Your Pregnancy: Week 14

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.

Hot Topics:

• Finding the Right Prenatal Care
• Iron When You Most Need It

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

• An Overlooked Infection
• "I Didn't Even Know I Was Pregnant

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:

• Have a Periodontal Exam
• Is Teeth Bleaching Safe?
• Teeth Infections Lead to Premature Delivery

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

Your Time:

• Feel Good Foot Rub
• Stress Makeovers
• Protect Your Pelvis

Shopping

Can't quite button your jeans anymore? Your skin and muscles are stretching to make room for your growing baby, so opt for pants that are both forgiving and flexible. If you're going for stylish and comfortable, colorful sweat suits are available in seasonable fabrics to suit every climate--from terry cloth for warmer weather to velour when the weather gets cold.

Now that your belly is growing, it's time to give it a makeover. No frumpy house dresses here -- those days are long gone! Check out these comfortable, classy, and very cool maternity wear must-haves.

Exercise
Kegel exercises strengthen the vaginal and perineal muscles, which will help prevent incontinence, prime you for pushing, and lessen tearing during birth. To keep them in shape: Lie down on the floor and contract -- as if you're stopping your urine midstream -- and release your muscles for a few minutes at a time, once or twice a day.

Relationships
If your partner can't make it to your checkups, ask him to keep a running list of your questions. That way, when it's time to see your doctor or midwife, you have a written reminder to bring with you.

Family Planning:

• Breaking the News to Co-Workers
• The Gift of the Third Child
• Relationship Repair

Siblings
Playing with a baby doll is a great way for a toddler to learn how to touch and hold a real infant. Pick a doll that's approximately the same size as a newborn with lifelike features--some even come with supplies. Your child will love seeing you put a real diaper on his "baby."

Twins
Because you're carrying twins, you're probably already measuring large, which means your old clothes no longer fit. If you want to hold off on buying a new wardrobe, raid your partner's closet for oversize shirts and sweats.