Congratulations, you excelled in the first trimester of your pregnancy with new experiences while waiting to enjoy the bundle of surprises coming up at the end of this journey. Pregnancy during the first trimester is definitely a challenging phase however, give yourself a pat on the back as you have reached the 13th week of your pregnancy journey!

The size of the baby

The size of your baby during the 13th-week of pregnancy is similar to a peapod. The growth of your baby is constant.

Weight/height of the baby

Your baby is around 7cm when measured from the head towards the coccyx. The weight of your baby during this stage is around 25g.

About your baby

During the 13 weeks, your baby has full eyelids in the closed position. The proportion of head to body ratio is altering as their head covers 1/3^rd of the entire length. The tips of the fingers have well-formed finger patterns. Your baby is growing rapidly during this stage and will try to suck the thumb within their oral cavity. The ankles and the wrists of your baby are well-formed at this stage with eyes moving down to the original position. The reproductive organs of your baby are fully formed, i.e. ovaries in girls and testis in boys. The pronounced swelling located between the legs of the fetus is rapidly growing to form the clitoris for baby girls and the penis for baby boys.

About your body

The uterus of the mom-to-be starts expanding in size, filling up the pelvic region. You will not feel any morning sickness or nausea during this stage as these symptoms are mostly involved during the first trimester. You can now have your favourite meals and gain some weight! However, you will feel an increased urge to pee frequently as the uterus is growing up within the abdominal cavity instead of putting pressure over the urinary bladder. During the 13th week, many women experience increased libido either due to the increased blood flow, or active pregnancy hormones.

Do & Don’ts / Advice / Checklist / Tips

• Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle
• Eat a balanced diet containing fruits and vegetables
• Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water
• Avoid consuming extra calories as 300-350 calories are enough for the growing baby

CHECKLIST:

• Involve your partner in this journey and give them a chance to know your upcoming baby. Ask him to come up for the next ultrasound and get a chance to hear your baby’s heartbeat
• You might feel intimate during the second trimester so get connected with your partner during this phase
• There is a high risk of getting UTI’s so be cautious about that

Follow these simple tips and checklist & enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

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