Welcome to the second trimester of pregnancy. When you are 13 weeks pregnant, you most likely have a visible baby bump.
The baby is growing rapidly, and the body is also constantly undergoing a lot of changes to accommodate the baby.
13 weeks Pregnant: How Many Months?
When you are 13 weeks pregnant, you are almost at the end of the 3rd month of pregnancy. You only have about 27 weeks or about 6 months until delivery.
13 Weeks Pregnant: Size of the Baby
When you are 13 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 74 mm or 2.9 inches long, approximately the size of a pea pod or as big as a lemon now.
13 Weeks Pregnant: Mother’s Body Changes
Bump: When you are 13 weeks pregnant, almost all women have a slightly visible baby bump. But if you do not have a prominent belly, do not worry. Some women might only have a prominent belly in the later stages of pregnancy.
Increased blood flow: As you enter the second trimester of pregnancy, there is a lot more blood flow to your pelvic region than usual. A lot of women are also said to have high sex drive during this time of pregnancy.
Lesser bathroom breaks: At around 13 weeks of pregnancy, the womb moves away from the bladder releasing pressure. This results in lesser bathroom breaks than usual allowing you to sleep more at night.
Increased Energy Levels: Second trimester is said to be the golden period of pregnancy as a lot of women have increased energy levels, better appetite and they tend to sleep well when compared to earlier. You will feel a lot less fatigue when compared to the first trimester.
Bleeding gums: Bleeding or swollen gums are yet another common pregnancy symptom that most women face especially around the second trimester.
Better hair and nails: Many pregnant women have healthy hair and nails during pregnancy especially during the second trimester. They also have thicker hair than usual because the hair stays in the growing phase for a longer period of time due to the pregnancy hormones.
13 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms
Reduced Morning Sickness: As you have entered the second trimester of pregnancy, morning sickness and nausea would have subsided.
Weight gain: As the baby grows rapidly, most pregnant women tend to gain a few extra kilos which is absolutely normal. Since the morning sickness has also subsided, you tend to eat more food leading to more weight gain.
Food Aversions and Cravings: Food cravings and aversions might still be a symptom for some women even at 13 weeks of pregnancy.
Constipation: With the hormonal changes happening in the body, constipation is one of the most common outcomes of it.
You need to incorporate more fiber in your foods including fruits, vegetables and whole grains and drink at least 10 glasses of water a day to ease your bowel movements.
Visible veins: With the increased blood supply to the important organs of the body, the veins are more prominent. But visible veins should not be a concern for most women.
Indigestion or heartburn: The ring of the muscle which is at the top of the stomach tends to relax as the baby grows. This results in heartburn and indigestion.
Leg or Foot Cramps: Leg and foot cramps are common pregnancy symptoms that prevail throughout the pregnancy. It can be due to the increased blood flow or can be due to pressure on the legs caused by weight gain.
Swollen hands and legs: Swollen hands and legs is another common symptom of pregnancy. It is because the body tends to hold a lot more water than usual. The excessive pressure on the legs due to weight gain can also cause swelling of legs.
Mood Swings: Hormonal changes cause mood swings, which prevail throughout the pregnancy. It can also cause irritability and anxiety.
Bloating: Since the pregnancy hormones make the stomach relax, it causes indigestion and heartburn leading to constipation and gas.
Oily skin: With excessive sebum production, many women face oily face or acne during pregnancy which is yet another common pregnancy symptom.
Sensitivity to smell: Pregnancy hormones can increase your sense of smell. You can smell food and other stuff from a distance too.
Linea nigra: Linea nigra is a vertical dark line in the center of the stomach. It starts from the belly button and can lead to the pubic area. It is due to the higher levels of hormones in your body.
13 Weeks Pregnant: Fetal Growth
Size of the Baby: When you are 13 weeks pregnant, the fetus is around 2.9 half inches long resembling the size of a lemon or a pea pod.
Organ Development: The baby can now swallow amniotic fluid. The baby’s liver and pancreas start to function well.
The ankles and wrists are also formed at 13 weeks of pregnancy. The baby’s backbone can be flexed well, making it easier for larger movements.
The baby’s head is still bigger than the other organs but in the coming weeks, all the other organs will catch up and make the baby’s body look proportional.
Genitals: The baby’s sex organs are also formed better and can be differentiated into a boy or a girl.
Facial Features: The eyes are moving towards their final position now. The chin is also getting more prominent.
Hair formation: By 13 weeks, the baby has soft hair in the eyebrow and head. In the upcoming weeks, the hair will get a lot more thicker.
Thumb sucking: Some babies start to suck their thumb from 13 weeks of pregnancy. This can actually help the baby to learn sucking reflex to help with breastfeeding.
13 Weeks Pregnant: Scans and Tests
Other than routine prenatal checkups, NT scan is taken around 11 to 13 weeks of pregnancy.
NT is a set of ultrasound and a blood test to detect any chromosomal abnormalities such as down syndrome, trisomy 13 and heart defect in the fetus.
Nuchal Translucency (NT Scan) is an ultrasound scan that is used to measure the amount of fluid present in the back of the baby’s neck.
Although all babies have some amount of fluid present in their back neck, the measurement should be less than 3.5 mm for babies with low chances of chromosomal abnormalities.
The blood test that is carried out along with the NT scan is called as double marker test which as the name suggests checks for two levels:
The healthcare experts analyze the results of these two tests to calculate the baby’s likelihood of having abnormalities.
Conclusion
At 13 weeks pregnant, you have just touched your second month of pregnancy. Many women might have higher levels of energy and are able to eat better than the first trimester.
You might also have a noticeable belly and a drastic improvement in the overall wellbeing of the baby.
It is important to not miss out on any prenatal appointments and supplements prescribed by your doctor.
For appointments and consultations with the best gynecologist in Chennai Dr. Deepthi Jammi, Contact Jammi Scans at 7338771733.
Chennai Women’s Clinic & Scan Centre is now Jammi Scans.
FAQ
1. Can I feel a baby at 13 weeks?
No. The pregnant mother can feel her baby’s movements only from 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
2. Is the baby fully formed at 13 weeks?
Yes, at around 13 weeks of pregnancy, your baby is almost fully formed. The major organs of the body including their brain, liver and pancreas have started functioning.
But the baby is still developing and it will take around 29 to 31 weeks for the baby to be fully developed.
3. How do I know my pregnancy is OK at 13 weeks?
Around 11 to 13 weeks of pregnancy, the gynecologist prescribes an NT scan which is used to detect any abnormalities in the baby.
Since it is a combination of blood test and ultrasound, the doctors can tell if your baby is ok or not. It is also important to not miss out on any prenatal appointments to ensure the health of the fetus.
4. How does your stomach feel at 13 weeks pregnant?
At 13 weeks, a small baby bump might be visible for most pregnant women.
Although you won’t be able to feel your baby movements yet, your baby is growing rapidly and you will soon be able to feel the baby’s movements.
5. Is 13 weeks safe for pregnancy?
13 weeks marks the beginning of the second trimester. With the first viability ultrasound and the NT scan result, you can tell if your baby is safe. If your doctors do not suspect anything wrong, it is a safe week.
If you are planning on informing your friends and family about your big news, it is a safe time to do so. You can also check with your gynecologist.
