13 Weeks Pregnant

At 13 weeks pregnant, you’re about to begin what is sometimes called the honeymoon period of pregnancy—the second trimester. Your baby bump might start to show at 13 weeks and morning sickness may begin to ease. Keep reading to discover more about what happens at 13 weeks pregnant, including insights on your baby’s growth and development and the signs and symptoms you may experience.

Highlights at 13 Weeks Pregnant

Here are a few things to know and look forward to when you’re 13 weeks pregnant:

• Your little one is growing fast now, and their organs are fully formed.

• Your baby is starting to move and flex their arms and legs.

• Pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and fatigue may begin to ease at 13 weeks.

• You might notice some colostrum leaking from your breasts during this time. This thick, yellow fluid is considered your baby’s first milk in the first few days after birth.

• Your baby bump might be showing now or will be visible very soon, so you could consider snapping some pictures of your belly at 13 weeks pregnant and over the coming weeks to see those changes in action!

• Can you tell your baby’s gender at 13 weeks? This is still too early to find out your little one’s gender via ultrasound, but why not have some unscientific fun with our Chinese Gender Predictor:

13 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby’s Development

Keep up with your baby’s progress and find out what happens at 13 weeks pregnant:

• This week, your little one’s organs are fully formed and working hard!

• The kidneys are starting to produce urine and release it into the amniotic fluid, and the spleen is busy producing red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body.

• Your baby's intestines have moved back into the abdomen from the umbilical cord now that there’s enough room to accommodate them.

• Some of the larger bones, including those of the skull, are beginning to harden.

• Even though you won’t hear those coos and cries until after you give birth, your baby’s vocal cords have already started to develop.

• If you’re 13 weeks pregnant with twins, read more about your babies’ development in our twin pregnancy overview.

How Many Months Is 13 Weeks Pregnant?

You’re 13 weeks pregnant, but how many months is that? Speaking in months, at 13 weeks pregnant, you’re at the end of your third month of pregnancy. So, when does the second trimester start, at 13 or 14 weeks? To officially be in your second trimester, you’ll have to wait until 14 weeks!

Baby's Size at 13 Weeks Pregnant

Though you won’t have an ultrasound at 13 weeks pregnant, your baby is likely about the size of a large plum or small peach. Your little one could weigh more than 2 ounces.

Your Baby: What Does 13 Weeks Pregnant Look Like?

It can be hard to picture what’s going on with your fetus inside your belly at 13 weeks pregnant. Check out the visual below for an idea of what your little one might look like.

Your Body at 13 Weeks Pregnant

You’ve just about made it to your second trimester, which many describe as the honeymoon period of pregnancy.

The discomforts you may have experienced in the first trimester—fatigue, nausea, and frequent urination—often ease up and you may even feel a surge of energy during this trimester.

By this stage, your blood supply and flow are fully linked to the placenta, which will continue to grow as your pregnancy progresses. By the time you give birth, the placenta may weigh about one and a half pounds.

In a few weeks, your healthcare provider may begin monitoring your fundal height—the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus (the fundus). Measuring the size of your growing uterus helps your provider determine how your baby is doing.

Breast tenderness may continue on and off, and other pregnancy aches and pains and issues like constipation, bloating and heartburn are normal at this stage, too, as your increased hormone levels can slow down digestion.

Learn more about prenatal health, fitness, nutrition and more in our downloadable Pregnancy Guide.

13 Weeks Pregnant: Your Symptoms

Every pregnancy is unique. It’s difficult to predict what to expect at 13 weeks pregnant, but here are some of the symptoms you may be experiencing now or in the coming weeks:

• Vaginal discharge. A clear to milky-coloured discharge during pregnancy, known as leukorrhea, may increase around this week. You might be surprised to learn that this discharge has a unique purpose: It helps keep your vagina and birth canal clear of infection and irritation. If it gets a little messy, panty liners can be a big help. If your discharge is brown or foul-smelling, or if you notice spotting, painful cramping or bleeding at 13 weeks pregnant, contact your healthcare provider for advice.

• Changing sex drive. It's perfectly normal for you and your partner to feel an increase or a decrease in sexual desire at various times during pregnancy. If your pregnancy is normal and both of you feel the urge, go ahead and enjoy the intimacy. Don't worry—your baby will be safe! Your uterus and the amniotic sac provide protection for your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re worried or have questions about this or anything else. Note that your provider might advise you to abstain from sex during pregnancy if you have complications including a history of miscarriage or if you are at risk of preterm labor.

• Heartburn. Heartburn and indigestion can come and go throughout your pregnancy as your baby moves from one position to the next, and as your growing uterus puts pressure on your stomach. Pregnancy hormones also cause the muscle at the top of your stomach to relax, allowing stomach acid to travel up into the esophagus, which causes heartburn; this is more likely to happen if you lie down after having just eaten a large meal. You can reduce the discomfort by sitting upright after eating and avoiding potential triggers such as chocolate, citrus fruits and fried or spicy foods.

• Constipation. Pregnancy hormones strike again! Progesterone and oestrogen play an important role in pregnancy, but right now they might be causing your digestive system to work more slowly than usual. This means that you may be feeling somewhat backed up at 13 weeks pregnant and have some cramping. Adding more fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods to your diet increases your fiber intake and helps keep things moving along. Drinking prune juice might also help, as can drinking lots of water and doing regular exercise.

• Leaking colostrum. You may start to notice a thick, yellow fluid leaking from your breasts right about now. This is called colostrum, and it’s the milk that appears for the first few days after you give birth. It is completely normal, but you may want to try using disposable or cotton breast pads (without plastic liners) to help absorb any leaking fluid.

How Big Is a Pregnant Belly at 13 Weeks?

At 13 weeks pregnant, your baby is growing quickly and the changes in your body may be accelerating, meaning your pregnancy bump might start to show and become more obvious to others during this time. And, at 13 weeks pregnant, your uterus may be moving up higher and forward, as well as increasing in size. Your expanding uterus might cause some aches and pains in the muscles and ligaments surrounding it.

You may be wondering if you can feel the baby move at 13 weeks pregnant. Though your little one is moving around inside your uterus and starting to flex their arms and legs, they’re probably still too small for you to feel those movements. If you’re wondering, when can you feel your baby move, this tends to happen around 16 to 20 weeks and is called quickening.

What Does 13 Weeks Pregnant Look Like?

To get a better idea of what your pregnant belly might look like around thirteen weeks, when you’re reaching the end of your third month of pregnancy, check out the image below.

13 Weeks Pregnant: Things to Consider

At 13 weeks pregnant, you have a lot to think about, from sharing the good news to getting regular exercise. Read on for some things to consider:

• Have you shared the good news with your family and friends? The beginning of your second trimester is a great time to do this, because the risk of miscarriage is lower after the first three months. Of course, the decision about when to start spreading the word is totally up to you! Get inspired with our fun pregnancy announcement ideas.

• If you work, plan when you'll let your boss know that you’re expecting. Start to think about how you will share the news, and when. You’ll want to keep your employer and colleagues in the loop so they can make plans for accommodating your absence during your maternity leave. You might even like to have a little fun with announcing your pregnancy to co-workers.

• Working out? If yes, keep it up! If not, consider consulting your healthcare provider about starting a basic pregnancy fitness routine. If your provider gives you the all-clear, it could include things like walking, swimming and maybe yoga. Your body and mind will thank you—both during the last six months of your pregnancy and during your new baby’s first few months when increased levels of energy and fitness will help you deal with all the extra stress that’s placed on your body.

• If you are doing abdominal exercises that have you lying flat on your back, you may want to look for alternatives during pregnancy, since the weight from your uterus can cause less blood to return to your heart when you're in that position. Ask your healthcare provider for advice.

• It’s also worthwhile to pay attention to the pelvic floor muscles. The benefits of strengthening these muscles include improved bladder control and increased pelvic organ support. (The pelvic organs include the bladder, uterus, small intestine and rectum.) You can strengthen the pelvic floor by doing small Kegel exercises. Basically, these involve squeezing and relaxing the muscles in the pelvic and genital area.

• Now that you’re pregnant, you may be feeling forgetful or struggling to concentrate; you may also be more intense dreams that you did before. You’re not alone! Read up on the so-called “pregnancy brain” and learn why you may be experiencing more vivid dreams.

13 Weeks Pregnant: Questions for Your Healthcare Provider

• Why do I sometimes feel pain in my pelvic area? (Some lower back pain or pelvic pain at 13 weeks pregnant may be associated with round ligament pain resulting from things like your growing uterus, but consult with your healthcare provider about what’s normal and what isn’t.)

• Am I gaining the right amount of pregnancy weight? If not, what changes can I make to get on the right track?

• Is chorionic villus sampling recommended?

13 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist

Check out some to-dos to help you along during your pregnancy journey:

☐ Start doing research into your childcare options. You can ask friends, neighbors or coworkers for recommendations for in-home care or childcare centers. ☐ If you work, find out about your maternity leave rights and options, including how many weeks you may have, and how much of that time might be paid. You can also ask if your employer offers any additional benefits. ☐ Plan how to share your big news with your wider circle of family and friends. ☐ Start making a shortlist of possible names for your little one with the help of our Baby Name Generator. ☐ As you enter the second trimester, read up on the trimesters of pregnancy for an overview of what’s to come.

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}