Congratulation! You have made to the second trimester of your pregnancy. Many parents start to share their pregnancy news to others during this stage, but know that there are no hard-and-fast rules about when you should reveal this great news.
When you are 13 weeks pregnant, the placenta is fully developed, so this is why most of the parents get excited (and more secured) to inform everyone regarding their pregnancy.
Here is what you should know about your 13 weeks development, symptoms, and body changes.
The size of my little one:
At week 13 of pregnancy, your little one is now in a size of a large plum or small peach with the measurement of 7cm and weighting 28g. Their head size is 1/3 of their body.
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The Growth Progress When You Are 13 Weeks Pregnant
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Fingerprint
Little fingerprint are starting to form on those cute fingers. Their final pattern will be set by the time you reach mid-pregnancy. Now as he has start to discover how to suck his little thumb, he might be busy practicing his new skills.
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Intestines
Loop of intestine, which connect you and your baby through umbilical cord has now moved to their abdomen. Your baby is beginning to swallow amniotic fluid.
The fluid is mostly water, but it also includes protein, carbohydrates, fats, and enzymes. Any remaining fluid is turned into urine by his kidneys, which he will pass back into the amniotic fluid.
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(Yeay!) Baby’s Gender
You can start having your ultrasound scanning to know your baby’s gender. If your baby is a boy, his testicles have now formed, and his penis is growing. If you are expecting a baby girl, her ovaries are developing and already contain about 2 million eggs.
Things to do When You Are 13 Weeks Pregnant
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Healthy Meals
It will never be too late to start eating healthy meals. As it is more important for you to take healthy food from now onward as your baby needs more energy for their development.
Focus on whole foods that contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and good fats. Whole-grain toast with peanut butter is a solid way to start the day.
Fruits high in antioxidants, like berries, make wonderful snacks. Try incorporating lean protein from beans, eggs, and oily fish into your meals.
Avoid eating seafood with high mercury such as mackerel and tuna. You should also avoid eating raw or undercooked foods. Not only that, intake of caffeine and alcohol should also be avoided for certain period.
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Light Exercises
Light exercises are recommended with doctor’s permission. You can take a walk, swimming, jogging, yoga, and light weights are all great options.
Also, you should start finding alternatives to abdominal exercises when you are 13 weeks pregnant. You can try sit-ups, which require you to lie flat on your back. The increasing weight from your uterus can decrease blood flow to your heart, making you lightheaded, and in turn, slowing the delivery of oxygen to your baby.
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Testing for earlier Medical Conditions
You may have an ultrasound to evaluate nuchal translucency. The scan can check whether there is additional fluid under the skin behind the baby’s neck.
This is important in testing for some medical conditions that may affect your baby, such as Down syndrome. Blood tests are also used to screen for Down syndrome, Trisomy 18, spina bifida, and other problems.
Week 13 Symptoms
1) Energy Restoring
(Finally!) As your placenta is taking over, you should feel like you’ve got a bit more of a spring in your step. Plan out how to use this energy correctly. Add some exercises in your bucket but not until hurting or burdening yourself.
2) Risen Sex-drive
Entering second trimester will give you some relieve of dizziness and vomiting. As your energy is getting boosted, your sex drive is also boosting up. But make sure to check with your doctor first, especially if you ever had a miscarriage before.
3) Discharge
Do not panic over the vaginal discharge, as it is a normal symptoms when you are 13 weeks pregnant. It is known as leukorrhea, which is thin, milky, and mild-smelling discharge cause by the production of oestrogen. It protects the birth canal from getting infection. Make sure to wear a thin panty liner around this time to avoid your underwear from getting messed up.
4) Veins Appearance
You might not like them, but these are super important during pregnancy and are a sign of the increased blood supply to your growing baby.
5) Heartburn and Constipation
Both are a common thing that will accompany you through the end of your pregnancy. The muscle at the top of the stomach relaxes which allows digestive acid to rise and cause that familiar burning in the chest.
Stay away from spicy or fatty foods to avoid heartburn. Add some high-fibre snacks into your diet, such as fruit, vegetables, and whole grains for your constipation.
Tips of the week:
Make sure to follow these tips to help you feel better throughout this week.
- Keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of water to stay energized.
- Talk to your little one as he can hear you. Do not stress over anything, because it might affects him as well.
- A meditation or yoga is much more enough for both of you.
- Spend more time with your partner, such as planning a few things for the birth of your baby.
- Never carry heavy objects, try not to hit yourself to a wall, and put away any object on the staircase as these might cause any unwanted bleeding.
If you are working, it is best for you to inform your boss earlier regarding your pregnancy. You don’t have to wait until your baby bump is showing off.
This is for your own good if you have to go for a checkup or in case anything happen. So it is best for you to inform them during this week so they could prepare your work accordingly, especially if you have a strenuous job.
Stay tuned for the next pregnancy progress with us at Motherhood.com.my, a one-stop website for all your maternity, pregnancy, babies, and health needs.