13 Weeks Pregnant

Baby’s Development

• At week 13 of your pregnancy, and now in your 2nd trimester (yes! congratulations!), your baby is looking much more in proportion. Well almost! His/her head is still much larger than his/her body, but the body will catch up by the time you give birth.
• Your baby’s little bones are forming, and is much more active now. Baby can move more freely now, and get’s him/herself into lots of different positions.
• Your baby’s little fingertips have the tiniest fingerprints on them. Truly amazing! Ultrasounds at 13 weeks have shown baby’s sucking their thumbs at this early stage, which is a way they can soothe themselves, even in the womb.
• Your baby’s intestines are now changing from developing in a cavity inside the umbilical cord to moving to further develop in their abdomen.
• As your baby grows and requires more support, the placenta grows, and by the time your baby is born, the placenta will weigh around 680 grams.
• Your baby’s vocal cords are beginning to develop this week, so that when they are born they can express their needs and communicate.
• Your baby now has fine hair covering his/her body, forming protection from the fluid its’ floating in. Your baby also has developed a greasy layer of vernix caseosa, which is a white, cheese-like layer. It is there to protect your baby’s delicate skin from the acidic quality of the amniotic fluid, to help keep infection at bay, to moisturise your baby, to act as an insulator, keeping baby’s temperature regular, and it also assists in baby sliding out of the birth canal. Pretty ingenious really!

What’s Happening For You

• If you have been experiencing some pregnancy symptoms like nausea, tenderness and exhaustion, you may be pleased to be beginning to feel much better. Generally the 2nd trimester is much more enjoyable. If you are still experiencing nausea, hang in there, it will subside. Frequent small snacks and nutritious meals will help keep your blood sugar levels more stable.
• By now you would have probably had your first antenatal check, and listened to your baby’s heart beat! What an incredible sound. You may have even had an ultrasound by now, and seen your little one moving about! Whether this pregnancy was planned, or if it was a complete surprise, that first view of your baby is breathtaking!
• Many women report that around the 13th week their sex drive returns, and begin to enjoy intimacy again. Read about Sex during pregnancy. You may be feeling much calmer this week, enabling you to connect more with your partner. Don’t forget that your partner is pregnant too, and needs lots of love and support as well.
• Progesterone is still relaxing your muscle fibres and digestion, so constipation may still be something you are experiencing. Ensure that you are drinking lots of water, and keep your fibre intake up to support digestion.
• You may be feeling a little rounder at the waist line, with a little bump at the naval. Your breasts may have popped out and taken over your chest, and for women that haven’t had much cleavage, this is a welcome time. Not for all though! Your breasts are preparing for breastfeeding, and even at this early stage, you may have already produced some colostrum (the baby’s very first milk). If you haven’t already, it would be a great idea to get a supportive maternity bra, and be mindful of protecting all the tissues around your breast, as they have an important job to do!

Read more about what to expect next week.