Pregnancy Week - 13 Weeks Pregnant

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Pregnancy Week 12< >Week by Week Guide Index< >Pregnancy Week 14

Pregnancy Week 13

What's a tired mom-to-be to do? Buy a Snoozer Pillow

**Please note- Your Due Date is calculated from your last menstrual period, which corresponds to our Pregnancy Week by Week articles.

Week 13

Your Baby's Growth and Development
By the end of pregnancy week 13 your baby looks like a tiny yet fully formed baby. While your baby's head is still quite large, his body is starting to catch up. Your baby's eyes are starting to move closer together by pregnancy 13 weeks. Up until this point in time they rested closely along the sides of the head. Your baby's intestines are also moving further into their body, and your baby's tiny pancreas starts producing insulin, which will be vital for regulating your baby's sugar levels later in life!

Your Growth and Development
Your uterus is continuing to grow at pregnancy week 13, and as it does you may start feeling some aching or discomfort in your abdomen. This is perfectly normal. The ligaments that surround your uterus will stretch in the upcoming weeks to accommodate your baby, and this stretching often results in what is called round ligament pain.

Round ligament pain is fairly common by 13 weeks pregnant, but can be alarming if you have never experienced it before. It usually presents as a brief but sharp or stabbing pain in your abdomen, but you may also feel a dull ache in the lower abdomen that lasts for a short time. Most often women feel this when they get up suddenly or change position. You might feel this pain as you attempt to roll over swiftly in the bed.

If you experience any pain that is accompanied by other symptoms however, such as cramping, bleeding or vomiting you should call your doctor immediately. Usually round ligament pain doesn't last more than a few minutes. If you have persistent pain something else might be going on that warrants a trip to your doctor.

In most cases simply relaxing can relieve round ligament pain. Be sure you rest comfortable and discontinue any activity that was causing you discomfort. Try to remember to get up slowly each time you get out of bed or move to the sofa. This will become more and more necessary as your uterus continues to expand and you grow larger and larger.

Discuss With Other Mothers To Be!

Click Here To See What Other Mothers Are Experiencing At Week 13

Changes in You
Congratulations! For many women pregnancy week 13 is a time to celebrate. A pregnancy at 13 weeks means you are entering your second trimester, which means your risk for miscarriage drops substantially. You are much more likely to carry your baby to term now that you have made it to 13 weeks. Some women however are still at risk for miscarrying through their 20th week. In certain circumstances a woman might be diagnosed as having an incompetent cervix.

An incompetent cervix is the result of a cervix that is too weak to stay closed during pregnancy. Typically what happens when a woman has an incompetent cervix is the baby is delivered too early to survive. This relatively uncommon problem is usually the cause of up to 25 percent of second trimester losses. A diagnosis of an incompetent cervix can be made using an ultrasound or manually. Generally an incompetent cervix is diagnosed when the cervix is open more than 2.5 cm during pregnancy, or when the length is less than 20mm.

Unfortunately an incompetent cervix is often only diagnosed after a woman has had one or two late miscarriages, or miscarriages that occur in the second trimester. There are some circumstances that may increase a woman's risk of suffering from this disorder, including: cervical trauma, congenital disorders and a previous D&C. Fortunately there is a procedure called a cerclage that can be used to stitch the cervix closed. This is typically done between weeks 14 and 16, and usually allows a woman to carry their baby to term. Remember however that most women will not have an incompetent cervix, and will have a high chance of carrying their baby to term after the 13th week mark.

You will also probably start feeling remarkably better in the upcoming weeks. Instead of feeling tired all the time and nauseous, you may find that you have a newfound sense of health and vigor.

By 13 weeks pregnant you will want to wear loose fitting clothing. You still might not be big enough to fit into maternity clothes, but chances are your favorite pair of jeans are no longer your favorite simply because they do not fit as well.

Your breasts will continue to change throughout your pregnancy week by week. In addition to the darkening of your areolas, you might start noticing the
veins in your breasts are more prominent. Some women also start developing larger benign bumps on their breasts during pregnancy. These lumpy bumps surrounding the areola are glands that will grow and develop as your pregnancy continues.

Pregnancy Pillow
Comfortable Companions During and After Pregnancy

Many people assume a pregnancy pillow is a must have item only during pregnancy. This couldn't be further from the truth however. A pregnancy pillow is definitely advantageous during pregnancy. Good quality pillows like the Snoozer Pregnancy Pillows are an inexpensive and easy way to help relieve back pain and support your abdomen during pregnancy.

Many pregnant women however, find a pregnancy pillow a must have item for years following the delivery of their newborn baby. Even their partners enjoy the long term benefits of a pregnancy pillow. Anyone can benefit from a pregnancy pillow. A pregnancy pillow is the ideal companion to a good night's sleep!

Maternity Clothes
The Inside Scoop On Maternity Tees

Want to know what many women find most comfortable to wear during their pregnancy? Why, maternity tees of course! Tops and Tees, found at Motherhood Maternity (Mother Works, Inc.) provide all the comfort of ordinary tees with just a little extra room for expansion… something you will need during the next 9 months! Many maternity tees are specially designed with expectant mothers in mind. They may have cute logos that tell onlookers whether you are having a boy or girl (and even twins in some cases!) or other classy pictures. The majority of maternity tees come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. You can mix and match plain ones with more dramatic, colorful concoctions.

If you are considering wardrobe essentials during your pregnancy, don’t forget to add maternity tees from Motherhood Maternity to your list of must haves! Once you have one you’ll find you can’t live without it!

Pregnancy Health Tips
Many women find that their libido returns after pregnancy at 13 weeks and throughout the second trimester. Many women in fact find they are more easily aroused in part due to the increased blood flowing through all parts of their body, including the genitals. Some women find that intercourse is particularly arousing and others find their orgasms more intense than normal during the second trimester.

Along with an increased sex drive however sometimes come misgivings, which can occur in either partner. You may find your partner is eager to have sex with you now that you are feeling better, but is afraid that intercourse may harm the baby. By and large, sex during pregnancy is safe for most women, provided you do not have a high-risk pregnancy or are at risk for pre-term labor. If you still have misgivings, or if you find your partner is having misgivings, consider bringing him with you to your next appointment so your healthcare provider can help alleviate any concerns you might be having. Often this in and of itself is another way to initiate sexual intimacy.

If you are still having problems connecting with your partner, it is important that you talk with them openly about your needs, wants, desires and concerns. It is important for your partner to understand that pregnancy can bring on feelings of depression, emotional liability, self-esteem issues, body image issues and personal feelings regarding control. Try approaching your partner from a non threatening standpoint, and let them know your feelings. You should also work together with your partner to understand their feelings, which will help resolve any sexual difficulties you may be having.

As your belly expands, you will undoubtedly have to come up with new and creative positions to engage in during sexual activity. This can be a fun and entertaining process for both partners. Keep in mind however that while some women find the site of their partners growing and blossoming body very arousing, others are turned off. This is not a reflection of how beautiful you are, all pregnant women are very beautiful, goddesses in fact in the eyes of mankind. The miracle of birth typically makes women more beautiful during pregnancy than at any other time in their life.

If you find that your partner simply cannot overcome their fear of sexual intimacy during pregnancy, or find that your partner is turned off by pregnancy in general, remember that intimacy can still be expressed in many different ways. It is important that you remain close to your partner because you will need them for support and encouragement throughout your pregnancy. There are many forms of sexual intimacy that do not involve intercourse. You and your partner can try a number of things to pleasure one another without actually engaging in intercourse, and find this practice mutually satisfying throughout your pregnancy.

You may also find times when you simply feel too big and uncomfortable for sex. This is another time when communication is very important, so your partner understands that you are not rejecting them, but you simply do not feel like 'your old self' at times. Remember when you communicate openly and honestly with your partner, the possibilities are endless. Your relationship will continue to be strong and remain close as long as you remember to speak freely and honestly with your partner, and ask that they do the same throughout your pregnancy.