Woohoo! You finally made it to the last week of your first trimester. Being 13 weeks pregnant means you are through and thorough with your first trimester. With the beginning of the second trimester, you will finally have some relief with those discomforting pregnancy symptoms. Also, the risks of pregnancy miscarriage are less now. The journey of reaching this first milestone must have been very challenging for you.
But don’t worry, it gets better and easier now onwards. Besides, none of these aches and pains worth anything when it comes to your dear baby. Anyhow, you surely deserve a pat on your back for enduring these discomfiting three months without any complaints.
Pregnancy Week: 13
At 13 weeks pregnant, the size of your baby is about 3 inches long and it weighs 28 grams approximately. Your honey bun is almost as same as the size of a large plum. During the 13th week of your pregnancy, your baby’s organs have already formed fully and have also begun working. Your baby can now swallow and pass urine. It is probably swallowing some amniotic fluid right now in your womb. Its kidneys are hard at work. Also, the intestines that existed in a cavity in the placenta until now will move to its supposed address, the baby’s abdomen.
Another new functional organ that your baby will develop this week is its vocal cords. You must be impatiently waiting for your little one to make some sweet feeble cooing or laughing sounds, this week holds the promise of that desire coming true after 6 months.
Pregnancy Week 13In addition to that, your baby is already on its path to develop its unique identity in the world! It has started developing its unique and everlasting fingerprints while you are only 13 weeks pregnant. The placenta is also all set in its own pace to grow. Now onwards, that you are already 13 weeks pregnant, the growth and development pace of your baby will be it’s own.
So do not worry yourself if Sharma Ji ka baby grows at a faster pace than your baby. It is completely okay and normal, every baby’s pace is different when it comes to growth. However, all of them endeavour and follow the same path of development.
13 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms
You are about to step into the second trimester of your pregnancy. The second trimester precedes its reputation as the easiest going trimester out of the three. Since you are 13 weeks pregnant, you may already start feeling at ease. Some of your pregnancy symptoms like nausea may start fading. However, you may still experience constipation and heartburn during this week as well.
1. Stretch marks
You must have always heard many women complaining about their pregnancy stretch marks. Well, after 13 weeks of pregnancy, you might want to join their club. During pregnancy, the skin grows rapidly and stretches as you progress. The expeditious changes in the skin, body weight, and hormones consequently cause stretch marks.
These stretch marks appear in places like the stomach, thighs, or breasts. These are thin red or purple lines that appear in these places. After fading, they may leave pale lines on your skin. Experiencing stretch marks during pregnancy is a very common symptom. About 50 to 90 percent of pregnant women experience the same.
2. Vaginal discharge
White or clear vaginal discharge is pretty common among women. Only pregnant women don’t need to have this discharge, many women have it on regular basis, and is a normal thing.
However, during pregnancy, this vaginal discharge may change a little bit in its color and texture. You may find the discharge more whitish and have a thin consistency. The amount of discharge or leukorrhea would increase. Although, this change is not a matter of concern.
3. Leaky breasts
Your breast has been constantly a victim of pregnancy symptoms since the very first week of your pregnancy. This week, when you are 13 weeks pregnant, your breasts will begin producing colostrum. Colostrum is a precursor to breast milk. It is a thick and sticky pigment that is usually yellow or orange in color. This might leak from your breast from time to time and is a common pregnancy symptom.
However, if you feel any pain or discomfort in your breasts, it might become a concerning issue and you should immediately consult your doctor.
4. More energy
This week you would be filled with exuberance and feel ebullient. This week you will be free of most of those uncomfortable and annoying pregnancy symptoms that have been with you throughout your first trimester. This energy is the onset of your second trimester.
13 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound
An ultrasound scan of a 13 weeks pregnant woman will show a lot of minute details of the growing baby. You can see your baby’s heartbeat beating and all his organs developed. The head that was half the length of its body is slowly becoming proportionate now. A scan in your 13th week of pregnancy can also help rule out the possibility of Down’s syndrome. Down’s syndrome can also be detected by measuring the nuchal thickness.
Pregnancy Week 13This scan will check and ensure that your baby does not have any abnormalities. Hence, you need to get an ultrasound check when you are 13 weeks pregnant to detect if your baby has abnormalities (if any).
Some Self-Care Tips for Pregnancy
Embrace your sex drive- Along with exuberance comes a rise in your sex drive. You have almost reached your second trimester which would make you feel amorous and foxy most of the time. The icing on the cake is the boost in eroticism actually has health benefits for you and the baby. Pregnancy sex can ensure faster postpartum recovery. It will help tighten your pelvic floor muscles and improve your mood and sleep cycle. Pregnancy sex can be fun and relaxing.
However, if you have a history of miscarriage or preterm labor, you might need to abstain from it. Consult your doctor and lead as per their advice.
Dealing with discharge- It is completely normal to experience increased vaginal discharge during pregnancy. However, you may feel a little uncomfortable. To maintain personal hygiene and get rid of this discomfort, wear pantyliners. They will keep your down there area clean and dry.
The second trimester is going to bring you some of the best pregnancy memories, so fasten your seatbelt and enjoy!
Also Read: Pregnancy Week 12: Checkpoint
