WHAT’S GOING ON WITH BABY?
Week 13 of Pregnancy
Baby’s growth and size
Baby is about 3 inches this week, up almost a whole inch from last week! Baby is getting a whole lot closer to that 1-ounce mark, weighing in somewhere between 0.8 – 0.9 ounces.
While it might not seem like a lot, just remember where you started – 0.04 inches at week 4!
What’s new developmentally?
Baby’s skin is still thin and transparent at the moment, but it won’t be for long. And new this week, lanugo is starting to form.
Lanugo is a type of soft, fine hair that can be found on baby’s skin while in utero. Lanugo helps protect baby and keep baby warm while they are growing in your belly. For some babies, lanugo is still present at birth, especially if baby is a bit on the premature side!
Fun facts about your week 13 baby
- Baby is beginning to make urine
- Ovaries or testies are fully developed internally, external genitalia are still forming
- Baby’s eyelids remain fused shut to help protect their eyes
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH MAMA?
Week 13 of Pregnancy
13 week pregnancy symptoms
Some of those pesky early pregnancy symptoms might still be lingering but hopefully you are one step closer to feeling like yourself this week!
Some symptoms you might be continuing to experience in week 13:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Cravings and aversions
- Bloating
- Constipation and gas
- Heartburn
- Fatigue
- Vaginal discharge
- Changes in your sex drive
How should I be feeling at 13 weeks pregnant?
Congratulations, you made it to the final week of your first trimester! This is truly a cause for a celebration, mama!!
There is a good chance that the morning sickness and fatigue are both beginning to subside, if they haven’t already. And while you might be fortunate enough to say goodbye to some symptoms, you might be saying hello to some new ones this week or next.
Don’t worry though, a lot of women refer to the second trimester as the “honeymoon phase” so things should be looking up for you! And speaking of looking up, you might even notice an increase in your sex drive around this time, which might have you wondering if it’s safe to have sex during pregnancy.
If you are looking for the answer to this question and other sex during pregnancy questions, look no further than right here!
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
More Week 13 Info
13 weeks pregnant ultrasound
There are a few reasons why you might be receiving an ultrasound at 13 weeks pregnant. You should have had an initial ultrasound to confirm your pregnancy and verify your dating by this point, but if you haven’t then that might be done now.
The nuchal translucency screening (NT Scan), tests for chromosomal anomalies like Down syndrome, is typically performed between after 11 weeks and before the completion of week 14. And you are still inside that window!
The NT Scan is time sensitive, and it’s so important to complete it prior to 14 weeks for accuracy. This test is a screening test only and would require additional testing to confirm a positive result.
To learn more about genetic screening tests, high risk pregnancies, and more, take a listen to my podcast interview with OBGYN, Marta Perez!
13 weeks pregnant is how many months?
You are going to hear pregnancy discussed in weeks the majority of time. If, however you are wondering about how many months you are at 13 weeks, the answer is three months.
This can be a bit confusing, as you will be in your third month for a few weeks, but at 13 weeks pregnant you are in the final week of your third month!
13 weeks pregnant belly still soft
A lot of things impact when you start showing in pregnancy and why all baby bumps look different. If you find that your belly looks more like you just consumed Thanksgiving dinner and less like a cute little bump at 13 weeks, do not fret, you certainly are not alone.
A soft pregnant belly at 13 weeks is not a cause for concern and is likely related to genetics and your body shape and size more than anything else. Learn more about your pregnant belly and when you start showing in this article on the blog!
13 weeks pregnant with twins
Do you have more than one sweet baby growing in there? You are in the right place to learn more about being 13 weeks pregnant with twins! To be entirely honest, there’s not a huge difference just yet. Your babies might be a tad smaller than a singleton but are likely very similar in weight and length, about 0.8 ounces and 3 inches.
Developmentally, your babies are doing all the same things as a singleton. You can expect them to be pretty much fully developed in terms of internal organs, facial features, hair, and teeth. Your babies also have fingerprints – different fingerprints at that!
How is mama feeling? With twins, it’s not uncommon for those first trimester symptoms to linger a little bit longer, but hopefully not too long. For the most part though, you will be feeling the same things that were previously mentioned.
It might be smart to go ahead and invest in a good pregnancy pillow. With two babies in there instead of one, your sleep might start getting interrupted a bit earlier. There are so many different shapes and sizes of maternity pillows. If you need help narrowing it down to one, you can check out the ones I have on my Amazon Storefront!
And for more twin resources, look no further than here:
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH YOUR BUMP?
13 Weeks Pregnant Belly
1. Jane
2. Mary
3. Jo
TIPS & RESOURCES
Tips for 13 Weeks Pregnant
- Continue taking your prenatal vitamin – taking it at night or with food might help it go down easier – these are the ones I took during my pregnancy
- Aim to drink 10 glasses of water a day (easier said than done, I know)
- Consider investing in a pregnancy pillow – I have a couple on my Amazon Storefront to help you narrow your search
- Familiarize yourself with pregnancy safe exercises and the benefits for whenever you feel ready to get your bump moving
- Review foods to avoid during pregnancy
- Establish healthy sleep habits
- Make a point to check in with your mental health – it’s never too early to start doing this
- Sign up for MLN weekly pregnancy updates to stay up to date on everything going on with your pregnancy. So much good information and it’s all free!
TIPS & RESOURCES From MLN
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TIPS & RESOURCES From MLN
Podcast Episodes
