13 weeks pregnant
At 13 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a lemon: around 7.4 cm crown to rump and 23 g. Vocal cords are forming and fingerprints are starting to develop.
Your baby at 13 weeks
Vocal cords are forming and fingerprints are starting to develop.
| Size | About the size of a lemon |
|---|---|
| Length | 7.4 cm crown to rump |
| Weight | 23 g |
This is the last week of the first trimester. Your baby's vocal cords are forming, unique fingerprints are appearing, and bones in the arms and legs are hardening. Your baby can now put a thumb near the mouth, the start of the sucking reflex. The placenta is fully formed and is now doing the job of feeding your baby and making pregnancy hormones.
How far along are you at 13 weeks?
At 13 weeks pregnant you are in the third month of your pregnancy and the first trimester. You have about 27 weeks to go until your due date. Doctors count pregnancy from the first day of your last period, not from conception, so at 13 weeks your baby has been growing for about 11 weeks. Not sure of your dates? Use our due date calculator.
Your body at 13 weeks
Energy often starts to return by the end of this stretch. Your dating scan and first screening tests usually happen now.
Common symptoms at 13 weeks
Every pregnancy is different, and you may have some, all or none of these.
- More energy. Many women feel the fog lifting this week.
- Bleeding gums. Pregnancy hormones make gums swollen and more likely to bleed when you brush.
- Nosebleeds. Extra blood volume can make the small vessels in your nose burst more easily.
- More discharge. Still normal, as long as it doesn't itch or smell strongly.
- Round ligament pains. Twinges at the sides of your bump as it grows.
- A change in libido. Some women feel more interested in sex, others less. Both are normal.
Your checklist for week 13
- Book a dental check-up if you haven't. Dental care, including most fillings and local anaesthetic, is safe in pregnancy.
- If your screening result showed a higher chance of a condition, ask about diagnostic tests: CVS from 11 to 14 weeks, or amniocentesis from 15 weeks.
- Start thinking about where you want to give birth and what your insurance covers.
- Make a note of your next appointments and blood test dates.
- Start gentle pelvic floor exercises (see next week's tip).
Tip of the week: Look after your gums
Brush twice a day with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste, and floss daily. If vomiting is a problem, rinse your mouth with water afterwards, but wait an hour before brushing, because stomach acid softens tooth enamel. Gum disease in pregnancy has been linked with problems such as early birth, so it is worth taking seriously.
For your partner
The first scan is a big moment. Be there.
- Book leave for the scan
- Write down questions for the doctor
- Start a simple baby budget together
When to call your doctor at 13 weeks
Contact your doctor, midwife or maternity unit the same day if you have:
- Bleeding from the vagina, or tummy pain.
- A nosebleed that won't stop after 20 minutes of pressure.
Call your doctor or hospital straight away for bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, severe headache or vision changes.
Questions about 13 weeks pregnant
Are bleeding gums normal in pregnancy?
Yes. Around half of pregnant women get swollen, bleeding gums, called pregnancy gingivitis. Good brushing and flossing and a dental check-up usually keep it under control. Tell your dentist you are pregnant.
When does the second trimester start?
Most guides say the second trimester starts at 14 weeks and runs to the end of week 27. Some count it from 13 weeks. Either way, many women find it the most comfortable stage of pregnancy.
What is the difference between CVS and amniocentesis?
Both are diagnostic tests that give a definite answer about conditions such as Down's syndrome. CVS takes a tiny sample from the placenta between 11 and 14 weeks; amniocentesis takes a sample of the fluid around the baby from 15 weeks. Both carry a small risk of miscarriage, around 1 in 200 or lower.