Your pregnancy by week: Weeks 13-16
Week 13
Baby: Your baby is growing fast! The eyes are in place, the ankles
and wrists have formed, and although the head is still out of proportion, the
rest of the body is beginning to tighten.
Mom-to-be: your uterus has grown a lot. Now it fills your pelvis
and starts pushing up into your belly. It probably looks like a soft, smooth
ball. If you haven't gained weight yet due to morning sickness, you will start
gaining weight as soon as you feel better.
Tip of the week:
invite your partner to accompany you for a checkup. They may like the
opportunity to hear the baby's heartbeat.
Week 14
Baby: Your baby's ears move from the neck to the sides of the head,
the neck lengthens and the chin becomes more prominent. Unique facial features
and fingerprints in place. Your child begins to react to external stimuli. If
you prick the stomach, the child will try to squirm.
Mom-to-be:
You're probably wearing maternity clothes now. Your skin and muscles begin to
stretch to accommodate your growing baby. You may notice some constipation as
pregnancy hormones relax the intestines.
Tip of the week:
Try to get rid of constipation by doing moderate exercise, drink plenty of
fluids and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Week 15
Baby: Your baby's body is covered with very fine hair called
lanugo, which usually falls out at birth. Eyebrows and hair on the top of the
head begin to grow, bones become harder, and the baby may even suck his thumb.
Mom-to-be:
the uterus can be felt approximately 7.5-10 cm below the navel. Over the next
five weeks, you will be asked to have a blood test called a four-marker
screening test to check for Down syndrome. You may also be offered an
amniocentesis, in which a small sample of amniotic fluid is examined using an
ultrasound-guided needle for 18 weeks. You can discuss with your doctor which
prenatal tests you may need.
Tip of the week:
start learning to sleep on your left side; your treatment is better that way.
You can try placing pillows behind you and between your legs. Some pregnancy
pillows support your entire body.
Week 16
Baby: You can hear the
baby's heartbeat in the doctor's office. Thin hair, lanugo, can grow on the
head. Arms and legs move, the nervous system works.
Mom-to-be: Over
the next few weeks, you may start to feel your baby moving, which is called
"speeding up." Often this looks like a gas bubble or a slight
flutter. Since this happens more regularly, you will know that it is your
child. Your body is changing in many other ways. Increasing the volume of blood
to support your child's growth can cause nosebleeds, and you may notice that
the veins in your legs become more visible. The good news is that because your
uterus is moving, you may not need to urinate as often.
Tip of the week: If
the veins in your legs swell, you can wear compression stockings, elevate your
legs whenever you can, and exercise to improve circulation.
What is happening inside you?
Your child's fingers and toes
are well defined; it forms eyelids, eyebrows, eyelashes, nails and hair. Teeth
and bones become denser. Your little one can even suck his thumb, yawn, stretch
and make funny faces.
The baby's reproductive and genital organs are now fully developed and your healthcare provider can see on an ultrasound if you're expecting a boy or a girl. You don't need to know the gender of the baby yet, it's up to you.