Pregnancy Calendar - Week 13

Week 13

Your baby will now be weighing 28 grams, about one ounce. The intestines are now starting to move from the umbilical cord to the stomach, and the villi are even beginning to form in the intestines. Your baby's pancreas is formed and functioning and already secreting insulin.

As you near the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, your placenta has developed and is providing your baby with oxygen, nutrients, and waste disposal. The placenta also produces the hormones progesterone and estriol, which help to maintain the pregnancy. Your baby may also be able to put a thumb in his or her mouth this week, although the sucking muscles aren't completely developed yet. Several ribs may now be visible, and tissue that will form bones is developing around your baby's head, arms and legs.

Keep making frequent prenatal care appointments. Appointments with your doctor will now consist mainly of:

• Blood Pressure
• Weight
• Fundal Height (Growth of the Uterus)
• Baby's Heart Tones
• Urine
• Prescription for prenatal vitamins necessary for growth and development of your baby. Talk to your pharmacist about the best way to take your vitamins and whether they should be taken with food or beverages.

Back to you. This is a great stage in your pregnancy. You are now past many of the pregnancy discomforts that have been ailing you. You have more energy and are probably starting to 'feel' pregnant.

As you start to show more, your partner and family members will notice what you've been (painfully) aware for the past several weeks: you're pregnant! It's a good time to get your husband and family involved; get them to help you with everyday tasks, such as cleaning around the house. You can reward them with information on the development of your little bundle of joy.