Pregnancy Week 13

Written by Lone Parenting Advisor

Pregnancy week 13 is the beginning of the second trimester of pregnancy. The second trimester of pregnancy is the second stage of pregnancy, from week 13 to week 28 of your pregnancy or month three to month six of pregnancy.

The removal of the pressure from the bladder is said to be a huge relief in pregnant women and a sudden new lease of energy and happiness has been reported to happen to women during pregnancy week 13.

You may notice little changes to your body like sudden nosebleeds or gums bleeding when brushing teeth. These changes are usually due to the levels of the hormone progesterone being increased and this happens in the placenta.

The growth of the foetus is more evident now in week 13 of pregnancy as clothing around the waistline may appear to be more restricting as the stomach tightens up and starts to protrude a little. You will definately be able to notice the changes to your stomach and feeling fat is a common response from expectant mothers in week 13 of their pregnancy.

During week 13 of pregnancy you could now be able to feel the baby moving inside of you, but with some uncertainty, this will become more certain in the coming weeks.

Foetal Development

The foetus will now be weighng around 50 grams and should be measuring approximately 8.5cm in length. as a growth spurt has been evident.

The growth of the feotus is more rapid as each week passes and little movements by the foetus are said to be felt and described like flutters. The head of the foetus however does grow faster than that of the body of the foetus, but this is perfectly normal. The midwife upon examination of your tummy should be able to feel for the fundus, the fundus is the medical term for the top of the uterus.

The foetus will now be developing a gag reflex and growth of the nasal passages takes place in week 13 of pregnancy.

The bowels are still advancing and meconium is still being produced within the bowels. Meconium is the bowel movement producing faeces.

Ossification of the bones of the foetus will continue now the process as begun, which again means the soft cartilage bones are beginning to strengthen from the centre outwards.

Ultrasound

The crown to rump length of the foetus is about 8.5cm in length at week 13 of pregnancy.

The doppler can definately be used to measure the heartbeat of the baby with much clearer results at week 13 of pregnancy.