Pregnancy Week 13
 |
 |
 |
|---|
Your Baby's Growth and Development
 |
|---|
By pregnancy week 13 your baby is taking on a whole new shape! You would now recognize your little bean as a miniature but fully formed looking baby if you were to peer into your belly with a microscope. Your baby is actually quite large by now, a whopping 3 inches long in some cases and weighs in at roughly .7 ounces. Still, this is small potatoes compared to how large you're baby will get in the upcoming months.
By 13 weeks pregnant your baby's intestines are working on maturing and your baby's tiny pancreas is working hard to produce insulin. This will help your baby regulate her blood sugar levels in the months and years following delivery. During pregnancy week 13 your baby's eyes also start to move closer to the center of your baby's head.
Changes In Your Body
During pregnancy 13 weeks you'll notice some aching or discomfort in your lower abdomen. This is very normal and typically associated with stretching necessary for your uterus to grow. Many women experience sharp pains at times on one or both sides of their abdomen. This is often referred to as round ligament pain, and is common from about 13 weeks pregnant on.
Once you start looking pregnant, you will also start to notice you FEEL pregnant, and sometimes this is comfortable (while others it is not). So what can you do? One way you can become more comfortable in your “skin” when pregnant is by using a Snoozer Full Body Pregnancy Pillow. You will notice as your belly becomes bigger it is difficult to move from one side to the other at night. Owning a pregnancy pillow can help you shift around in bed easily. In fact, some women buy two pregnancy pillows; you can have one on each side of you, or one upstairs and one downstairs if you decide to nap on a cozy couch or easy chair. Don’t be surprised if your partner tries to steal your full body pregnancy pillow. They are very comfortable! A pregnancy pillow is also a valuable tool for supporting your back and your knees during pregnancy. This is one must have item you will find useful during AND after your pregnancy. Take it from a pro… a pregnancy pillow is THE most comfortable pillow in the world, especially when you need a little extra support under your belly.
While at times alarming, round ligament pain is usually nothing serious and often very brief. It resolves with a slight change in position. I often noticed round ligament pain flaring up when I moved suddenly from one position to the next. To help avoid the discomfort associated with round ligament pain, try resting up and taking your time when moving from one position to the next.
Round ligament pain should not persist. You can differentiate round ligament pain from other problems if vomiting, cramping or bleeding accompanies your symptoms. If you do experience pain with any of these symptoms be sure to contact your health care provider immediately.
For me round ligament pain was always most severe when rising out of bed in the morning or off the sofa from a side lying position. You can help reduce round ligament pain by consciously rising as I like to say, or simply relaxing and getting up slowly. You'll find this is necessary anyway as your uterus continues to grow and expand throughout your pregnancy.
Second Trimester News
I should have started this post by saying, "Congratulations!" because as of now you are entering your second trimester. I know for most women this is a time of huge relieve, because your risk for miscarriage drops substantially after 13 weeks pregnancy.
Most women who make it this far are very likely to carry their baby's to term. Still, there are some women who are at risk for miscarrying through their 20th week, but this is typically rare and associated with certain physical problems like an incompetent cervix.
Your doctor will continue to monitor your pregnancy closely throughout your second trimester. You can start to expect more weight gain as you continue your pregnancy week by week from this point on.
Soon you'll also start taking advantage of the many maternity fashions available on the market today! Remember as you continue your journey during pregnancy you'll want to select a wide range of items that enhance your comfort and security during pregnancy. Try avoid wearing anything that is tight fitting and definitely select a few items that leave room for expansion in the upcoming weeks!
Many women can get by buying just a few maternity staples for their pregnancy wardrobe and maternity intimate apparel. These may include a pair of maternity jeans, maternity slacks or khaki's, a skirt and a pair of shorts, and a variety of mix and match t-shirts and blouses.
Read next about your baby's growth and development, as well as the changes in your body during pregnancy week 14.
