Week 13 – Nutriholland | Baby Milk from Netherlands

13 Weeks Pregnant: Pregnancy Symptoms & Baby Development

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13 weeks pregnant is how many months?

Month 3(Trimester 1)

Baby development at 13 week

Your baby’s vocal cords are developing.

Pregnancy symptoms

You’re out of your first trimester - are your pregnancy symptoms?

Healthy Diet & nutrition

Keep things running smoothly with fibre.

Baby development at 13 weeks

What does my baby look like? And, what size is my baby?

At 13 weeks pregnant your baby will be around 7cm in size and weigh about 25g¹, roughly the same as a small peach.

Your baby is now growing rapidly and is quite active, with lots of stretching, kicking and turning – although it’s unlikely you’ll feel their movements yet.

Other developments include your baby’s vocal cords, as well as their eyes and ears, which are moving into position on their head. Talking of which, your baby’s head will grow at a slower rate than the rest of their body so their proportions will start to look more human. By week 21 it will be around a third of the size of their body, but at birth it will be a quarter of the size.

Inside your baby’s body, the liver and pancreas are starting to function. Depending on their sex, their ovaries or testes will be fully formed, and outside, genitals will now start developing too. However, it’s still a little early to determine their sex.

Pregnancy at 13 weeks (second trimester)

What’s happening in my body?

It’s small, but you should be able to see your baby bump as your womb moves upwards and outwards. This is good news if you’ve felt the urge to pee lots: as your womb moves it will ease bladder pressure. (If you notice any pain while you pee, see your midwife or doctor, as you may have an infection.)

There’s a lot more blood in your pelvic area and some women find this sends their sex drive rocketing. Sex in pregnancy is perfectly safe, unless you’ve been told otherwise by your doctor or midwife⁴.

The other major development this week is your placenta. It should now be fully-developed but will continue to grow in size throughout your pregnancy.Your placenta is connected to your baby through the umbilical cord and helps deliver oxygen, nutrients, hormones and antibodies to your child. It also removes waste from your baby. Yet, despite all this dedicated hard work, you won’t notice anything.

Pregnancy symptoms at 13 weeks

Pain

You may experience pains on the side of your belly. These are caused by your expanding womb (known as ‘round ligament pains’).

Bloating and constipation

These are common early in pregnancy due to hormonal changes in your body. They can make you feel a little nauseous and possibly experience tummy ache

Indigestion and heartburn

These digestive problems are caused by your baby growing into some of the space your stomach occupies, and your changing hormones

Infections

With more blood around your pelvic area, your body creates a milky fluid called leucorrhoea to keep your vagina clean and free from infection. If you notice it start to smell strongly, change colour or texture, then you may have an infection and should see your midwife

Symptoms from your first trimester

You may have started your second trimester, but that doesn’t mean symptoms like morning sickness, odd cravings, mood swings and spotting will clear overnight. Some can linger.

Painful gums

The bad news is that your hormones make you more vulnerable to picking up gum disease. The good news is that you’re entitled to free dental care throughout your pregnancy, and for 12 months after your baby is born.

Focus on fibre

Fibre is an important part of a healthy pregnancy diet, yet many women aren’t getting enough. Learn how this plant-based substance helps keep you regular when you’re more susceptible to constipation, and which high-fibre foods can help with constipation.

Fibre facts

Fibre is an important part of a healthy pregnancy diet as it keeps your digestive system running smoothly.

Found in plant-based foods, fibre is the part of the plant that your body can’t digest. By moving through the body, rather than being absorbed, it helps other waste to pass through more efficiently.

Research has also shown that a fibre-rich diet can help increase the number of good bacteria in your gut, and help them increase the production of protective substances like short-chain fatty acids.

Key sources of fibre

Bran and wholemeal flour – found in many breakfast cereals and bread.
Oats – eat porridge for a fibre-rich start to the day.
Brown rice – opt for this high-fibre version over white varieties.
Root vegetables – carrots and potatoes are good sources.
Fruit – including dried fruit. Apricots and figs are especially rich in fibre.

Flaxseed is an increasingly popular supplement as it’s rich in fibre and nutrients including omega oils. However, it isn’t recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women due to contradictory findings about its potential health benefits in your baby

THE
SCIENCE
BEHIND

FIBRE

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There are two types of fibre: soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fibre does’t dissolve in water and isn’t broken down by the body. Instead, it passes through your system, absorbing water along the way and helping other foods move through.

Soluble fibre absorbs water, making stools softer and easier to pass. It also binds with cholesterol and fatty acids, slows the rate of sugar absorption and maintains natural PH levels of the intestine. Fibre also lowers cholesterol levels and can help reduce your risk of heart problems.