Mom’s Tip of the Week 14
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Your immune system needs strong support right now. You naturally suppress the mechanisms normally used to fend off germs in order to allow your baby to be accepted by your body. To boost your chances of staying well at 14 weeks pregnant and beyond, steer clear of people who are sick, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, make sure you’re getting a nutrient-packed diet, and get a flu shot.
Your Baby at 14 Weeks Pregnant
What’s Happening in There
- Your baby is now three and a half inches long and weighs about one and a half ounces. Her head still makes up half of her size, but her body will catch up within the next few weeks.
- Soft, fine hair appears on your baby’s face.This is called lanugo, and it will continue to cover her entire body. Don’t worry; she’ll shed it right before delivery.
- She is continuing to grow and develop—inside and out. When you’re 14 weeks pregnant, her arms are lengthening and falling into better proportion with the rest of her body. Her neck is more defined. Internally, her spleen, which will eventually be responsible for filtering red blood cells and creating white blood cells to help fight infections, has begun forming red blood cells. Around week 21 her bone marrow will start taking over the job of making red blood cells and the spleen will stop by week 30.
- Her senses are maturing. Your baby is moving her eyes, and her taste buds are developing. Both sensory developments will help her discover her world and begin to learn—even before birth.
- The genitals are fully developed when you’re 14 weeks pregnant. Baby girls start developing ovarian follicles and boys start forming their prostate this week. Your baby also has a fully matured thyroid gland, which is producing thyroid hormones. The thyroid plays an essential role in metabolism—regulating the energy body cells need to work together to keep the heart beating strong, the brain maturing, and much more.
Baby Brain Waves
Your Baby’s Brain Is Developing
Your baby’s brain is preparing for its most important growth spurt, beginning in month five.Right now, your baby’s senses are heightening, thanks to developments in both brain and body. A sense of touch is present on most of her body, and she will soon be making facial expressions, though they don’t yet correspond with how she’s feeling.
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