Congratulations! You’ve entered the second trimester of your pregnancy, and chances of miscarriage are significantly lower now that you’re 13 weeks pregnant. Here’s a look at the progress your bundle of joy is making.
Week by week pregnancy: 13 weeks pregnant
At 13 weeks pregnant, you’ve entered the second trimester of pregnancy!
13 weeks pregnant size
Your little one now is now around the size of a lemon and has working kidneys and sucking muscles! Prod your stomach gently to feel your baby shifting. This is good practice and nurtures your baby’s instinct of searching for your nipple when born.
In week 13 pregnancy, he will also have small fingerprints and a beautiful set of well-defined eyes and ears – something to look forward to at your next ultrasound scan appointment.
And here’s an interesting one, if you’re bearing a female baby: she now has about 2 million eggs in her ovaries, which will reduce to half that upon birth. By the age of 17, the number of eggs would have dropped to an average of about 700,000!
13 weeks pregnant development
Photo by Lazaro Rodriguez Jr
Your baby has reached full maturity and resembles a person. They’re about the size of a peach, measuring 7.5 cm long and 30g in weight. While moving about in your uterus, they can bend their limbs and legs, suck their thumb, and create a fist.
At 13 weeks, you’ve officially entered the second trimester of pregnancy. The ligaments in your tummy and groin may begin to expand, and your bump may begin to appear.
READ MORE:
Pregnancy Week 12: Guide for Asian Mothers
Pregnancy: Weeks 9-12
Week by week pregnancy | Week 14
You may notice more pronounced veins, especially in your breasts. You may be tired, have food cravings or aversions, or be experiencing heartburn, indigestion, or constipation.
Your chances of miscarriage decrease after you reach the second trimester. As a result, many people select this period to announce their pregnancy.
Now is also the time to schedule prenatal screening and diagnostic tests if you haven’t already. At 13 weeks, you can have a nuchal translucency scan (ultrasound) or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) to see if your baby has Down syndrome or other genetic issues.
13 weeks pregnant embryo development
Their liver and pancreas, for example, are starting to function. Their brows and head are covered with silky hair, and their vocal cords are just beginning to form. They’re growing a penis or clitoris, but it’s too small for an ultrasound to see.
The kidneys create urine, which is later converted into amniotic fluid. The baby tries to breathe and sip the liquid.
13 weeks o 3 months pregnant symptoms
Here are symptoms you may be experiencing when you become 13 weeks pregnant!
1. Cramping at 3rd month of pregnancy
Cramping is quite frequent throughout pregnancy. Gas and bloating, as well as round ligament pain, could be to cause.
Movement, a hot bath or shower, more water, or lying down can all help ease abdominal pain.
Cramping, on the other hand, might occasionally suggest a problem. Call your doctor or midwife if your cramping continues after a few minutes of rest, the cramping or discomfort is severe, you have pain or unusual sensitivity in your upper abdomen, or you have other symptoms such as fever or dizziness.
2. Appetite returns
If you’ve been dealing with morning sickness and food aversions so far, the second trimester could help you feel better in the coming weeks. As your appetite recovers, you may have food cravings.
Some specialists believe a woman’s nutritional needs are linked to her food cravings, while others say pregnant cravings are harder to explain.
3. Nose clogging
Have you recently experienced congestion? Hormones and increased blood volume induce a stuffy nose in roughly one-third of pregnant women.
A cold or similar infection is indicated by fever, coughing, sore throat, or swollen glands. Find out which cold medicines are safe to take while pregnant and eat vitamin C-rich foods to keep your immune system strong.
4. Visible veins
Because your body produces 30 to 50 percent more blood during pregnancy, your veins enlarge and become more apparent. Your chest, breasts, and tummy may develop blue, visible veins.
Varicose veins in the legs and lower body may develop when your uterus develops. Fortunately, symptoms usually go away or improve after your delivery.
5. Vaginal Discharge
Greater vaginal discharge is totally normal during pregnancy as estrogen levels rise.
If your discharge is odorless or mildly perfumed and creamy white, there’s no need to be alarmed.
Contact your doctor if your discharge is gray, yellow, or green causes pain or itching or appears abnormal in any other way. This could be a sign of an infection or another problem.
6. Heartburn
Hormonal and physical changes that occur during pregnancy might induce heartburn which is also called acid indigestion or acid reflux.
Between the bottom of your breastbone and your lower throat, there’s a burning sensation. Avoid hot and acidic foods if you suffer from heartburn.
To neutralize stomach acids, eat smaller meals, chew gum afterward, and eat slowly. If that doesn’t work, consult your doctor about heartburn drugs that are safe to take while pregnant.
3 months pregnant: What you can do
The second trimester is often seen as the best one; you’ll feel immensely satisfied and “glow”, as all expectant mums will. In fact, the next 13 weeks will allow you time to mentally prepare yourself for the third trimester, when your baby will be large enough to rest his legs on your bladder.
Your erratic moods would also have settled considerably so for now, bask in the most comfortable weeks of your pregnancy! Now that you’re 13 weeks pregnant, let’s look forward to the upcoming weeks.
1. Make plans for more prenatal appointments.
During the second trimester, you’ll see your doctor or midwife once every four weeks. Learn what to expect at your prenatal appointments in the second trimester.
2. Eat plenty of healthy meals.
During pregnancy, nutrition is more important than ever. It might be tough to eat well when you experience nausea, food aversions, heartburn, or indigestion.
Make an effort to include these healthy snacks and superfoods in your pregnancy diet. During pregnancy, you’ll need a lot of protein and healthy fats, as well as additional vitamins and minerals (such as folic acid, iron, and calcium). See our list of important nutrition for pregnant women.
3. Learn about the risks of pregnancy.
Photo by MART PRODUCTION
Being informed of the warning signs of common pregnancy disorders is always a good idea. Your doctor will check for these diseases during your pregnancy (such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia). It is, nonetheless, beneficial to be aware of the warning signs of these and other issues.
4. If at all possible, sleep on your side.
According to experts, the best pregnant sleeping position is on your side, especially as you reach mid-pregnancy. The least amount of pressure is relieved on your veins and internal organs when you sleep on your side.
This guarantees that your baby obtains the maximum amount of nutrients and oxygen by providing optimal blood flow to the uterus.
With adequate circulation, you can avoid swelling, leg varicose veins, and hemorrhoids. If side sleeping isn’t for you, don’t give up until you’ve tried a pregnancy pillow – the right one can make a huge difference in the quality of your sleep.
More about preparing during the week 13 pregnancy
5. Learn about the signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection.
A urinary tract infection can progress to the kidneys if left untreated, putting Mom and baby’s health at risk. Consult your doctor if you need to use the bathroom more frequently than usual, have burning when peeing, or notice anything strange about the way it looks or smells. Your doctor can do a bacteria test and prescribe antibiotics.
You may protect yourself and your baby from viruses and germs in numerous ways:
- Avoid contact with anyone who has chickenpox or rubella, and see your doctor or midwife right away if you suspect you’ve been infected.
- If you have a cat, have someone else clean the litter box since the toxoplasma gondii bug can be found in the excrement. This can cause toxoplasmosis, which is harmful to your unborn kid.
- Toxoplasmosis can also be spread by eating certain foods. Avoid undercooked meats, cured meats such as salami, and unpasteurized goat’s milk and cheese while pregnant.
- Seek medical advice before traveling to any area where the Zika virus is circulating. The infection has the potential to cause birth defects.
6. Strengthen your pelvic floor.
When you’re carrying a baby at 13 weeks, your body needs all the aid it can get. Your pelvic floor can be damaged during pregnancy and labor, but you can strengthen it with Kegel exercises.
They take little time or effort, yet following to a routine throughout pregnancy can lead to fewer urine leaks and better sexual experiences when the baby is born.
Updates by Margaux Dolores
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