away⁶.

All the hormones moving around your body during pregnancy can make you feel faint or dizzy. If you have low blood pressure, this can also contribute too. To help avoid this and minimise symptoms, avoid standing up too quickly, sit down if you feel faint, and avoid lying on your back; opt for lying on your side instead⁶. Staying hydrated can also help to ease your symptoms here.

Headaches are another common pregnancy symptom. Most pregnant women find that they improve as their pregnancy progresses. It’s usually safe to take paracetamol during your pregnancy, but always speak with your doctor or midwife beforehand so that they can provide you with the advice you need⁷.  

It’s common to experience nosebleeds during pregnancy because of changes to hormones and increased blood pumping around the body⁸.

Nosebleeds can be unsettling, especially if you’re not used to them. Try to stay calm and follow these steps⁸:

• Sit down and pinch the soft part of your nose for around 10 minutes.
• Lean forward and breathe through your mouth. 
• To prevent another nosebleed from coming on, avoid bending down, blowing your nose, or doing anything strenuous for 24 hours after your nosebleed. 

The hormonal changes currently happening in your body can leave you feeling bloated. This is because the increased progesterone helps the muscles in your uterus to relax and accommodate your growing baby. This can sometimes result in your digestive muscles relaxing too, causing excess wind and bloating⁹. 

Constipation is a common pregnancy symptom that can lead to bloating¹⁰. One way to ease these symptoms is to ensure you get plenty of fibre in your diet through wholemeal bread, fruit, and vegetables.

Your changing hormones combined with your growing baby pressing on your stomach can make it more difficult to digest your food, leading to indigestion and heartburn¹¹.

If you’re getting symptoms like a burning sensation in your chest or bringing up food, try to avoid foods that are too rich or spicy, and eat smaller meals more often to avoid feeling too full¹¹.

Your body tends to hold onto more water than usual while pregnant, which can mean you get swelling in your hands, ankles and feet. Other things that can cause swelling include¹²:

• Your growing uterus putting extra pressure on your body, affecting the blood flow to your legs. 
• Standing for too long - the perfect excuse to put your feet up!
• Hot weather. 

If swelling in your hands, feet or face comes on suddenly with a bad headache or problems with your vision, this can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, so get in touch with your midwife or GP immediately¹².

You might notice patches of darker skin on your face during pregnancy, known as ‘chloasma faciei’ or, sometimes, ‘the mask of pregnancy’. It’s likely to fade on its own after pregnancy¹³.

Your breasts will go through a number of changes during pregnancy. You may notice that they become bigger, and that your nipples become darker and stand out more. It’s also not unusual for your breasts to feel sore and tingly¹⁴.  

Plenty of vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli, cereal grains, vegetable oils, and small amounts in meat and dairy¹⁵.

You should be able to get all the vitamin K you and your baby need from a healthy, well-balanced diet. And because it’s fat-soluble, your body stores unused vitamin K in the liver, so you don’t need to include it in your diet every single day¹⁶.

If your baby doesn’t get enough vitamin K during pregnancy, they can develop a rare bleeding disorder after birth. This is why you’ll be asked if you want your baby to be given a booster injection just after birth, which is something your midwife will discuss with you as part of your antenatal care. You might also consider putting it in your birth plan¹⁷.

From antenatal classes to eating well, here are some things you’ll likely be thinking about in week 14 of your pregnancy.

Your 12-week scan (or ‘dating scan’) will be offered when you’re between 10 and 14 weeks pregnant, so there’s a good chance you’ve already had yours by now¹⁷. This scan checks how far along you are in your pregnancy and how your baby is developing.

If you haven’t been offered a scan yet, and you’ve chosen to have one, contact your midwife to check that an appointment is on its way.

You might think it’s a little early to think about antenatal classes, but bear in mind that they can get booked quickly, so it’s never too soon to put your name down.

You don’t have to attend antenatal classes, but they can provide lots of helpful information, especially if this is your first baby. They’re also a great way to meet other expectant parents to share the journey with.

Staying active during pregnancy has many benefits for you and your baby, as long as you exercise safely.

It’s also a very good idea to work on strengthening your pelvic floor muscles to help you prepare for labour and avoid leaking urine during pregnancy¹⁸. They’re fairly easy to incorporate into your daily routine, and here’s how to get started¹⁸:

• Sit or lie down with your knees bent 
• Squeeze the muscles of your pelvic floor together as though you’re trying not to wee
• Squeeze in short bursts at first, then try to slow each squeeze down 
• Do three sets of eight squeezes every day

While you don’t need to follow a specific diet during your pregnancy, there are some foods that you should avoid, such as¹⁹:

• Raw and undercooked meat
• Unpasteurised milk and dairy products
• Liver and any foods that have a high concentration of vitamin A

There’s currently no guidance advising against using nail polish while pregnant. This is because it’s applied externally and isn’t absorbed by the body (20). There are several non-toxic varieties of nail polish available.  

Pregnancy weight gain varies from woman to woman, but to give you a general idea, most women gain between 10kg and 12.5kg during pregnancy²¹.

At 14 weeks pregnant, you probably won’t feel your baby move just yet, as this usually happens between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first pregnancy, your baby’s movements might not be noticeable until after 20 weeks²².

This is a really good time to start connecting and bonding with your body and your baby. If you can, try to set some time aside to lay down, relax, and talk to your baby as you stroke your tummy. It’s never too soon to get your baby used to the sound of your voice.

Most pregnant women don’t start getting a baby bump until around week 12, especially if it’s a first pregnancy. Women who have been pregnant before might start showing sooner. This is because the muscles in their uterus might have been stretched by their previous pregnancy²³.  

Yes, you can. However, as your bump grows, lying on your stomach may become uncomfortable, making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep.

When you reach your third trimester, it’s best to avoid sleeping on your back. This is safer for your baby, so aim to sleep on your side instead¹.  

The answer is, we don’t know. Some studies have suggested that babies in the womb get hungry, which could be linked to when and why pregnant women feel hungry, too. However, more research is needed here²⁴.