Week 13 of a pregnancy marks an important time for both the mother and baby, as the second trimester gets underway and the baby continues to grow and develop. During this week, the baby’s most important organs and body systems are now in place and beginning to function, while the mother can start to feel the baby’s movements more clearly.
For the mother, her baby’s first movements will be a joy to feel and will become more frequent and more obvious as the weeks progress. She may also start to experience “quickening”, where the baby’s movements make her more aware of her growing baby. Other physical changes at this stage include an increase in breast size and tenderness, and an increase in appetite. It’s also a good time to start taking regular walks and gentle exercise as this can help to keep the mother healthy, fit, and relaxed during her pregnancy.
For the baby, Week 13 marks an exciting time of development. The baby’s fingerprints will start to form, the nose will become more clearly defined, and the ear’s shape will begin to take on its final form. Its arms and legs will start to grow at a much faster rate, and the overall size of the baby will double in length over the next five weeks.
At this stage in her pregnancy, the mother should continue to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, and get as much rest as possible. It’s also a good time to find out more about the birthing options available to her, so that she will be well prepared for her baby’s arrival.