Well, you have completed the first trimester of your pregnancy and will now step into the second trimester of your pregnancy. Your baby is now about 28 grams and 8 cm long and is just like a Lemon. By this week, your baby’s eyes are formed, but they are not open properly. It is during this time that your baby develops its vocal cords and getting more balance with the rest of the body.

Since your baby is undergoing different changes, your body will also experience certain various changes.

How many months are you pregnant at 13 weeks?

Generally, doctors track pregnancy by weeks and not months however now you are three months pregnant and this will be the last week of your first trimester. Treat yourself something as you completed your first milestone so wonderfully

Pregnancy Symptoms at 13 weeks:

• Reduced Fatigue: Since your body has been more or less adjusted to pregnancy, you will feel less fatigued than in the earlier days. If you find yourself energetic, then try and exercise often so as to drain this energy. However, make sure you don’t overstrain yourself.
• Food Cravings and Aversions: It may happen that you don’t like a certain food or enjoy certain food, don’t be worried. This is natural that you have such food cravings and aversions. Try and find healthy, appealing food so that you can munch on it. Also, you can indulge in that pizza or fudge brownie if it appeals to you on some days; it’s absolutely okay.
• Indigestion: Heartburn and indigestion are quite common during this period. It happens because of your bodily changes. Generally, when you are pregnant, the ring of the muscle at the top of the stomach relaxes, thereby allowing digestive acids to rise up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest. Try to reduce the pain by avoiding certain kinds of food like caffeinated drinks, chocolate, spicy foods, etc.
• Constipation: Just like pregnancy hormones induces the stomach muscles to relax; similarly, your bowel muscle also tends to relax, thereby making it difficult to move waste out of your body efficiently. Try and eat high fiber food like fruits and vegetables and grains and try and drink a lot of water.
• Faintness or lightheadedness: It may happen that you are still experiencing lightheadedness. In order to reduce this, don’t get up quickly when you are sitting in a position for long. Try and take adequate sleep and have your meals on time. Though lightheadedness may remain, but the frequency will be reduced.

Your belly at 13 weeks

Most early pregnancy symptoms will start to fade by now, and you will be experiencing certain other changes. With stepping into the second trimester, you will experience vaginal discharge. During pregnancy, the amount of vaginal discharge increases. Relax; it’s common and is not a concern. Also, during this period, you start experiencing purple or red lines on your belly, breasts, and thighs. Now, this is normal as stretch marks tend to show up as the skin grows and stretches quite quickly. This also happens due to genetics and hormones. OBs recommend that you gain weight in the healthiest way possible which means slowly and steadily throughout your pregnancy. Since your fetus is growing quite rapidly, your uterus is stretching and you will have quite an itchy belly skin.

The ultrasound at the 13^th week of Pregnancy

Generally, at the 13-week ultrasound, you would be able to detect the baby’s sex however since it’s difficult to identify your baby’s genitals clearly your doctor may wait till 18 to 22 weeks to explain whether you will be having a girl or a boy

• Prenatal Visit: If you didn’t visit the doctor last week, then you have to do so this week. Generally, during this week, the doctor will take care of your weight, blood pressure, and urine.
• Special Treatment: This is not for all, but if you are a mom who has lost their child in the second trimester or has a family history of cervical dilation, then the doctor might provide a special procedure for you. In this procedure, the doctor provides giving a cervical cerclage. This is generally placed in week 12 between week 14 of pregnancy, generally, the doctor stitches the cervix so as to prevent it from opening or shortening it too early so as to avoid any chances of preterm birth. Don’t worry, these stitches can be removed at 37 weeks.

13 Weeks Pregnancy Tips

• Do take your prenatal vitamins properly.
• Drink about 10 to 12 glasses of water every day
• Try and eat a lot of different types of nutritious food containing calcium and magnesium.
• Make sure that your doctor or midwife is perfect for you, and if not satisfied, you can consider looking for better practitioners.
• A urinary tract infection if left untreated can travel to the kidneys and can pose a risk for both the mother and the baby. So do keep a check if you feel that your urine smells or you feel burning during urination, do consult your doctor right away.
• Since you feel quite energetic now, try to exercise and strengthen your pelvic muscles.

To-Do List for this Week

• Talk to your boss that you are pregnant and discussing maternity leave.
• If you have an older child, try to start preparing them for the baby’s arrival
• Start planning about child care for the baby.