13th week of pregnancy: the baby’s organs are already formed and functioning, and the kidneys are producing urine

The rapid development of the fetus, which began from the moment of conception, continues. His height at this time is about 7 cm, and his weight reaches 28 g. In appearance, this is no longer an embryo at the blastocyst stage, but a full-fledged little person. The baby's head is no longer as large compared to the body as it was in the fetus in early pregnancy. Body parts become more proportional.

We list the main changes that the fetus undergoes at the 13th week of pregnancy:

• The formed gallbladder begins to fulfill its main purpose - the production of bile. The pancreas secretes the hormone insulin, which is responsible for the process of processing glucose in the human body.
• The baby actively moves in the womb, strengthening the developing muscles. Movements and movements are still erratic and continue during periods of wakefulness of the child.
• The baby's face is almost formed; every day it acquires the features with which it will be born. The eyes located on the sides of the head move to the central part. The child develops a sucking reflex, and the formation of facial muscles and baby teeth is completed.
• The child’s heart works hard; it can pass through more than 20 liters of blood per day.

The fetal brain cells continue to develop, small grooves appear - future convolutions.

How you feel at 13 weeks of pregnancy

With the beginning of the second trimester (which is 12 - 13 weeks of pregnancy), most women feel a surge of vigor and vitality. Mood improves, irritability and tearfulness disappear.

During this period, the expectant mother develops an appetite, and only some pregnant women continue to be bothered by nausea in the morning (it will finally go away by the 16th week).

During the 13th week of pregnancy, the placenta produces the hormone progesterone, which has a relaxing effect on smooth muscle fibers. This is necessary in order to reduce the tone of the uterus and prevent miscarriage, but the digestive organs also experience the same effect, which is why constipation occurs.

At the end of the first trimester, at 12–13 weeks of pregnancy, intensive preparation of the breast for lactation began. The number of lobules in the mammary glands increases, which is often accompanied by engorgement and soreness, and the breasts may become 1 to 2 sizes larger.

As for the nervous system, from the 13th week of pregnancy the balance of the processes of excitation and inhibition occurring in the brain is restored. And if earlier the latter prevailed (you felt drowsy, were slow, uncollected), now everything falls into place. In the second trimester, your performance will increase and you will easily cope with home and professional responsibilities.

What does a baby look like at 13 weeks of pregnancy?

It is similar in size to a small nectarine: its height is about 7-8 cm, weight is 15-20 grams. The head still makes up a third of the entire body, but in the future the proportions will even out. The baby is actively moving in the amniotic fluid, but the mother does not yet feel any movement. On an ultrasound, you can see the baby sucking his thumb, frowning, and yawning. He is already able to distinguish the taste of the food his mother eats and hear what is happening around him. His skin is still light and transparent, blood vessels and even internal organs are visible through it.

Risk factors

The 13th week of pregnancy is very contradictory: on the one hand, everything is getting better, but most often it is during this period that expectant mothers experience candidiasis (thrush). The cause of the disease is candida fungi. They are present in the body of every person and in a passive state do not cause any problems, but under stress and immune failure they begin to become active and displace the normal microflora.

Signs of thrush are a feeling of sharp itching in the genitals and a curd-like white discharge. Do not rush to self-medicate: washing and douching with antiseptic agents will only bring short-term relief. And the lack of qualified medical care in the 13th week of pregnancy is fraught with increased uterine tone. In addition, a bacterial infection may be associated with candidiasis, in which case there is a risk of intrauterine infection of the fetus. The consequences of such an infection can be the most unpleasant.

Feelings of the expectant mother

The width of the uterus at week 13 is 10 cm, height is about 13 cm. The organ is easily palpated, especially in thin women. The abdomen is noticeably rounded. The growth of the uterus can cause pain in the pelvis and lower back. Changing body position, short rest, lower back massage, and taking antispasmodics as prescribed by a doctor will help you get rid of it.

Under the influence of hormones, headaches, fatigue, and drowsiness may occur. Discuss with your doctor the need for additional vitamins: in many cases, the condition is aggravated due to a lack of iron or magnesium.

During the thirteenth week, you may notice some swelling in your legs or face. It is caused by hormonal imbalances and increased load on the kidneys. The heart rate also increases, which is associated with increased blood volume.

Medical observation

If you have already registered with the antenatal clinic, then by the 12th - 13th week of pregnancy the first prenatal screening should be carried out. If for some reason this is not done, you need to urgently undergo an examination, which includes:

• Ultrasound examination of the fetus;
• Analysis for free b-hCG;
• Analysis for PAPP-A, or protein A.

Screening assesses the risk of neural tube defects, as well as chromosomal abnormalities associated with diseases such as Edwards syndrome and Down syndrome.

An ultrasound at the 13th week of pregnancy will show the shape and size of the baby, its movement. In addition, with the help of an ultrasound examination, the doctor will be able to assess the condition of the uterus, presentation and placenta insertion, and determine the approximate due date.

Also, at the stage of 13 weeks of pregnancy, it is necessary to do a clinical blood test and a general urine test. Based on their results, the risk of developing anemia, inflammatory and endocrine diseases is assessed.

Interesting Facts

Your baby is the size of

Peach

70-80mm Size

15-20 g Weight

The thirteenth week of pregnancy is the beginning of the most comfortable period of gestation. All the unpleasant symptoms of the first trimester are gone: nausea, weakness, mood swings. But the size of the belly still allows you to lead a normal lifestyle. We will find out what happens to the woman and the fetus during this period, what tests you have to undergo and what symptoms you should pay special attention to.

Recommendations

Advice on proper nutrition remains the same for the 12th – 13th week of pregnancy. Your diet should be healthy, balanced and include seasonal vegetables and fruits, animal protein and dairy products. Try not to overeat and control your weight.

If you are concerned about constipation at 13 weeks of pregnancy, add cereal dishes and foods rich in fiber (bran, raw vegetables) to your menu. Don't forget to drink enough fluids: ideally, drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.

Spend more time outdoors, do simple physical exercises, and if possible, visit the pool. Throughout the entire period of waiting for the baby (including in the 13th week of pregnancy), try to avoid crowded places. Be careful when choosing household chemicals. In case of illness, do not self-medicate, but immediately contact a specialist.

If there are no medical contraindications, do not refuse intimacy in the 13th week of pregnancy: it has a positive effect on the body and helps to harmonize relationships with your “other half.”

What happens to the fetus

The size of the baby is now comparable to the size of a peach. The length of its body is about 10 cm, and its weight is more than 20 grams.

At this stage, the baby's body begins to grow faster than his head, and the proportions become equal. The arms and legs lengthen, the disproportion between them becomes less and less. A neck has appeared, and now the baby can turn its head. The child’s face acquired individual features and became more prominent, with brow ridges, chin and bridge of the nose. The formation of baby teeth has been completed. The internal organs are formed, now they are growing and developing.

Muscular system.

Rapid muscle growth stimulates the baby's motor activity and increases the number of reflex connections with nerves.

Skeletal system.

At this stage of development, calcium deposition begins in the bones of the fetus. The bones of the skull and spine harden first, then the arms and legs. Ribs are formed.

Respiratory system.

The respiratory organs are already developed. The baby begins to make breathing movements, this is how the diaphragm and chest muscles are trained.

Internal organs.

From this week, the gallbladder begins to produce bile. The baby's heart is divided into four chambers and already pumps almost 23 liters of blood per day. The pancreas produces insulin. The kidneys and excretory system are working at full capacity.

Nervous system.

The brain and spinal cord are formed. While rapid growth of brain tissue occurs in the brain, all impulses are received by the spinal cord. The development of neural connections and reflexes continues. The baby already knows how to grab, yawn, swallow, touch. Now he is learning to analyze tastes.

Gender of the child.

During the thirteenth week of pregnancy, the formation of the external genitalia of boys and girls occurs. The tubercles between the baby's legs extend into the penis and scrotum in boys and flatten into the labia in girls.

At the thirteenth week, the formation of the placenta is completed. Now the entire burden of producing progesterone and estrogen for the development of the fetus lies with her. Through the placenta, the baby receives nutrition and oxygen and removes waste products.

Causes

There are many reasons why this problem occurs, so it is almost impossible to prevent its occurrence. Among the most common reasons for its formation are the following:

• mechanical impact on the lower abdomen (for example, injuries, bruises);
• hormonal deficiency (progesterone deficiency);
• genetic abnormalities of the embryo (developmental defects);
• stress;
• heavy physical activity;
• diseases of the uterus (chronic endometritis, endometriosis, fibroids, uterine malformations (septum, duplication, additional horn, etc.);
• disorders of the blood coagulation system;
• autoimmune aggression (eg, antiphospholipid syndrome);
• sexually transmitted infections, etc.;
• vascular pathology.

Also, noise and vibration (occupational factor) and even the environment can contribute to the formation of a hematoma.

Retrochorial hematoma can be suspected when spotting bloody discharge from the genital tract appears, but it is often an incidental finding during ultrasound, not accompanied by any symptoms. The presence or absence of symptoms is largely due to the location of the hematoma: if it is located high, in the area of ​​the fundus of the uterus, it does not manifest itself in any way, only slight aching pain in the lower abdomen is possible. If the hematoma is located low, at the edge of the ovum, it often empties and “scares” the woman with bloody discharge from the genital tract. Sometimes these discharges can be quite copious, especially if a vessel in the uterine wall is damaged during the formation of a hematoma. And the blood is released liquid and scarlet.

Brown discharge from the genital tract in the presence of a hematoma is considered, as strange as it may sound, a good prognostic sign, since in this way the hematoma empties and disappears. If the discharge from the genital tract is abundant and scarlet, this is already a serious situation - this may indicate an increase in the area of ​​detachment, and, accordingly, an increased risk of threatened miscarriage.

Changes in fetal activity

Changes in fetal activity may be associated with external influences. For example, if a pregnant woman lies on her back for a long time, then the enlarged uterus compresses a large vessel - the inferior vena cava, and the flow of blood to the fetus is disrupted, which immediately causes its violent reaction - active movements. The same changes in the baby's activity can occur in any other uncomfortable position of the mother - if she leans forward, squeezing her stomach, or sits with her legs crossed, the child, with her activity, forces the mother to change her position. A similar situation arises if the baby himself squeezes or presses the loops of the umbilical cord, limiting the flow of blood through it. He begins to move more actively, changes his position and relieves pressure on the umbilical cord. However, in some cases, an increase or, conversely, a decrease in fetal movements can be a sign of a serious pathology.

If after 28 weeks of pregnancy the baby does not make itself known for 3-4 hours, perhaps he is just sleeping. In this case, the expectant mother needs to eat something sweet and lie on her left side for half an hour. If these simple manipulations do not lead to results, you should repeat them again after 2-3 hours. If this time the baby does not make itself known, this is a reason to consult a doctor. Rare and weak movements may also indicate unwellness of the fetus, most often a lack of oxygen for the baby, that is, fetal hypoxia.

Ultrasound standards for second screening

At 16-20 weeks, a second screening is done. In addition to the size, the doctor looks at how the fetus is positioned and the condition of the fetal organs.

Ultrasound standards look like this:

• BPR - 26–56 mm.
• The length of the femur bone is 13–38 mm.
• The length of the humerus bone is 13–36 mm.
• Exhaust gas - 112–186 mm
• Water levels are 73–230 mm. If oligohydramnios is detected, this negatively affects the formation of the baby’s nervous system.

In addition to the above, the doctor looks at the location of the placenta. If it is located on the anterior wall of the uterus, then there is a risk of detachment.

Another important indicator that the doctor pays attention to is the location of the umbilical cord attachment.

Beauty and accessories

Have you already bought new pants without a zipper and a bra with wide straps without wires? Now you should think about special tights for pregnant women, since in ordinary ones a woman feels uncomfortable due to the appearance of her belly. Special products with an elastic insert for the abdomen can be purchased in departments for expectant mothers, as well as in specialized online stores. These tights come in a variety of colors. A pregnant woman will be comfortable in them even in the later stages of an “interesting situation.”

Methods for assessing the “adequacy” of fetal movements

Counting the number of movements

The easiest way to assess fetal movements is to count the number of movements by the pregnant woman herself. Self-assessment methods are very easy to use, do not require additional equipment or the presence of a doctor, and are easily reproduced by any woman. Their disadvantages are that each woman has different thresholds of susceptibility.

"Count to Ten"

The most common method for assessing fetal movements is called “count to ten” . It can be performed after 28 weeks of pregnancy, when the fetus is mature enough for active movements. Its essence lies in the fact that the expectant mother counts the movements of the fetus over a 12-hour period of time, for example from 9 am to 9 pm. The time when the pregnant woman detects the tenth movement is recorded on a tablet. If the fetus makes less than 10 movements in 12 hours, this is a reason to consult a doctor for further examination.

Sadowski method

In the evening after dinner (approximately from 19 to 23 hours), the woman lies on her left side and counts the movements of the fetus. At the same time, everything is counted, even the smallest movements. If 10 or more movements are noted within an hour, this indicates that the baby is moving quite actively and feels well. If the fetus moved less than 10 times in an hour, then the movements are counted over the next hour. The evening time for this assessment method was not chosen by chance. It is in the evening hours, especially after dinner and the associated increase in glucose, that the greatest activity of the fetus is observed. If the number of fetal movements during this test is less than 10 in two hours, this should be considered as a sign of a violation of its condition and additional research should be carried out.

For an obstetrician-gynecologist, fetal movements are also an important diagnostic criterion for certain deviations in the course of pregnancy from the norm. Too active, violent, painful movement of the fetus or weak, infrequent movements may indicate its unfavorable condition.

How the abdomen and mammary glands change

The body of a pregnant woman continues to change, the stomach becomes rounder, the waist becomes somewhat smoother. The pregnancy is not yet noticeable, but tight clothing is already hindering movement, limiting blood circulation and breathing. You should ditch shapewear and clothing and switch to a looser wardrobe made from natural fabrics.

The breasts continue to grow. The first “stretch marks” – stretch marks – may appear on it, as well as on the skin of the abdomen. To prevent their occurrence, you need to wear comfortable bras that firmly support the breasts, and a prenatal bandage. Wearing a bandage will have a positive effect on a woman’s well-being and relieve pain in the lower abdomen and lower back.

Determination of fetal condition

To determine the condition of the fetus, the doctor conducts a number of examinations:

Auscultation (listening)

The simplest thing is auscultation (listening) using a special wooden tube (obstetric stethoscope) or a special device that detects the fetal heartbeat; the doctor listens to the baby’s heartbeat. Normally it is about 120-160 beats per minute. A decrease in heart rate of less than 120 or an increase of more than 160 indicates intrauterine suffering in the child.

Ultrasound examination and Doppler testing

When performing an ultrasound, the doctor visually assesses the size of the fetus, the correspondence of fetal development to the gestational age, because with oxygen starvation the growth rate of the fetus slows down and its size lags behind the norm for each stage of pregnancy. The structure of the placenta and the presence of signs of aging in it also matter, as a result of which the function of transferring blood, oxygen and nutrients to the fetus usually deteriorates. During an ultrasound, the amount and type of amniotic fluid is assessed, which can also change with intrauterine fetal suffering. Doppler ultrasound of the blood vessels of the placenta and umbilical cord is a method for studying the speed of blood flow in these vessels. When the speed of blood flow in any vessel decreases, we can talk about fetal nutritional disorders of varying degrees of severity.

Cardiotocography (CTG)

This is an important method for assessing the condition of the fetus. CTG is performed during pregnancy of 33 weeks or more, since only in this period of intrauterine development of the baby is full regulation of the activity of the fetal cardiovascular system established by the centers of the spinal cord and brain. The fetal heartbeat is recorded for at least 40 minutes, and if necessary, the study can be extended to one and a half hours. The device detects and records the baby's heart rate. For example, when the oxygen concentration in the fetal blood decreases, the supply of oxygen to the cells of the nervous system decreases, which in turn affects the heart rate, especially when the child is awake. The obstetrician-gynecologist evaluates the heartbeat recording curve, episodes of decrease and sharp increase in the fetal heart rate and, based on these data, makes a conclusion about how comfortable the baby feels in the mother’s stomach.

If, during additional methods of assessing the condition of the fetus, initial disturbances in the supply of oxygen to the baby are detected, drug treatment is carried out aimed at increasing the access of blood and oxygen through the placenta and mandatory control examinations during the therapy. If the changes are profound and the baby experiences a severe deficiency of oxygen and nutrients, his condition suffers, an emergency delivery of such a patient is carried out.

Fetal movements are not only an indicator of its condition, it is a way for the baby to communicate with his parents. The movement of the baby in the mother's tummy is an unforgettable sensation that a woman can experience only in this short, but such a happy period of her life.