Week by week pregnancy guide: 13 weeks pregnant

If you're 13 weeks pregnant we've got everything you could want to know right here. Don't forget to check out our full pregnancy week by week guide for previous and future weeks too...

Congratulations! You've now officially entered your second trimester and hopefully life will start to get a little easier. The second trimester is the phase of pregnancy that many women love the most. Ready to know more? Here's an overview of what you need to know about being 13 weeks pregnant...

Symptoms at 13 weeks pregnant

This is the period when that bloom of pregnancy becomes a reality. It's the phase in which you don't just feel pregnant, you begin to look it as well. Last week your uterus moved up out of your pelvis and could be felt above your pelvic bone. This means you may now notice a little baby bump starting to form and you should expect it to grow rapidly over the next few weeks. Suffering from pregnancy heartburn? Try eating ripe papaya - it's said to work wonders.

Fetal development at 13 weeks pregnant

Your baby is roughly the size of a peach and they weigh around 23 grams. During this week your baby's face starts to look more recognisable because the eyes, which started out at the sides of the head, have moved closer together and the ears are now almost in the right position, too.

The liver and kidneys have also started to function. Bone has begun to replace cartilage and although you won't feel it yet, your baby's reflexes are starting to develop and they are already flexing their little arms and kicking their tiny legs. Your baby already has unique fingerprints, and if you're having a girl she already has around two million eggs in her ovaries.

The changes you should make at 13 weeks pregnant

The earlier a dating scan is carried out the more accurate it is likely to be. However, if you were late finding out you are pregnant you will still be offered one at this stage.

There's still time to have a nuchal translucency scan if you wish to have one. This is the latest you can be offered a Chorionic Villus Sampling - a diagnostic test which looks for fetal abnormalities. After this you will be offered a different diagnostic test known as an amniocentesis. This can be carried out from Week 15.

Make the most of your final months together as a couple if it's your first child or take care to ensure your other children are prepared for their new sibling too. Now that you've got your spring back in your step why not treat yourself to a romantic break. The Americans call them Babymoons but remove the cheese factor and it's simply a last chance to enjoy a weekend away unfettered by bibs, bottles and baby buggies...