14th week of pregnancy

Baby’s growth and development

By this time, your baby has covered the most critical portion of his growth, it has grown to 3 and a half inches. The body starts growing faster than the head. The eye-brows start growing. The thick skin covers itself with ultra fine hair called “lanugo”, which generally disappear after birth.
It is now able to make all sorts of actions as to
Frown
Grimace
Squint, etc.
It can even suck its thumb, which as per the researchers is the development of the impulses inside the baby’s brain.

MOTHER’S DEVELOPMENT

(a) How you may feel

You can now very wellsee that the lower abdomen starts pouching out gradually, you may feel excited but then you won’t really look as if you are pregnant for many more weeks to come. Your breasts will seem to be fuller and larger.
You might feel anxiety, there will be emotional breakdowns at times, and all you need to do is to relax. These are very common emotional changes. Your life is changing as and when you feel a new member coming your way. These problems, if in case you are facing, can be shared with close friends, relatives etc.
This can be enjoyed as a baby moon, why not go and spend a happy time with your husband.

(b) Common problems

Backaches, you are carrying the weight of another life inside you which will make you feel a bit burdened.
Sore ankles
Stomach itchiness
Gas and bloating, which increases due to increased flow of progesterone.

(c) Precautions during pregnancy

It is a tender stage when the baby has just begun to grow. Therefore a mother should take a proper diet on time, because since the baby has started swallowing things, she should be careful as she now has an extra mouth to feed.
Eat food that is nutritious, drink safe and purified water
Avoid alcohol and smoking.
Avoid visiting places that are crowded.
Wear comfortable flat footwear, avoiding heels as much as you can.
Do not lift heavy things.
And of course, a regular check up.
Eat enough fruits, pulses, cereals, green vegetables etc.

How dads can help

During this time an expecting mother needs care and support from the family. She expects more of this from her husband. Her moral support is not all that she requires, the husbands must make sure, and that they visit the doctor every time, the wife is called for the check up.
During pregnancy women often feel depressed and thus husbands should take proper care and take their expecting wives out for a ride or on a small vacation. Also pamper your wife and tell her that she looks beautiful with that pregnancy bump. Often women suffer from inferiority complex due to their pregnancy bump.
Other things they can do to help their wives are:
Attend pregnancy classes so that you know what to do during labor pains.
Read blogs and articles related to pregnancy and share it with your wife.
Take extra care of your child’s health.

TIPS

(a) For expecting mothers

It is advised by the doctors that you get an appointment for a screening called the “maternal serum screening”, which provides you the information regarding the growth of the baby, and if any possible birth defects.
If your age is above 35 years of age, then a test called “amniocentesis” between 15 to 18 weeks of pregnancy.

(b) Exercise

Be Regular with the exercises whichever your fitness expert advices. Do not take up or do exercises as you feel like. They might stretch your body and be really painful. Do as the obestrician advices you to do.