So you’re 13 weeks pregnant…
This is it!
The end of the 13th week marks the momentous occasion of leaving the first trimester and entering the second. By the end of this week, you will be one-third of the way done with your pregnancy, and you should begin to feel more “normal” and regain some energy.
This seems to be the go-to time period of announcing pregnancies to family and friends, as the risk of miscarriage decreases the further into pregnancy you go.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 15-20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. But if you’re still nervous about miscarriage, take into consideration that 80% of miscarriages that do occur take place in the first trimester, and you should feel some assurance about moving into the second.
But please note that that miscarriages are usually random and unexplained. Having a miscarriage is not a shameful event, and if you do have one, reach out for support if you need it. It’s not something you need to—or should—go through alone.
Baby’s Development
Baby is now measuring about 2.9 inches long (another half an inch in growth since the past week!) and weighs up to .8 ounces.
Baby’s unique features are well underway, including those one-of-a-kind fingertips. That pattern will be completely formed by the middle of the pregnancy.
And baby is adopting some more “baby-like” qualities, such as developing the urge to suck his/her thumb.
One of the most incredible facts to consider: If baby is a girl, her ovaries are developing and contain 2 million eggs!
And while you’re probably eager to know the sex of the baby, an ultrasound this early won’t be definitive. If you opt for the non-invasive prenatal screenings to check for chromosomal abnormalities, you could find out the sex, but the big ultrasound reveal will happen closer to 20 weeks at the anatomy scan.
BABY IS THE SIZE OF A PEAPOD!