You are 14 weeks and 3 days

Feel free to talk to your baby. His ears have developed enough for him to hear your voice.

179 days until your due date

Around now, the bones of your baby's inner ear form and he starts to hear. Before this, he could feel the vibrations of sound, especially when you talked, but couldn't hear it. Research shows that when an unborn baby hears something, his heart rate may change or he may move, and later you may feel him move in response to a particular noise or type of music.

Your baby can now hear you and your partner talking to him (babies are thought to hear deeper male voices more clearly than female ones), so by the time he's born, he'll already know your voices.

Good to know

Animal magic

Do you have a pet? Recent research suggests living with a cat or dog in early childhood may reduce a child's risk of asthma symptoms; children living with cats were more likely to have allergy-related antibodies to cats. Never leave your baby alone with a dog or cat.

Ask a Doctor

How can I relieve my constipation?

Constipation is common in pregnancy, mainly because progesterone slows your bowels. Many women also exercise less, and iron tablets for anemia are notorious for causing it.

Thankfully, there are many ways to help:

Eat more fiber from fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, and drink plenty of water.
Psyllium (ispaghula), found in some laxatives, appears to be safe in pregnancy, although it hasn't been studied in pregnant women.
Exercise regularly, which helps reduce constipation.
If constipation leads to itchy or painful hemorrhoids, ask your doctor which treatments you can use.
Don't ignore the urge to go, even if you're busy or have to use a public toilet, because ignoring it too often can cause constipation.

This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.