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At the end of this week, you’ll be entering your second trimester when you can look forward to feeling a little better, sporting a cute bump and getting that pregnancy ‘glow.’ Here’s more on what’s happening in week 13.
How Big is Baby?
Baby keeps growing! At week 13, your little one is just under 3 inches long. That’s about the length of three quarters.
What’s New with Baby?
By this week, your little babe’s organs are fully formed. Putting those organs to work, baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and excreting urine every few hours. Their intestines are moving from a cavity inside the umbilical cord to their permanent location—in their abdomen.
What’s New with Mom?
Feeling a little more like yourself, Mom? If not yet, you should soon. “As you enter into the second trimester, you’ll usually have increased energy and less nausea or vomiting,” says Dr. Joanna Forbes, an Ob/Gyn at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Still, you might be feeling like a different version of you. “I usually tell patients that they may feel bloated but not pregnant. They don’t have a defined bump yet,” Forbes continues.
Joanna Forbes, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in all aspects of general Ob/Gyn, including well-woman exams and minimally invasive Ob/Gyn surgery.
Shivani Patel, M.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in maternal-fetal consults and cares for women with high-risk pregnancies, babies with health issues that are detected in utero, and complications that arise during pregnancy itself.
Fun Fact
How’s this for cute: By week 13, baby is coordinated enough to begin sucking their thumb. It’s good practice—they’ll need that sucking reflex when it comes to feeding time!
What to Know About the Second Trimester
A boost in energy (and maybe your sex drive), feeling baby kick, finding out their gender—there is so much to look forward to in your second trimester. This stage of pregnancy is sometimes called the “honeymoon period” because you’re likely feeling your best. Enjoy it, Mom!
The second trimester lasts through week 27. During this time, you’ll still see your doctor once a month. Your provider will begin measuring something called the fundal height, or the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your belly, to make sure baby is growing.
You’ll also have a more in-depth ultrasound in this trimester to ensure baby’s development and check for any abnormalities. This usually happens between 18 to 20 weeks, and you’ll get a good look at baby—and learn their gender!
You’ll also be offered some testing in the second trimester. “At the 16 week visit we offer to check AFP (alpha-fetoprotein),” says Forbes. “This is a genetic test to evaluate for neural tube defects. The sonographer will also look for these abnormalities in an ultrasound, so this is an optional test.”
In the second trimester, you’ll also start feeling your baby move. “Most women start feeling the baby move closer to 20 weeks, but many start feeling something around 15–20 weeks,” says Dr. Shivani Patel, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at UT Southwestern. “This something is usually described as flutterings or the feeling of a butterfly in their stomach.” In no time, those kicks, wiggles and jabs will be hard to miss. And by the end of this trimester, others will be able to touch your belly and feel the baby move too. How exciting!
As your body continues to change—and your belly really starts to grow—you might want to treat yourself. The second trimester is a perfect time for a prenatal massage.
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This blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice or professional services. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
The above article was written by DFWChild editor Amanda Collins Bernier with information provided by UT Southwestern Medical Center as part of their sponsored content.
