13 Weeks Pregnant
Your Body in Pregnancy
You have officially entered the second trimester! Congratulations! You may start to feel better than you have so far during your pregnancy, especially if you were bothered by morning sickness. The second trimester may very well be the most enjoyable trimester of your pregnancy.
You may be starting to feel pregnant now, but you’re not far enough along to be uncomfortable, because your belly isn‘t in your way quite yet. Loose-fitting clothes may be a ‘must’ for some women by the end of this week, while others may still fit into some of their pre-pregnancy clothes (if this is their first pregnancy). Many women experience an increase in their energy level right about now, but if you’re still feeling tired, make sure you’re getting enough rest.
It’s not unusual to feel very emotional and irritable during pregnancy, because pregnancy hormones (estrogen and progesterone being the two main ones) tend to have this affect on your emotions. You may feel very similar to how you feel leading up to menstruation (which would be PMS). This is quite common and completely normal.
You may start to notice mood swings soon after you find out you’re expecting and they may continue throughout your pregnancy. Shifts in your mood and weepiness can feel almost like a rollercoaster; one minute you may intensely happy and the next you may feel overwhelmingly sad. Feelings of depression are also not uncommon during pregnancy. You may cry at the drop of a hat, for no apparent reason, which can leave your partner feeling quite confused.
Around this week, your pregnancy may be starting to seem more real and you may feel some uncertainty, even if it was planned. You may have fears about labor and giving birth and even of becoming a mother; all a completely normal part of pregnancy. If this pregnancy wasn’t planned, you may be having financial concerns or may feel the timing isn’t right, which may add to your anxieties.
You may experience dizziness around this time in your pregnancy. Some women begin having dizzy spells very soon after conception and for some it continues even up until delivery. Feeling faint is a very common occurrence during pregnancy. Things that trigger light-headedness include: standing up too quickly or for long periods of time, high or low blood sugar levels, low blood pressure (hypotension), laying flat on your back, getting too warm, fatigue and anemia. In very early pregnancy, dizziness can even be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy (particularly accompanied by cramping, pain and bleeding), although you’re way past that point now.
One of the best ways to combat feeling dizzy is to make sure you never skip meals. Eat regularly; not ever letting your stomach become completely empty, to maintain your blood sugar level. Several small meals and healthy snacks throughout the course of your day will help fight dizziness.
When you sleep, avoid sleeping directly on your back. When you lie flat for more than a few minutes at a time, it can lower your blood pressure, because of the weight from your growing uterus pressing on your inferior vena cava (which is a major blood vessel that runs to your heart). Moving from a lying to a sitting position or a sitting to a standing position can also cause a drop in your blood pressure. To avoid feeling light-headed, change positions slowly and also stand up gradually if you’re lying or sitting down.
Avoid getting overheated and steer clear of stuffy rooms. If you feel yourself becoming dizzy, find a place to sit down. This will not only help with the dizziness, but also will keep you from falling down. If you’re in a stuffy room, you may want to get out in the fresh air, which could very well do the trick. You may need a snack to boost your blood sugar, if you haven’t eaten in a while. If your dizziness persists or if you’re concerned about it, you should contact your doctor or midwife.
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Implantation Bleeding
Missed Menstrual Period
Positive Pregnancy Test
Tender Breasts
Sensitive Nipples
Ultrasound Detection
Darker Areolas
Fatigue
Nausea and Vomiting
Mood Changes and Irritability
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Dizziness
Headaches
Frequent Urination
Sensitivity to Smell
Food Cravings
Food Aversions
Heartburn
Breakouts
Constipation
Hegar's Sign
Chadwick's Sign
Increased Vaginal Discharge
Excessive Salivation
Bleeding Gums
Heartbeat Detection
Backaches
Weight Gain
Enlarging Abdomen
Nipple Discharge
Braxton-Hicks Contractions
Fetal Movement
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