Week 13 of Pregnancy

At 13 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a lemon - roughly 2.9 inches long and weighing almost an ounce. Welcome to the second trimester threshold. Your baby has vocal cords developing this week, preparing for that first big cry at birth. Something remarkable is happening: your baby's fingerprints are forming. Those tiny ridges on fingers and toes are completely unique, distinguishing your baby from every other person who has ever lived or ever will. Your baby can now make facial expressions - practicing frowns, squints, and even smiles, though these are reflexive rather than responsive to emotions. The intestines, which developed partly in the umbilical cord, have moved fully into the abdomen. Your baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and producing urine, cycling the fluid continuously. Bone tissue is forming rapidly in the arms, legs, and skull.

With energy returning, this is a great time to tackle projects. Consider any travel you want to do before the third trimester, when flying becomes uncomfortable and some airlines restrict it. The second trimester is often called the best time for a babymoon. Start looking into childbirth classes in your area. Popular ones fill up quickly, and taking them during the second trimester leaves room for unexpected schedule changes later. If you have been putting off telling your employer, the second trimester is when many women have that conversation. Research your company's maternity leave policy and your legal protections before you go in. Consider scheduling a dental cleaning if you have not had one recently. Pregnancy hormones affect your gums, and maintaining dental health during pregnancy is important for both you and baby.