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ORIGINAL POST:
WEEK 13
Mother:
You are probably noticable showing now. Your stomach may feel achy due to the stretching of the ligaments around your uterus. You may begin to develop stretch marks, and unfortunately there is not much that can be done about it. If you are genetically disposed to get them, you will. You may be craving some interesting combinations. Occasionally women crave things that are harmful, like dirt,clay, nail polish, or kerosene. This should be discussed with your doctor. It is a disorder called "Pica".
Baby:
Your baby is getting some whispy hair, and no matter what color it is when he is born, all babies have white hair at this stage. The 20 baby teeth are formed and the vocal cords have begun developing.
WEEK 14
Mother:
Week 14 is considered the beginning of your second trimester. Morning sickness should be almost gone of not completely gone. More women report this is the most enjoyable time of pregnancy. Risk of a miscarriage is very slim now. Your breasts begin to make colostrums. Heartburn may become more aggravating. Your doctor will give you the option of taking a test for amniocentesis, which may detect birth defects. Remember to keep exercising; there are a lot of statistics that show moderate exercise makes labor and delivery easier.
Baby:
Your baby can now smile! The facial muscles have attached themselves and your baby is starting to look more like you, which is amazing considering she is only 3 inches long! Her reflexes are functioning, if you were to touch her foot, her toes would curl. Your baby has developed her own distinct fingerprints. Your baby's heart is working hard, pumping 25 quarts of blood per day.
WEEK 15
Mother:
1 out of every 50 women might be carrying twins or multiples. Some of the signs may be, abnormal weight gain, larger uterus, and more than one fetal heartbeat detected by your doctor. Some women may have already seen that they were carrying multiples if their doctor gave them an ultrasound on their first visit. Most women go through an entire pregnancy without any complications, but below is a list of some things to contact your doctor immediately for, should they occur, *Vaginal bleeding *Severe or sudden swelling in the feet, face or fingers *Temperature over 101.6 *Severe vomiting *Severe, unusual headache *Blurred vision *Severe abdominal pain *Unusual discharge of fluids from the vagina Your heart is now pumping close to 20% more blood to disperse your extra blood supply. Sleeping on your tummy is probably uncomfortable now, and sleeping on your back can aggravate your blood vessels and cause additional swelling, so you will want to start sleeping on your side. Extra pillows can add extra comfort!
Baby:
The baby can hear now and listens to the sound of your heartbeat and the sound of your voice. He will be comforted by these familiar sounds after birth. Eye lashes and eyebrows are appearing. A thin dark hair, called lanugos, now covers the baby's body; this should disappear within the first month after birth. The baby's hair is thickening and any cowlicks that baby will have are present. The baby drinks about 16 oz. of amniotic fluid each day and your body continues to replenish that fluid every 3-4 hours.
WEEK 16
Mother:
You might be able to feel your baby moving! Many first time moms might mistake it for gas. It feels a little like a fluttering in your tummy...so it will seem more like a kick than a flutter. Some moms don't feel there little one until 22-24 weeks so don't be too concerned if you still don't feel anything. The placenta is functioning perfectly now and is full formed.
Baby:
Baby might be as long as 6 inches and weigh almost 3 oz. Most likely your baby has her fingernails and toenails. Her eyes are sensitive to light, but the eyelids are still sealed shut. Your baby might get the hiccups, soon you will be able to detect when your baby has a case of the hiccups, and you will feel a regular tapping in your tummy each time she hiccups. If you were given an ultra sound you would be able to tell if your baby was a boy or a girl. The genitals are distinguishable.
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