Ultimate Guide for 13 to 16 Weeks Pregnant

As you already know you are pregnant and in a couple of months you shall be bringing home your little bundle of joy, you should be careful enough about your health and the health of your little one throughout your pregnancy. Once you are pregnant, till the date of your delivery, you should be conscious about staying healthy so that you can take good care of yourself and your child. In the 13th week, you have just ended your first trimester and your baby has already undergone enough growth and development, though is yet to grow more. Many mothers- to- are usually anxious about their baby’s health and how to take care of them in these weeks. So, thorough discussion about this subject is very much essential.

The 13th Week of Your Pregnancy:

What happens to your baby?

In the 13th week of your pregnancy, your baby is undergoing rapid growth and its limbs along with the ankles and wrists are almost developed. The bay’s eyes are developing with proper eyelids that become visible through a USG. The lower part of the body is quickly developing except the head which is not in proper proportion now. The baby is growing proper intestines in the correct places and by now the baby is swallowing the amniotic fluid and it is absorbing it to its body. The 13th week is the most important one that will let you know whether you are going to have twins with the help of an ultrasound.

What happens to the mom-to-be?

From the 13th week of your pregnancy, you might experience the following symptoms:

• Excessive tiredness and exhaustion
• Increased energy
• Round ligament pain
• Tenderness and soreness in breasts

You feel energetic

Though you will have a few symptoms of nausea and vomiting you will feel more energetic in this period and will have more enthusiasm in this phase. During this time most of the uneasiness will fade and you will start feeling a bit better now.

Round ligament pain

In the 13th week of your pregnancy, you are likely to experience round ligament pain. This will happen because your uterus is growing gradually and so there are chances of occurrences of pain in your lower abdomen. Though these pains are not so serious, if you experience sharp pains for a longer period, you must consult your concerned health care expert at once.

Tenderness in breasts

Though you will feel a sense of leaking in your breasts since early pregnancy, the tenderness will increase in the 13th week, due to the immense hormonal changes that are occurring in your body and because your breasts will start producing colostrum, which is the precursor to breast milk due to the action of lactating hormones.

What should the mother do?

You should follow the instructions below in your 13th week of pregnancy:

• Avoid having seafood high in mercury or eating raw and uncooked foods like raw sprouts, seafood like sushi that may cause food poisoning
• Cut out heavy smoking or drinking alcohol
• Reduce your caffeine intake
• Practice yoga and exercise daily
• Consult your physician and go for regular check-ups. You should take the medicines advised by the doctor regularly in correct doses and should also perform the necessary tests as prescribed by the doctor
• Have a balanced diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, light proteins; have enough fruits, green leafy vegetables, and consume plenty of water

The 14th Week Of Your Pregnancy:

What happens to your baby?

The disorientation of your baby’s head is now coming into proper positions, and if you perform a USG, you will find that the neck is developed and the ears are on both sides of the baby’s head, with a prominent chin. This week onward, you will notice that your baby can respond to outside sensations as it has already developed its sensory organs.

What happens to the mom-to-be?

This week, the mother-to- will undergo some noticeable changes in her body, some of which are as follows:

• lessened breast tenderness
• increase in energy
• increase in weight

Apart from these common changes, there will be some symptoms such as:

Nausea : Though in this week the frequency of vomiting and the feeling of nausea will fade away gradually, in some cases, it has been found that pregnant women in this phase of their pregnancy might experience morning sickness along with nausea and vomiting. In this case, you should have plenty of water throughout the day and have a healthy and balanced diet. If the nausea is temporary, having ginger in tea might also help. But if nausea and vomiting continue for a long time and become a repetitive issue, it is expected that you might have developed a serious disorder known as hyperemesis gravidarum and in this case, you need professional help.

Mood swings

Mood swings are quite common in this phase and throughout your pregnancy, these mood swings happen because of the immense hormonal changes that occur throughout your body and the stress of carrying a baby makes you feel tired and exhausted. If you find it difficult to manage your mood swings and senses of irritation, you should get help from any professional therapist.

What should the mother do?

Do Exercises:

As you are in the 14th week, you should start doing your maternity exercises and start doing them with the prior consultation of your doctor. First, start your workouts for 15 minutes and then gradually increase it to 20, then 30, and finally to an hour. You should also do yoga and aerobics along with breathing exercises.

Consult the doctor:

You should inform your doctor if you start experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• vaginal bleeding or any thick fluid discharge from the vagina
• fever
• problems in vision
• severe abdominal pain
• headache

The 15th Week Of Your Pregnancy:

What happens to your baby?

If you do an ultrasound, you will see that your baby is now 6.25 inches in height and has developed a hairy outgrowth known as lanugo. But this will get off with your baby’s birth. By this week, the baby’s organs have been fully developed and it has also developed its bones.

What happens to the mom-to-be?

Some common symptoms are noticed among mothers in this phase such as:

• darkening of the skin around the nipples
• continued weight gain
• Excessive pain in the body parts
• Tingling under the feet or in the fingers

What should the mother do?

In this week, the mother should follow a healthy and balanced diet that consists of high amounts of healthy, prenatal vitamins, essential minerals, antioxidants, fibers, and all the essential pregnancy nutrients. In this week you should add 300 calories more to your diet. There are some common foods that your doctor might prescribe:

• low-fat dairy
• fruits
• vegetables
• whole grains

The 16th Week Of Your Pregnancy:

What happens to your baby?

Your baby has undergone rapid growth by this week, and it is almost 7 inches in height. You will feel the movements of its arms and legs and by now, your baby has fully developed the nervous system. The eyes are also almost formed, and the baby will try to make little eye movements that will be visible through high-resolution USG.

What happens to the mom-to-be?

The mom- to- will have several symptoms such as:

• Constipation: This might occur due to lack of proper digestion. To treat this condition have foods that are high in fiber content and consult your doctor for further medications

• Heartburn: If you are experiencing repetitive heart burns, cut the consumption of spicy and extra oily foods from your diet. You may also have antacids and digestive enzymes to get better relief.

• Nosebleeds: You may experience occasional nose bleeding during this period and if you find the condition to be severe enough, rush to the doctor. In mild cases, nose bleeding can be handled by keeping your head at a level higher than your heart, pinching your nose with your thumb and index finger at an interval of five minutes, and so on.

• Congestion: This is very common in this week of pregnancy. If you are experiencing congestion, digestion troubles, or any other disorder, consult your physician at once.
• continued weight gain
• possible hemorrhoids
• problems with concentration
• Your skin starts glowing because of the excess blood flow

What should the mother do?

During this time, you will have to maintain a healthy routine and a balanced diet. Your hunger might increase, and you may crave sweet foods. Supplement sweets, candies, or foods containing any added sugar with fruits, milk, or curd because, in this phase of pregnancy, your body needs protein and calcium. You also need to work out every day, for at least 30 minutes to an hour. You can also perform yoga and breathing exercises. But remember, before doing the exercises, consult with your physician first.