14 Weeks Pregnant

14 weeks pregnant: the start of the second trimester for many guides

At 14 weeks pregnant, many US and UK pregnancy guides count you as starting the second trimester. Some calendars draw trimester boundaries slightly differently; in this calendar, week 14 closes the first trimester section and the second trimester overview begins from week 15.

The practical point is that you are moving out of the earliest pregnancy stage. For many people, nausea and fatigue begin to ease, energy improves and the pregnancy may start to feel more real after scans or screening results.

Week 14 follows 13 weeks pregnant. Next, read about 15 weeks pregnant, or use the pregnancy calculator to check your estimated due date.

Your baby at 14 weeks pregnant

The fetus is often around 8-9 cm from crown to rump, though size estimates vary. Many guides compare the baby with a lemon or kiwi. The body is growing quickly, and the neck is becoming longer so the chin no longer rests on the chest.

Your baby can move the head, arms and legs, make facial expressions, swallow amniotic fluid and produce urine. The pancreas can produce insulin, the heart is pumping blood and the skeleton and muscles are becoming stronger.

External genitals continue to develop, but sex may still be hard to identify reliably on ultrasound. If you have had or are considering NIPT or other screening, your clinician can explain what it can and cannot tell you.

Your body and symptoms

Your uterus is growing, and you may have a small bump or mostly bloating. Both are normal. How much you show at 14 weeks depends on your body, whether this is your first pregnancy, bloating, muscle tone, uterus position and whether you are carrying more than one baby.

Symptoms may shift now. You may feel more energetic, or you may still feel tired and nauseous. Other common symptoms include breast changes, round ligament discomfort, constipation, nasal congestion, headaches, increased appetite and darker pigmentation around the nipples or a vertical line on the belly called linea nigra.

Baby movement is happening, but most first-time parents do not feel it yet. Some people who have been pregnant before notice early flutters, but many do not feel clear movement until later in the second trimester.

Ideas

• Ask your clinician whether any first trimester screening follow-up, NIPT results or dating scan details need review.
• Choose comfortable waistbands or bras if bloating, breast changes or a small bump make regular clothes uncomfortable.
• Try gentle movement such as walking, swimming or prenatal yoga if your healthcare professional has not advised against exercise.
• Call your provider if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, fainting, persistent vomiting or symptoms that worry you.
• If you are at higher risk of gestational diabetes, ask when glucose screening or testing is recommended for you.

Frequently asked questions about 14 weeks pregnant