14 Weeks Pregnant with Twins or Multiples

14 Weeks Pregnant with Twins or Multiples

When you are 14 weeks pregnant with twins, it will start getting quite clear to you that you can handle this pregnancy pretty well. Most mothers tend to see their anxiety issues fading away, and tend to be more confident about their body and the fact that they are good at taking care of their babies. The so-called honeymoon phase of the pregnancy is now upon you, as you will experience one of the marvellous periods of your life. The stages or scenarios that posed a risk to your pregnancy have reduced in their occurrence, but it still works in your favour to be vigilant about how you live your life.

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The Growth of the Babies At 14 Weeks

The 14th week of your pregnancy will show you how rapidly your babies are growing within. Most foetuses tend to double their size from the previous weeks and start gaining weight and increasing in size pretty quickly. Their physical strength and affinity of their body increases over the coming periods, too. The development of the bone structure and the muscular arrangement has reached a stage that allows your children to start controlling the movements by themselves, leading to wavy movements that seem fluid and not jerky. The head that appeared to lie down most of the time might seem to be slightly firm as your children move around within your womb. Many first-time parents tend to have a shock of sorts when they realise that their babies are covered with hair all over, and resemble monkeys instead of human beings. The hair growth is essential for the bodies to contain their warmth inside the amniotic sac. Unless your children are born prematurely, all the body hair falls away before their birth, leaving only a gorgeous mass of hair on their heads. The womb is pretty much their home and the sac that contains them is what takes care of all their activities. This also includes any urine that they start expelling around this week. With kidneys fully developed and ready to function, the blood filtration process of the body begins and the waste materials are flushed out appropriately.

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What is the Size of the Babies?

With a rapid onset of growth in the children, most babies are usually around 8 to 9 centimetres long and can weight roughly around 20-25 grams. Being pregnant with triplets or multiple babies can lead them to have slightly lower than average weight, which is fine. Their sizes, too, will be a tad smaller than your closed fist.

Common Bodily Changes

The happy stage of your pregnancy also makes your babies grow happily, and all these moments can be visible in the way your body responds to these changes.

  • The expanding uterus now starts making its place above your pubic bone as well. This is usually the stage where the tummy starts getting a pouch-like shape, which is comparatively rounder than what it was a couple of weeks ago.
  • With an enlarging belly and gain in weight, one of the body conditions that will start occurring is a backache. Mostly noticed when you sit or stand, the lower region of your back will bear the brunt of the excessive weight of the babies. Adhering to a posture that doesn’t put a strain on your back and making use of flat shoes can help reduce it. The intensity of the backaches is similar to the usual ones you’d occasionally have. If the pain is too severe, it might indicate a health condition.
  • Swelling of your belly is related to the expansion of the uterus while the swelling of your breasts is the result of increased blood flow and an evolutionary response. However, there is a different type of swelling which you would begin to notice in the regions surrounding your feet and your ankles. Many women tend to complain about this, which is usually a result of water retention within the muscles. While this is normal in pregnancy, including a lot of salt in your diet or standing for extended durations could make these swellings worse.

Symptoms of Twin Pregnancy at 14 Weeks

In the 14th week of your pregnancy with multiple babies, those horrendous symptoms that made the initial phase a nightmare would seem like a long lost memory. Some newer signs would make themselves pretty clear to you this time around.

  • The growing belly might be the most evident sign of your pregnancy but the increased appetite that you will have around this week would make you realise how rapidly your babies are growing. Their nutrient requirements begin to shoot up pretty soon, and your body’s demands for energy and calories will rise alongside them. Having around 700 calories or more, depending on the number of your babies is highly recommended.
  • A backache is what most women experience through their pregnancy, but if you are pregnant with twins or triplets, your chances of experiencing ligament-related pain are stronger here. The extending uterus puts quite some stress on the internal muscles and moments of sharp pain might arise randomly.
  • Hormones are what support this change in your body and make it an environment conducive for the little ones to thrive within. This also has unexpected and highly welcome effects on your body, such as your hair getting resplendent and thicker, with a shiny sheen to them.
  • Pregnant women seem to have received a second life once they enter the second trimester. Though the newfound energy might seem acquired, it is something that you always had, which went into hiding when you were suffering through the first trimester. Put this energy to good use as much as you can.

Twin Pregnancy – Belly at 14 Weeks

Since your uterus has now started making a place for itself around the pelvic region, the roundedness and the protrusion might start getting a lot more evident. That poking feeling will also help you feel connected to your child. Similarly, loose trousers and pants will immediately start becoming your best friends.

Twin Pregnancy at 14 Weeks – Ultrasound

Carrying out an ultrasound at this stage can help you see your twins or multiple babies quite easily. Most of their facial features could be recognised if their faces are large enough. Many times, you might notice your child smiling at you and make you feel as if they can sense you. As happy as it might feel, the truth is that their brain is sending random signals to various facial sections, and checking if the muscles are working as expected. So your children would be smiling, frowning, grimacing, and making every expression that they can.

What To Eat

Before figuring out what ought to be eaten, it is also necessary to know what needs to be kept away. Alcohol consumption should ideally be stopped right from the time you find out about your pregnancy. Similarly, keep away from any food products that might trigger an allergic reaction in you. Cravings could exist for healthy food items as well as products such as eggs, chocolates, and even milk. These tend to contain an immense amount of fat and cholesterol, which could be detrimental when eaten in excess. Smoked meat should be avoided at all costs. Protein intake should be your highest priority. Consuming meat that is adequately boiled or cooked is best, as are other vegetarian alternatives. Omega-3 vitamins, phosphorous, and numerous other elements that are found in food items should be consumed to help babies with tissue development.

14 Weeks Pregnant - Protein rich food

Pregnancy Care Tips

With your energy back in its peak and your happiness at its highest level, it is time for you to start taking care of yourself by adhering to a few tips that can make and keep your life more comfortable.

Dos

  • Make sure you include enough fibrous food items as well as lean meat and nuts in your diet. All of these will help stimulate the digestive process and reduce the chances of constipation.
  • A light exercise schedule should be a part of your daily routine. Taking light walks or even starting a swimming session will be beneficial for you.

Dont’s

  • Don’t attempt to wear your old clothes just because you feel like you look better in them. Ensure that your belly and your body is comfortable and opt for loose clothes for that.
  • Stay away from food products that are sold in the open or available on the streets. Even if they are boiled and cooked before you, they could contain bacteria and other infections unknown to you.

What You Need to Shop For

With your belly increasing rapidly, you can start getting some creams to keep stretchmarks in check and your skin healthy. Invest in a name book and begin to shortlist names for your little ones.

When you are 14 weeks pregnant with twins, life doesn’t seem like it could be any better. Well, it will get better in the coming weeks but also rest numerous responsibilities on you to take care of the babies as well as yourself. Being prepared is the best way to tackle anything that might come your way.