Your 14-week pregnant belly might be feeling achy and sore, but that's simply because your uterus is expanding to accommodate your rapidly growing baby. Don't be surprised if weight gain starts to speed up at 14 weeks pregnant.
But remember: Your 14 weeks pregnant belly is normal no matter how big or small it is. All expectant women carry baby differently depending on their height and figure, and whether this is their first pregnancy or not.
The size of your bump can be affected by all sorts of factors. The position of your baby in your womb (uterus) can make your bump look bigger. You may also have a bigger bump if you're carrying twins or more. If you're expecting your second or subsequent baby, you may also tend to have a larger bump.
Although excessive weight gain during pregnancy is sometimes linked to larger birth weights, a bigger baby bump doesn't always mean a big baby. It's hard to ignore or not be bothered by comments about how "huge" you're getting. (On the flip side, many women also catch flak for not looking pregnant enough.)
Your Pregnant Belly: Third Trimester (Weeks 28 to 40)
And as baby starts to put on more inches and ounces, they'll continue pushing your belly outwards, creating a sensation of fullness or tightness in your tummy. (Between 28 and 40 weeks, your cutie will grow from the size of an eggplant to a small pumpkin!)
You may start to show around 14 weeks as your uterus expands for your growing baby. Some pregnant bellies start to show earlier or later, so if you're not showing at 14 weeks, watch for your bump to appear in the coming weeks.
First-time moms usually don't start to notice a bump until they're around at least 16 weeks pregnant – for many moms-to-be, it can be even later than that.
Weight gain depends in part on your body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy. During your first 12 weeks—the first trimester—you may gain only 1 to 5 pounds or no weight at all. In your second and third trimesters, if you were a healthy weight before pregnancy, you should gain between half a pound and 1 pound per week.
Your recommended weight gain range for pregnancy will depend on what your body mass index (BMI) was before you became pregnant. The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend that women who are: at a healthy weight (BMI 18.5-24.9) gain 11.5-16 kg. overweight (BMI 25-29.9) gain 7-11.5 kg.
During the second trimester, you should see a weight gain of about 0.5 to 1 pound per week. This is not all weight that goes onto your baby's body, naturally. Instead, your increased blood volume, blood red cell count, uterine size, and fat stores account for this gain in weight.
However, big changes happen in the second trimester, which allows your little one to feel touch and respond to it. Researchers have discovered babies as early as 21 weeks gestation show a response to their mother's touch from the outside.
When does your belly start feeling hard during pregnancy? This varies, but it's usually during your second or third trimester. As your uterus grows, it eventually pushes against your abdominal wall, making your abdomen feel firm. The muscles and ligaments around your uterus stretch, too, which can cause mild cramping.
By week 14 the risk of experiencing a miscarriage is less than 1% which is why many women choose to not share news of the pregnancy until they reach the second trimester.
The top of your uterus is a bit above your pubic bone, which may be enough to push your tummy out a tad. Starting to show can be quite a thrill, giving you and your partner visible evidence of the baby you're waiting for.
So, start with the number of weeks you're pregnant, then add two to that number and also subtract two from that number. This simple math will give you the range your pregnant belly size should be within. For example, belly measurement at 30 weeks should be between 28 and 32 centimeters.
Some women can feel their baby move as early as 15 weeks, while others don't notice it until closer to 20 to 22 weeks. It varies for each person and depends on a number of factors. There's no difference in the health of a baby whose movements are felt sooner rather than later.
Your Pregnant Belly at 14 Weeks
Your 14-week pregnant belly might be feeling achy and sore, but that's simply because your uterus is expanding to accommodate your rapidly growing baby. Don't be surprised if weight gain starts to speed up at 14 weeks pregnant.
Hard fat raises LDL cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Soft fat can lower LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Exercise increases hard fat, improving metabolism and calorie burning.
If you're in your second or third trimester of pregnancy and you notice that sometimes your pregnant belly gets very hard, feels tight, and even causes mild discomfort, you're probably experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions.
For some moms-to-be, constantly touching, patting, rubbing and holding their belly can be soothing. For others, it's a way to feel close to the baby inside.
Even in your third trimester of pregnancy, bending is still considered safe for your baby. You'll probably find it becomes increasingly difficult for you, though, if not impossible. Apart from your extra body weight, the size of your belly is increasing.
Research has shown that, during pregnancy, your baby feels what you feel—and with the same intensity. That means if you're crying, your baby feels the same emotion, as if it's their own. During the gestational period, your baby is preparing themselves for life in the outside world.
Increased blood volume leads to rapid weight gain during pregnancy. This is especially true in the early stages and, by the end of a healthy pregnancy, blood will have added around 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) to your pre-pregnancy weight.