Fetal size at 13 weeks pregnant. Features of development at the 13th week of pregnancy

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The most difficult period during pregnancy is the first trimester. Severe intoxication and increased fatigue are far from all that expectant mothers have to face during this period. In addition to the woman, her baby also does a lot of work. During all three trimesters, the fetus actively grows and develops. What is the feeling, size and weight of the fetus at 13 weeks pregnant? What changes will take place next? Let's try to understand these and many other issues in more detail.

What happens to the baby during the second trimester?

Let's take a closer look at this. Fetal weight and size at 13 weeks gestation and beyond will continue to change. During this period, the fetus has already developed and well-functioning limbs. Every day, the heart pumps 2.3 liters of blood through itself. During the second trimester, the baby's digestive system is formed, the pancreas begins toproduce insulin, as well as the internal organs involved in voice formation.

There is also a sex determination of the baby at 13 weeks of gestation. The size of the fetus varies depending on gender. If the location and posture of the baby are correct, then doctors will be able to determine its gender. According to experts, in most cases, doctors manage to accurately determine who exactly will be born into the world - a boy or a girl. However, ultrasound is not always accurate. Errors are also quite possible, which can be eliminated at the next scheduled examination.

But with the help of a photo at 13 weeks of gestation, the size of the fetus and the outline of its face can be well considered. It has a nose and mouth. Although during this period the length of the baby's torso is only 7-8 centimeters, and the weight does not exceed 25 grams. During the second trimester, parents can actively participate in shaping the personality of their unborn child. Being in the womb, he begins to learn about the world around him. Also, the fetus develops personality and character. He develops the ability to grimace, distinguish the sounds of the environment, and also develops a reaction to light and other external stimuli.

At the 13th week of pregnancy, the size and sex of the fetus are far from the only changes. The second trimester is also important because at this time the child's gastronomic preferences are determined. He begins to distinguish tastes and smells of absolutely all foods and dishes that mother eats. That is why after eating a woman can feel sick or sick, andalso in some cases vomiting is possible. If the baby does not like any food, then the expectant mother will certainly find out about it. At 13 weeks pregnant, the fetus is already large enough to move around. Mom starts to feel the twists and turns. With a hand on the tummy, it will not be difficult to distinguish how the little man is active. This is a very exciting process that gives parents a lot of positive emotions.

What changes happen to pregnant women

So what do you need to know about this? As mentioned above, the size of the fetus at the 13th week of pregnancy is actively increasing as the baby grows and develops. In turn, these changes have a certain impact on the mother. Among the most important, one can single out the normalization of the hormonal background and the retreat of toxicosis, due to which the woman's well-being is normalized. In addition, the restructuring of the body is completely completed. It creates ideal conditions for further growth and development of the fetus.

However, this does not mean at all that a woman can breathe a sigh of relief. She has to watch her he alth very closely. Qualified experts argue that a number of preventive measures should be taken to combat defecation disorders and swelling. Also a big problem is the stretch marks that occur due to the fact that the size of the fetus at the 13th week of pregnancy will continue to change.

As for external changes, they are also present. tummy of the futuremother grows, as a result of which the outlines of the waist gradually become less pronounced. A woman needs to completely change her wardrobe by buying clothes for pregnant women in a specialized store. Particular attention should be paid to the choice of bra. It should not only fit well, but also provide excellent breast support. It is best to choose models with wide straps, as new volumes can be several times larger than the previous ones.

Changes in the uterus

Fetal size at 13 obstetric weeks of pregnancy is relatively small. The baby grows and develops, so the uterus gradually increases and rises up. As a result, pressure is created on other internal organs, and the expectant mother may periodically experience heartburn and shortness of breath.

In order for the gestation to proceed normally, the girl must constantly undergo a routine examination by a doctor. This is very important, since the uterus begins to be palpated normally, so the doctor, in the event of any complications and pathologies, will be able to detect them in a timely manner and select the appropriate treatment. At a gestational age of 13 weeks, the size of the fetus is considered normal if the height of the uterus is 13 cm and the width is 10 centimeters. During this period, the hollow internal organ in which the embryo is located becomes more elastic, and its contractions are short-term and almost imperceptible.

Tummy during the second trimester of pregnancy

The size of the fetus at 13 weeks of gestation will not be so noticeable in thin girls, inwhile in the fair sex, who are prone to fullness, it begins to bulge noticeably much earlier. Women should be especially attentive to their he alth when the mobility of the uterus is limited due to muscle tone. If discomfort and pain occur in the lower part of the abdominal region, it is necessary to lie down for a while. It is advisable to think about something good at the same time, and you can also talk with the baby, who in the second trimester begins to normally recognize speech and environmental sounds. Conversations are very helpful for his development.

If the expectant mother gets tired too quickly, and poor he alth becomes more frequent, then you need to consult your doctor as soon as possible. In some cases, medicines are indispensable, but it is forbidden to take them on your own, since some medicines can be dangerous for the he alth of the child.

But very often it is possible to do without treatment. As the size of the fetus increases at the 13th week of pregnancy, you should try not to overload the uterus once again. To do this, it is recommended to walk in flat shoes and refuse to carry weights. In addition, it is advisable to monitor your diet. Pain can be caused by increased flatulence, so it is better to refuse any products that provoke the formation of gases.

A few words about pain during the 2nd trimester

This aspect should be given special importance. The growth of the fetus leads to stretching of the uterus, so discomfort in the lower part and sides of the abdomen is quite common. Faced withpain, do not panic, because in the vast majority of cases it does not indicate anything bad. Unpleasant sensations localized in the calf area are the result of a lack of calcium in the body. According to doctors, most often the pain makes itself felt in the evenings, and at night their intensity is highest. To bring yourself back to normal, it is not necessary to take any medications. All you need to do is include calcium-rich foods in your diet. The best sources of this mineral are:

• hazelnut;
• broccoli;
• almonds;
• yam;
• figs;
• beans;
• peas;
• sesame.

Too much abuse of animal foods that contain calcium is not recommended. It can make future births much more difficult, as the size of the fetus at 13 weeks gestation will continue to increase, and the birth canal will remain the same, so it will be difficult for the baby to pass through it.

Cold diseases

Any ailments caused by hypothermia are accompanied by such clinical manifestations as headache, sore throat, runny nose, weakness and aches all over the body, as well as fever. Pregnant mothers in the second trimester are especially vulnerable to diseases, as their body is weakened. Therefore, expectant mothers should try to avoid places with high crowds. This is especially important during various epidemics. Any pathology suffered by the mother can adversely affect the development of the fetus andprovoke various deviations.

When the first symptoms of a cold or other more serious illnesses occur, you should immediately go to the hospital and begin complex treatment. The doctor will select the safest therapy program, which can be based on taking medications and alternative methods of treatment. He will do this on the basis of the clinical picture and the state of he alth of the woman

Fever during the second trimester

At the 13th week of pregnancy, the sensations of the size of the fetus in women begin to appear. They feel not only how the baby moves, but also begin to understand the peculiarities of his habits. During this period, the body temperature of a woman can be at the level of 37-37.5 degrees. This is quite normal, so do not sound the alarm.

A reason to be wary may be a situation in which there is a persistence of temperature for two days or more. This may indicate the presence of any serious diseases that require immediate treatment. If the mark on the thermometer reaches 38 degrees, then you can take antipyretic drugs. You also need to make an appointment with a doctor and undergo a complete examination.

Discharge at 13 weeks gestation

What do you need to know about this? As the baby develops, expectant mothers may experience a change in the natural color of the vaginal secretion. In addition, its consistency changes. It becomes more fluid. Nothing wrong with that. Such changes are considerednormal. However, if the secret is cloudy, and it also has an unpleasant pungent odor, then you need to make an appointment with a gynecologist.

In some cases, women's discharge may be cheesy, and also have a yellow or green tint. However, they are often accompanied by pain, swelling and itching in the genital area. Such symptoms should not be ignored, as they may indicate the presence of an infectious disease, which often leads to spontaneous abortion. At the 13th week of pregnancy, the size of the fetus and the sex of the child are usually already visible. The embryo is well developed and begins to fully interact with the outside world, so a miscarriage is tantamount to the death of a full-fledged person. Thus, the expectant mother, when the first warning signs appear, should immediately seek help from a specialized specialist.

Bleeding and its dangers

This aspect should be read first. A child at 13 weeks of gestation (the size of the fetus should normally correspond to the number of the current week) due to the continuous increase in size creates a lot of pressure on the muscle tissue and uterus. However, this cannot lead to injuries and rupture, therefore, when bleeding occurs, the expectant mother should be alert. They may be caused by the following problems:

• separation or improper development of the placenta;
• internal hematomas;
• injury to the uterus due to intercourse or gynecological examination;
• benignpathological processes in the cervix;
• stomach strikes;
• reducing the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels.

These are just a few of the reasons that may be behind bleeding during the second trimester. In fact, there are many more he alth problems that can cause them. To find out what size the fetus is at 13 weeks of gestation, as well as whether it grows and develops normally, an ultrasound examination is required. It will allow you to assess the condition of the baby and determine how well he grows and develops.

Ultrasound in the second trimester

How does it happen and what is its peculiarity? The examination takes place at 13 weeks 4 days of pregnancy. The size of the fetus should normally be about 13 centimeters. During the examination, the woman gets the opportunity to see her child for the first time on the monitor. It's just an unforgettable experience that nothing can compare to. Ultrasound allows you to determine the number of children in the mother's tummy, calculate the exact period, and also in the early stages to identify various pathologies, if any.

Also during this period, screening is prescribed, which provides an opportunity for qualified specialists to form a detailed clinical picture of the girl's he alth status. This analysis allows you to determine whether the expectant mother is in an increased risk group. Particular attention of doctors is riveted to the thickness and level of transparency of the fetal TVP zone, as well as the quantity and quality of certain hormones and proteins in the blood.

If the condition of the expectant motheris normal, and the development of the fetus is normal, then doctors can conclude that the baby will be born strong and he althy. If the results of biochemical screening show the figures 1:350, then in this case there is cause for concern. However, this still does not give good reasons to believe that the child will be born with any pathologies. If a woman undergoes complex treatment and follows all the prescriptions of doctors, then the chances of normal pregnancy and subsequent births remain at a fairly high level.

A few words about food quality

What should I pay attention to? The developing fetus draws all the vitamins and nutrients from the woman's body. To replenish their supply, the expectant mother must monitor her daily diet. It must be he althy and balanced. It is recommended to exclude from the menu any harmful foods, fried, smoked and s alty dishes, and focus on various types of cereals, lean meat, steamed, as well as fresh and boiled fruits and vegetables. Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited. Particular attention should be paid to the water balance, however, too much fluid can be dangerous, pregnant women are constantly faced with edema, which only gets worse from drinking plenty of water. Therefore, it is very important to strike a balance in order to get the maximum benefit.

Conclusion

The second trimester of gestation is the most enjoyable in the life of an expectant mother. This is due not only to the lacktoxicosis and normalization of the hormonal background, which has a positive effect on the well-being of the girl, but also the opportunity to see a new life on the monitor screen for the first time. But at the same time, it’s too early to relax, because the baby has yet to grow. You must take care of yourself and take care of yourself until the most important moment in your life, namely until the onset of childbirth. Only in this case the baby will be born completely he althy and strong.