Pregnancy Week 14
 How big is your baby?
This week your baby measures 8.7cm (3.42 inches) and weighs in at around 43g (1.52 ounces).
This is about the size of your fist.
Your baby's development
Your babys ears have now moved from their normal
position from the neck to the side of the head, and although the eyes are still
moving to their final resting place it wont be long until they settle.
Your babys hands continue to develop and are now becoming more and more
functional - as your baby is beginning to use his/her thumb and fingers.
There has been lots of development around your babys mouth recently. The roof of
the mouth has been completed for a few weeks now, and this development continues
with the development of the sucking muscles and the completion of the salivary
glands which should begin to function during this week.
By the end of this week your baby will begin to make breathing, sucking and
swallowing motions as the oesophagus, windpipe and the larynx are now present.
The sexual organs continue to develop and it will be getting easier and easier to establish the sex of your baby by examining the external genitalia
by ultrasound.
Your development
Maternity clothes may be a must for you by now as your weight gain continues, this may also be influenced by any previous pregnancies which you may have had. Many women who have been pregnant before may 'show' sooner than those who are having their first pregnancy.
Having earlier pregnancies may not mean that you will gain the same amount of
weight as each pregnancy differs from one to another.
Many women suffer from hemorrhoids during their pregnancy. hemorrhoids are dilated blood vessels around or inside the anus and are caused by the increase in blood flow to the uterus and pelvic area, and may tend to worsen towards the end of the pregnancy.
Relieving the discomfort of hemorrhoids:
 Rest at least 1 hour everyday with your feet and hips elevated
Lie with your legs elevated and knees slightly apart when sleeping
Eat adequate amounts of fiber
Drink lots of fluid
Take warm baths for relief
Apply ice packs or cotton balls swathed in witch hazel to affected area
Don't sit or stand for long periods
Another common symptom of pregnancy is constipation, so be aware of what you are
eating. Try and maintain a healthy diet with a variety of different foods,
eating smaller meals, exercising regularly and taking in at least 8 glasses of water a day.
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