By your thirteenth week of pregnancy, your baby is about 31⁄2 inches long and weighs 11⁄4 ounces.

Your baby’s brain is developing quickly, and each day new nerves are growing and connecting around the body. The face is becoming more recognizably human, with the eyes moving together on the front of the head, and tiny eyelashes and eyebrows beginning to appear. Up until this point, your baby’s head his been the largest part of his body, but that is beginning to change. Your baby’s head is now only about 1/3 of his total body. Fingerprints are now located on the tips of your baby’s fingers. The kidney and urinary tract are completely functional which allows the amniotic fluid he has been swallowing to be excreted. Soft fine hair called lanugo is now covering your baby’s skin.

You have now reached the end of the first trimester, the first third of pregnancy. At this stage your risk of miscarriage drops, so if you haven’t already told friends and family about your pregnancy, you might want to start doing so. You may also find that sickness and tiredness start going away, and you can start enjoying your pregnancy.

Keep active throughout your pregnancy with some gentle exercise such as swimming or walking. It’s worth looking into special antenatal exercise classes – contact council leisure services to find out what’s on offer.

 Stretch marks may be appearing on your abdomen, breasts, hips, or buttocks. Almost 90% of pregnant women will experience stretch marks. Gaining weight at a slower rate can decrease the chance of stretch marks appearing, and it is also healthier for you and your baby.
Exercising and applying lotions that contain vitamin E and alpha hydroxy acids have also been said to help in the prevention of stretch marks. Visit the Bump Spa for tips on dealing with stretch marks

You may be noticing some changes in your breasts. By now your breasts will be larger and may feel lumpy, which is caused by the mammary ducts as they begin to prepare for milk production. You may notice veins appearing right under the skin on your breasts. During the second trimester colostrum begins to form; this is the first stage of breast milk, and it can be expressed from the nipple when massaged.

As women enter the second trimester they notice a lift in their libido. It is common for couples to wonder whether sex during pregnancy is safe. Don’t worry, your baby is protected by amniotic fluid in the womb, by your abdomen, and by the mucus plug, which seals your cervix and helps guard against infection. Avoid Sex if you have a history of premature birth or labor or have a history of miscarriage. Seek medical advice if you experience unexplained vaginal bleeding or discharge.