Week 13

Your Baby’s Development:

At the end of the first trimester, your baby is about the size of a lemon or a small peach. He or she will begin to grow at his or her own pace now, much like a small child would. The baby’s vocal cords start to develop this week and the intestines, which have been inside the umbilical cord all of this time, move down into their permanent home in the baby’s abdomen. At this point, arms and legs are beginning to form tiny bones and your baby may begin to suck on his or her thumb, hand or foot.

What You Should Expect:

At the end of your first trimester, the risk of miscarriage has dropped substantially lower than early pregnancy. Your nausea may be starting to wane and you may find yourself becoming more and more energetic with each passing day as you head into your second trimester, which is a much more pleasant experience for the mother than the first. Your everyday clothes likely no longer fit and you may notice an increase in your vaginal discharge, which has become thin and milky in color. This discharge is normal during this stage of pregnancy and is caused by increased blood flow to the pelvic area in combination with an increased production of estrogen.