2nd trimester: Week 14

The sucking muscles and salivary glands begin to function, and tooth buds continue to develop.

Your Baby

Make a fist--that's how big your baby is now. At week 14, he weighs close to an ounce and measures between three and four inches from top to bottom. Like you, he can make a fist, too, with fingers that have a unique set of prints; an epidermal layer in his skin shows genetically determined ridges on the tips and palms. Keep drinking those glasses of skim milk, because in the next eight weeks the bones throughout his body will harden as calcium gets deposited. Your son's neck is now getting longer too, which means his chin doesn't have to rest on his chest anymore.

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Your Body

The nausea may finally be abating, only to be replaced by yet another gripe, abdominal aches. That's because your uterus is growing, and the surrounding ligaments are stretching right along with it.

Your Pregnant Body:

Do's and Don'ts

Do try to be extra vigilant about dental hygiene, because pregnancy makes your gums swell, leaving them vulnerable to germs and open to infection. Brush your teeth and tongue after every meal -- and top off with an antibacterial mouthwash once a day. Ask your dentist about scheduling more cleanings throughout your pregnancy (they're worth the extra out-of-pocket costs). Save the X rays until you're postpartum.

Health Watch:

Health

If you wear contact lenses, don't be surprised if they feel like they no longer fit. The shape of your eyes has changed, and you don't produce tears as much as you used to. Ask your doctor if you need a new prescription, or ditch the contacts and rely on your glasses for the rest of the pregnancy.

Mom to Mom

"This kid is running the show--when I eat, when I sleep. I'm just the starship Enterprise."--Lisa Wilkinson, Chicago, IL

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