You now have officially entered the second trimester. At this stage of the pregnancy is where most families especially the new mom to be starts to celebrate. The risk for miscarriage has greatly reduced and the odds are in your favor that you will carry the baby full term. Also gone will be the morning sickness and the fatigue that you may have experienced in the first trimester. You will start to feel more energetic and your mental state will start to show improvements.
You will also start to show off your baby bump in this stage of pregnancy. The baby is still small in size but as the baby grows the uterus grows as well. You will your appetite grow as well and this is due in part of the baby taking the nutrients that you are taking in. Don’t feel that you have to stuff yourself, eat in moderation even if you eat a few times a day. The important thing is that you continue to eat right as long as you are healthy the baby is healthy.
Check with your doctor and see how they feel about any weight gain or loss you are experiencing. Sometimes doctors will recommend certain foods that are good for the mom and the baby. You should continue to limit your intake of caffeine drinks as well.
Baby’s Development
By now the baby is growing at a good pace, they measure approximately 2-1/2 to 3 inches and they weigh about .7 ounces. By the end of this week the baby is a full-formed baby. The head is still a bit larger than the rest of the body, but that will soon change. The baby’s eyes are starting to come closer together and the intestines and the organs are finding their places. The baby’s pancreas is starting to create insulin, this is important at this stage because it will help regulate the sugar levels for the baby after they are born.
The baby’s bones are still soft and a bit flexible but as the weeks progress they will become harder. It is imperative at this stage to keep taking your prenatal vitamins and drink plenty of milk. The baby will also start climbing and moving around the in the uterus. Though the baby is moving, you won’t be able to feel it yet. The placenta is functioning fully now and the baby is receiving oxygen, vitamins, minerals and proteins. The placenta also works as a filter that keeps carbon dioxide and waste out of the baby’s area.
The placenta is rather large in size but it allows most of the intake from the mom to cross into the baby’s bloodstream, this is how the baby gets his or her nutrients. But keep in mind that all of the good that goes to the baby, the bad goes as well. So stay away from alcohol, medications and even caffeine. At this week, the baby will have their first bowel movement called meconium.
Changes With Your Body
At week thirteen, the uterus will continue to grow in the up position. The pelvic bones are now able to take the pressure off the bladder. You will see your waistline start to get bigger. This will cause some aches in the abdomen, you may also experience round ligament pain, this occurs when the ligaments that surround the uterus stretch. These can be sharp pains in the abdomen that come with a dull achy feeling in the lower abs. This usually happens when you make a sudden movement like getting up or change positions.
This is normal, unless you start experiencing vomiting with this pain. Then you should call your doctor right away. This pain can be alleviate by simply relaxing and be very careful as you get up now. Some women have been diagnosed with what is called an incompetent cervix, this happens when the cervix becomes weal and it only opens about 2.5 cm during the pregnancy. Talk to your doctor and ask him to explain this condition more and your chances of having it.
Only about 25% of women who have this condition are detected with an ultrasound. This is one of the main reasons why miscarriages occur in the second trimester. The reasons why a woman may have this condition may be from a congenital disorder, cervical trauma or a previous D&C. But there is a remedy call Cerclage, this can be done to stitch and close the uterus so the uterus is capable of delivering the baby full term.
What To Expect
At this time, you may start to see stretch marks on your abdomen and on your breasts. Stretch marks sounds like the kiss of death for a women, but you can decrease the change of having them by gaining your pregnancy weight slowly. You don’t have to pile on the pounds in the first trimester, if you are having trouble with your weight, talk to your doctor; they may be able to slow you down a bit.
You may still have heartburn at this stage of pregnancy. You can reduce this by drinking a lot of fluids and eating the right foods. A small exercise routine like swimming or walking may reduce you heartburn as well. Stay away from heavy, greasy foods this can contribute a lot to the heartburn you may be feeling.
Your breast size will start to increase; this is because your body is preparing for lactation. They will continue to grow bigger as the pregnancy increases and will decrease weeks after the baby is born. The baby is a lot more flexible at this week in pregnancy. Many women and men question if they should be having sex throughout the pregnancy. Sex will not hurt the baby in anyway because the baby is well protected with the amniotic fluid but if you have a history of miscarriages, premature births or infections you will want to consult your doctor to see if it is possible at this stage.
Tips/Advice
Follow your doctor’s orders. This is very important during a pregnancy. Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated. By now you probably have a copy of a baby book. Remember that all pregnancies are different and these books are general guides. So don’t get upset if you read something in a book and is doesn’t pertain to you at your stage in pregnancy. Relax and enjoy your pregnancy.
June 12th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
i am 13weeks and exited i been feeling sick that i cant stand food, yeah i get hungry but when i see it or smell it omg!! cant stand it i have gone to the doct i droped 10p yeah i got scared so the doct have me vommiting med and i feel that i can eat just about every thing but i know i have to take baby steps. my doct said thats about to e over so i still hope but other than that i love the feeling to be a new mommy!! cant wait to know what im having
June 23rd, 2010 at 7:50 pm
I am 13 weeks and 1 day today… been having a great 2nd pregnancy!! Had no m/s at all… and been eating ALOT!! Food is my friend lol, will find out if im having a boy or girl the 1st week of august… CAN NOT WAIT to find out!!!!! Loving being pregnant again!!!
June 28th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
hi, im 13 weeks pregnant,i had my first scan last week and everything went great,this is my 3rd baby, i already have a boy 12 and a girl 9 so yeah there,s a big gap,can,t wait to find out the gender, but i don,t mind either way,
June 29th, 2010 at 1:55 am
i am 13 weeks and 2 days and having a wonderful first pregnancy a little worried because they could not find a heart beat but they say everything is fine and they will hear it for sure at 16 weeks!
July 2nd, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Hi well I am 13 weeks pregnant today and I went thru fertility for 2 cycles at 29 and miscarried by 5 weeks both times. Then at 40 I became pregnant on my own and miscarried at 7 wks 3days the baby only had a hb of 66. Now at 41 I am pregnant and just had an ultrasound at 12 wks 4 dys and the heart beat was 173. They say everything looks good and there is only a 5% chance of miscarriage. So my next appt is at 16 weeks. They say everything looks so good and funny thing is that I feel great. Just huge sore chest.. Hmm I really just can't believe all this. Everytime I go to the doctors I wait for the ax to fall. I gave up all thoughts of ever having children.
July 5th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
13 1/2 weeks, first baby (we're planning on 6)…we got pregs on the first try! So far, no vomiting (although I have noticed I get extremely carsick nowadays). And my sense of smell is working in insane overdrive…I can smell my husbands breath from across the couch and it grosses me out. Talk about sexy.
Only one doctor visit so far, but things are looking good, and I have another visit this week. One more month and we'll find out the gender! So excited!! 
Creation of a life is a beautiful thing…
Speaking of sexy, throughout my whole first trimester I've been super-tired (went hiking once and then crashed for 5 hours), my face has been really broken out, my abs, thighs and boobs have become a roadmap for big blue veins, my boobs became huge and delightfully sore, and I have to pee every hour…on the hour. Oh, and did I mention I cry at home improvement shows? Ugh.
Still, my belly popped a couple weeks ago, and I couldn't be happier about this bump.
July 5th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
i dont know if thats normal…..my doctor found my babys heart beat at 6 and 12 weeks.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Yeah, that's weird, my doctor found a heart beat at 5week 3days. I would follow-up with that if I was you.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Sounds like a girl. I had those same issues with my daughters. Six kids,,, keep us posted after the first one is born… Pretty sure after labor that number will decrease.lol.. Best wishes@:)
July 9th, 2010 at 6:28 am
IS EVERYBODY 13 WEEKS PREGNANT? WELL IM 13 WEEKS ALSO AND I'LL BE ON MY WAY TO THE DOCTORS ON THE 14TH OF THIS MONTH TO HEAR MY BABY'S HEARTBEAT. CANT WAIT TO KNOW THE GENDER
July 9th, 2010 at 7:18 am
Ill be thirteen weeks on monday.! My next doctor visit is august 3rd where they will tell me whether or not I need surgery on my cervix. I have a “short” cervix. I’m nervous but happy that my child will be okay regardless.
July 11th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
I will be 13 weeks on the 14th and that is also the day I am going to the doctor to hear the heartbeat. I am very excited but nervous also since earlier this year I had a miscarriage and I found out at my 12 week appointment when they could not hear a heartbeat. I feel better about it this time and am hoping and praying the baby is okay.
July 12th, 2010 at 12:31 am
It's okay… They say that they might be able to hear the heartbeat at about 6 weeks but many times they cant. Its no need for worry since the baby is so small, it's hard to find. Worry at 16 weeks if they can't find it.
July 14th, 2010 at 12:15 am
i have a question..the doc gave me vommiting meds too…do u get headaches from it?
July 26th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
After a positive reading from an over-the-counter pregnancy test, I went to Planned Parenthood for confirmation. I was very uncomfortable going there, even for a urine test – answering terrible questions I never thought I'd be faced with, but since I didn't have any experience at all being around pregnant women or newborns and little experience around toddlers – I wasn't sure where to go. The nurse practitioner told me that, based on the information of my last period – I was 11 weeks pregnant and due January 27th 2011. Then, I went to Aultman OBGYN, an income-based womens wellness clinic that I heard about through friends. The doctor there said I'm either closer to 13 weeks, or I am pregnant with twins. My boyfriend of 9 weeks (long story) and I got to hear the babies heartbeat. I don't know why against all knowledge of human biology I assumed that the babies heart rate would be fast, like a hummingbird. When I heard it, I felt my own heart pounding fast and hard against the inside of my chest – the slow, steady wisdom of my babies heartbeat gave me a feeling that I can't even describe. My ultrasound is scheduled August 6th 2010. I am so excited to learn if my baby is a boy or a girl, or both (or neither?) Corpsedoll@myspace.com
July 26th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
Typo – my boyfriend of 19 weeks, lmao… That's right, I got pregnant in a week. Luckily, we've been friends for 6 years.