Hello to my parents! How do you feel now that you`ve entered the second trimester of your pregnancy?! We`re guessing excited and relieved that you should be aware that nausea, morning sickness and other pregnancy symptoms that bother you will decrease in the second trimester. Now as you`re 13 weeks pregnant, you can relax a bit after the first trimester as the risk of miscarriage decreases. However, you should continue to take precautions and follow your doctor`s advice because you need to keep yourself and your little one safe. You will want to know how your little one is developing and what changes your body will experience from now on and this week. Here`s what to expect at 13-week pregnancy.
Baby Growth
The size of the baby`s head is now half the full length of the baby`s body, which can make it look rather awkward. As the fetus develops, it is the baby`s head that grows first, and the body is formed later. Its face is now more human-like. The eyes, which started to form on the side of the head, are now closer to each other. The ears also take their normal position on the side of the head.
Your baby`s fingerprints are starting to form. Its sucking ability is developed and it can be seen sucking its thumb. Your baby`s vocal cords are also developing this week.
The intestinal folds are located in the abdomen and your baby starts to swallow the amniotic fluid, that is, the fluid that the baby is in throughout pregnancy, this week. The baby takes water, protein, carbohydrates, fat and enzymes from this fluid, and the remaining fluid returns to the kidneys and then back to the amniotic fluid as urine.
Baby Size
At the 13th week of pregnancy, the baby will measure 7.4 cm and weigh close to 23 grams. The little one progresses slowly, going from the size of a lime to the size of a peach or pea pod. Now your little one is learning to turn its head too and is able to swallow, yawn and even hiccup.
Common Body Changes
Most women leave behind the fatigue and nausea they experience from the first trimester to enter the smoothest, most comfortable period of pregnancy. Week 13 of pregnancy is also when you can get that radiance that comes with pregnancy. One of the most critical bodily changes you will observe in yourself in the last week of the first trimester of pregnancy is that your clothes will start to feel a little uncomfortable because you will gain some weight. This also means you can start shopping for pregnancy.
However, in some cases, some symptoms in the first trimester such as bloating, constipation, headaches, and breast tenderness may persist throughout pregnancy especially if you are carrying twins.
Another important but not very pleasant change that you can observe in week 13 is an increase in white vaginal discharge. This thin, milky, light-smelling discharge is completely normal and will increase as pregnancy progresses. This discharge protects the birth canal from infection and helps maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina.
Pregnancy Symptoms
Some of the common symptoms during the 13th week of pregnancy are:
- Reducing fatigue: As your body gets used to pregnancy, you will begin to regain your energy. Now you can get into a light exercise regimen.
- Food cravings: Even if you still crave junk food, you may consciously want to start eating healthy. Eating small portions of junk food is allowed throughout pregnancy, so you don`t have to completely give up on your indulgences.
- Burning feeling in the chest: As your pregnancy progresses, the muscle above the stomach relaxes, allowing digestive acids to rise in the esophagus. This is the reason for the burning sensation in the chest. But there`s not much you can do about it besides avoiding heartburn-inducing foods like chocolate, mint, spicy foods, and alcohol.
- Changes in sex drive: The increased blood flow to the pelvis during this period causes a significant change in your sex drive. You may either want to avoid it altogether or feel a higher libido. The blood flowing to the genitals can cause blood circulation and more natural lubrication, making sex enjoyable.
Some of the other mild symptoms you can add to the list above are constipation, dizziness, and visible veins due to increased blood flow.
Abdomen
The uterus will expand a little more. People you don`t share the good news with will now begin to guess that you are pregnant. Your jeans will also start to feel a little tight around your tummy.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound scan is a sonogram taken to evaluate the growth and development of the fetus. During the last week of the first trimester, a number of developments occur in the fetus, but you may not be able to see or experience all of them during the ultrasound. This is the week when your baby will finally have a functioning kidney and urinary tract. You can see on the sonogram that your baby`s arms and legs appear more proportional to its body size. This week the body frame begins to grow and the head is now visible at a third of the body size. During ultrasound, you may notice that baby`s fingertips and tooth buds are also starting to develop.
What to Eat?
Since the baby is growing rapidly now, you have to be careful with your food. It is very important to maintain a diet rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Try to include fresh fruits and vegetables and protein foods such as lean meats, dried beans and low-fat dairy products in your diet.
Avoid soft cheeses as they may contain listeria, a bacterium that triggers an infection called listeriotic in pregnant women. Be sure to stick to cheeses made with pasteurized milk only. Also avoid fish such as tilefish, king and mackerel as these types of fish have a very high level of mercury which should be avoided during pregnancy because mercury can damage the baby`s developing brain and nervous system if ingested.
Tips and Care
Here`s a list of do`s and don`ts to keep in mind during the final phase of your first trimester:
- Eat foods that are a good source of folate, calcium, iron, zinc and fiber.
- Eat healthy and homemade meals.
- Drink 10 to 12 glasses of water and other healthy fluids every day.
- Get your dose of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Pay attention to your sleep hours, even if sleep is not stored, you will need a lot of energy in childbirth and baby care in the future, now get plenty of sleep while your little one is in your womb.
- Do moderate exercise.
Don’ts
- Do not eat for two.
- Do not ignore food safety.
- Do not expose yourself to pesticides and their derivatives.
- Avoid junk food.
- Avoid heavy exercise.
- Avoid sex if you have a history of miscarriage.
Shopping
Shopping is always exciting, but this time you have a great reason in your belly to shop. Shopping for your baby, which is evident from the outside, can bring a big shopping list and pleasure. Also shop for comfortable and stretchy clothes that you can wear for the next few weeks, because you will soon have to go on another shopping tour.
When you come out of the first trimester, the initial discomfort of pregnancy begins to subside. You will soon enter the most comfortable period of the journey to motherhood. Make good use of your energy boost to indulge your maternal instincts and prepare for the physically demanding months ahead.