Week 13

Carola Felchner is a freelance writer in the medical department and a certified training and nutrition advisor. She worked for various specialist magazines and online portals before becoming a freelance journalist in 2015. Before starting her internship, she studied translation and interpreting in Kempten and Munich.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

Welcome to the second trimester! It begins with the 13th week of pregnancy. The development and abilities of the fetus are now progressing rapidly. And something else finally begins to grow slowly in the 13th week of pregnancy - your belly, which will soon make you recognizable to everyone as a mom-to-be. Here you can find out which later strong organs in your child will begin to develop in week 13 and why you can have a little extra while you eat.

13th week of pregnancy: This is how your baby is developing

Attention, now it's getting tough: The previously jelly-like bones of the fetus continue to solidify in the 13th week of pregnancy and the following weeks. The fully developed organs are still in the process of growing to their full functionality. There is one organ in your child in particular that you will later notice very intensely: its vocal cords. These begin to develop in the larynx in the 13th week of pregnancy.

13th week of pregnancy ultrasound: That can be seen

The little creature weighs between 14 and 18 grams in the 13th week of pregnancy. He is now about six centimeters tall. The ribs, leg and pelvic bones can be seen in the ultrasound image in the 13th week of pregnancy.

A baby can also swallow in the 13th week of pregnancy - a process that can now sometimes even be observed on ultrasound. Something similar to breathing movements, i.e. the raising and lowering of the chest, are also visible. Of course, the fetus does not really breathe yet. You secure the little one's oxygen supply via the umbilical cord. However, the movements are still important so that the child's lungs can develop properly.

13th week of pregnancy: That will change for you

Another stage is done. The second trimester begins with the 13th week of pregnancy. If you did not have to deal with excessive nausea before, you have become about three kilograms heavier. The waistband is probably already a bit tight, and without a shirt in front of the mirror you can see a small abdominal approach in the 13th week of pregnancy.

From now on, your energy requirements are increased by around 300 calories per day. That is hot, there is more cheese or sausage bread in it, but no feast. Your breasts should have grown too. Perhaps some milk is already leaking out as a clear, yellowish secretion.

Actually, this so-called pre-milk does not form until around the 21st week of pregnancy. For some women, however, this can happen earlier. Soft nursing pads can help with premature milk flow, as can quark packs or cooling pads if your breasts are uncomfortably tight. Avoid the sensitive nipples when cooling.

13th week of pregnancy: This is important now

In and of itself, there isn't a set point in time when you need to let your boss know about the pregnancy. Before he knows, however, you are not entitled to various “mom privileges” as provided for in the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG).

The 13th week of pregnancy is a good time to tell your employer about your pregnancy. The risk of miscarriage has now decreased significantly compared to the first few weeks of pregnancy. Your employer then reports the pregnancy to the competent supervisory authority and must ensure that you can work risk-free and with enough breaks - as prescribed in the Maternity Protection Act.

In addition, according to this law, you may not be dismissed from your job during pregnancy and a certain time before and after the birth. A few weeks before and after the calculated appointment, you as an expectant mum are not allowed to work. After the birth, you can take up to three years of parental leave before you return to work.

Midwife tip

From the 13th week of pregnancy, you can eat a little more without a guilty conscience! You also have a higher energy requirement, in terms of both calories and vitamins and minerals. You should take in sufficient amounts of iodine and folic acid in particular. However, food supplements are not absolutely necessary. A lot can be done about diet. So now you should pay more attention to fresh, healthy and balanced food around the 13th week of pregnancy.