13 Weeks Pregnant

Pregnancy Body Changes at 13 weeks

During week 13 of pregnancy, many of your early pregnancy symptoms may have subsided or will soon. Anxiety may also decrease because the risk of miscarriage is significantly less after the twelfth week of pregnancy. The second trimester most often the easiest trimester. This is because women often regain energy, as their baby's vital organs have formed, giving their own bodies a rest from production.

As you enter your second trimester, your nausea most likely is gone. You aren't very large or uncomfortable, which is the perfect time to keep up with moderate exercise. You may feel absolutely wonderful.

You may feel some abdominal pain during week 13 of pregnancy as the ligaments that hold up your uterus stretch to accommodate it as it grows. This is called "round ligament pain." This is very normal and typically associated with stretching necessary for your uterus to grow.

Round ligament pain should not persist. You can differentiate round ligament pain from other problems if vomiting, cramping or bleeding accompanies your symptoms. If you do experience pain with any of these symptoms be sure to contact your health care provider immediately.

Remember to rest if you are feeling tired; your body is still adjusting to the pregnancy. This is usually the time when mothers feel their best. They are "over" the joys of early pregnancy and have more energy. They are also beginning to feel pregnant.

Your prenatal appointments will now consist of:

Blood Pressure
Weight
Fundal Height (Growth of the Uterus)
Baby's Heart Tones
Urine

Your Baby's Growth and Development

Your baby is actually quite large by now, a whopping 3 inches long in some cases and weighs in at roughly .7 ounces. By 13 weeks pregnant your baby's intestines are working on maturing and your baby's tiny pancreas is working hard to produce insulin. This will help your baby regulate her blood sugar levels in the months and years following delivery.

Your baby's eyes also start to move closer to the center of your baby's head. The head can move easily from side to side and up and down, and the facial features are starting to form. Your baby's arms have almost reached final proportion and length, though the legs are still quite short relative to the baby's body. At 13 weeks pregnant, your baby can now probably flex its arms and kick its legs. He or she may also be able to put a thumb in his or her mouth, although the sucking muscles are not yet completely developed.

The sockets for all twenty teeth are formed in the gums, and vocal cords are beginning to form. Other things happening at this time are the appearance of fingernails, the beginnings of fingerprints and footprints, the start of vocal cord formation, the appearance of visible ribs. The trachea, lungs, stomach, liver, pancreas, and intestines are developing into their final functioning form.

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