Pregnancy at week 14, Now the fetus is the size of a peach.
The fetus is about 3.1 inches (7.9 centimeters )long and weighs around 3.3 ounces (93 grams ). Their body is fully covered with light, fluffy hair (lanugo), which will disappear shortly before birth.
The fetus can now move its body. They are starting to uncurl and straighten their neck, move their arms and legs, turn their head, swallow and try to grasp things –like their umbilical cord –in response to pressure.
The baby’s brain can send impulses to their face muscles, mimicking facial expressions, and is beginning to control their bodily functions. The fetus might have an accelerated heartbeat in response to some sounds, which has led scientists to think that this is when fetuses begin to hear.
Since their lungs are not functioning yet, they take in oxygen with the help of the placenta. The baby’s liver starts producing bile, and the spleen is working to form blood. The genitals are completely shapes, although they are still small and may be hard to distinguish in an ultrasound .
Eyebrows and eyelashes are now growing. The facial features are now looking more like a newborn’s and their facial muscles are working enough for them to form a smile. It is not until a month after birth that a newborn will develop a ‘social smile’ in response to seeing their parent’s face. Right now, their smile and other expressions are just reflexes.
The baby can already respond to your mood. Stress and positive feelings can both elicit a physiological response from the fetus.
It’s important to manage stress in a healthy way at this time. Good stress management can have many beneficial effects on a child’s development after birth (as well as on your health ). If you are feeling very stressed, sad, irritable, guilty, or just not like your usual self, make sure to talk to your health care provider about it.