Update on 13 Weeks

So, according to most of the things I've read, 13 weeks is the beginning of the second trimester! Some sites say 14 weeks, but the books I've read and at least 2 of the sites I'm signed up for say 13. So, Hello Second Trimester! This post will be a bit longer, due to the extra importance of the start of the second trimester.

Everything I've read agrees that the second is much easier on body and mind. BabiesOnline.com: "Welcome to your second trimester! Many mothers state that this is the time when they feel their best. The early signs of pregnancy are over and you will find yourself with more energy. Also, this is the time when you will begin to feel pregnant. This is usually the most enjoyable and comfortable part of pregnancy as the feelings of sickness are ending (or soon will be) and your tummy is still small enough that it is not getting in the way or making you feel uncomfortable. Your body is working very hard right now, so you need to listen to the little clues it will give you, and make sure to get enough rest."

Thebump.com: "Welcome to the blissful second trimester, widely recognized as pregnancy's most comfortable and enjoyable. (Yes, it's a relative distinction.)"

and the one website that says 14 is the second, Babycenter.com: "This is the last week of your first trimester, and your risk of miscarriage is now much lower than earlier in pregnancy. Next week marks the beginning of your second trimester, a time of relative comfort for many women who see early pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and fatigue subside. More good news: Many couples also notice a distinct libido lift around this time."

So, now all I'm waiting for is to feel better. I'm still battling a double ear infection that is very painful and left me with swollen ear canals and not able to hear more than maybe 10 to 15% of my normal hearing. Good news is I finally broke my 100+ fever that was just compounding my symptoms and making me worry about my baby, and my left ear is not nearly as painful as it was to start. I am super looking forward this second trimester glow!

Okay, so! Now on to the actual update!

Thebump.com: "Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords...savor this, their nonfunctional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with his head now only one third the size of his body. And intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy -- much more convenient."

Babycenter.com: "Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce."

Babiesonline.com: "There is a lot going on with your baby this week. The villi are forming in the intestines, and these help in peristaltic movements and digestion. The liver begins to secrete bile and the pancreas is even secreting insulin! All twenty teeth have formed and are waiting under the gums, while your baby has begun to practice swallowing by taking in the surrounding amniotic fluid and passing it back in his urine. Your baby can smile and his vocal cords are quickly developing, too. He looks more and more human as his eyes move closer together and the ears are beginning to move to what will be their normal positions. Your baby weighs between approximately 13 and 20 grams (1/2 and 3/4 ounce) and is approximately 2 1/2 to 3 inches long. The placenta and baby are about the same weight now."