Pregnancy Week By Week
Week 13 and Week 14

What's Happening Inside You?

Your baby's fingers and toes are well-defined; eyelids, eyebrows, eyelashes, nails and hair are formed. Teeth and bones become denser. Your baby can even suck his or her thumb, yawn, stretch and make faces.

The nervous system is starting to function. The reproductive organs and genitalia are now fully developed, and your health care provider can see on ultrasound if you are having a boy or a girl. Your baby's heartbeat may now be audible through an instrument called a Doppler.

By the end of the fourth month, your baby is about 6 inches long and weighs about 4 ounces.

Week 13

Baby:

Your fully formed fetus, now in about its 11th week of development, measures 2.6 to 3.1 inches from crown to rump and weighs between half an ounce and seven-tenths of an ounce -- about the size of a peach. The head is still disproportionately bigger than the body, but the rest of the body is starting to catch up. In fact, your baby is growing rapidly these days. The face is starting to look more human, with eyes moving closer together. Toes and fingers are clearly separate, and ankles and wrists have formed. External genitalia are becoming visible. Intestines are shifting into their proper place, too.

Mother:

Your uterus has grown a lot. It's filling your pelvis now and starting to grow upward into your abdomen. It probably feels like a soft, smooth ball. If you haven't put on any weight yet because of morning sickness, you'll begin to now as you start to feel better.

Dad:

Although providing support to your partner is priceless, you should also take time to venture out solo. Go play your favorite sport. Get together with your buddies. Leave work an hour or two early some day and enjoy some alone time. You deserve it!

Do's and Don'ts:

Do sign up now for childbirth classes, even though you won't be attending them for weeks (they usually begin in the seventh month). They're so popular that sessions fill up quickly. It's best to plan ahead to get the time slot that works best for you. Ask your doctor or midwife for a recommendation, or call your hospital or birthing center.

Exercise:

Your fitness regimen is getting a makeover now that you're expecting. Avoid anything that requires the Valsalva maneuver, which happens when you exhale with great force (during weight lifting, for example); it can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Tip for the Week:

It's easy for your partner to feel left out of the pregnancy since he isn't feeling the same physical changes that you are. Both of you should share your excitement about having a child, your dreams, worries and your partner's level of involvement. Suggest that your partner goes to a check-up with you to hear the baby's heartbeat.

Week 14

Baby:

Your baby measures about 3.2 to 4.1 inches from crown to rump now and weighs almost an ounce. The ears are shifting from the neck to the sides of the head, and the neck is getting longer and chin more prominent. Facial features and unique fingerprints are all there. Your baby is beginning to respond to outside stimuli. If your abdomen is poked, the fetus will try to wriggle away.

Mother:

You're probably wearing maternity clothes now. Your skin and muscles are starting to stretch to accommodate your growing baby. You may notice some constipation because pregnancy hormones relax the bowel.

Dad:

Now that mom is showing, she'll most likely be getting all sorts of attention. Gushing relatives, friends, and even strangers will have the urge to 'ooh' and 'aww' and even touch mom's bump.

Now if they give the same amount of attention to your 'bump', there's cause for concern. This may be a good time to lose it!

Do's and Don'ts:

Do try to be extra vigilant about dental hygiene, because pregnancy makes your gums swell, leaving them vulnerable to germs and open to infection. Brush your teeth and tongue after every meal -- and top off with an antibacterial mouthwash once a day. Ask your dentist about scheduling more cleanings throughout your pregnancy (they're worth the extra out-of-pocket costs). Save the X rays until you're postpartum.

Exercise:

Kegel exercises strengthen the vaginal and perineal muscles, which will help prevent incontinence, prime you for pushing, and lessen tearing during birth. To keep them in shape: Lie down on the floor and contract -- as if you're stopping your urine midstream -- and release your muscles for a few minutes at a time, once or twice a day.