Pregnancy: 13 weeks

How the child grows:

On the tiny fingers, fingerprints have already appeared, the veins and organs of the child are clearly visible through the thin skin, and the size of the trunk begins to gradually become equal with the size of the head. If you have a girl, then her ovaries contain more than 2 million eggs. Your child grew to almost 8 cm long and weighs almost 28 grams.

Important: the development of each child is strictly individual. Our information is designed to give you an idea of the development of the fetus.

Changes of the future mother

This is the last week of the first trimester, and the risk of spontaneous abortion is now much lower. Next week, the second trimester will begin - a time of relative comfort for many women who have symptoms of early pregnancy, such as morning sickness and fatigue. In addition, there is one more good news: many couples also notice increased libido at this time. The moment of birth is still far away, but the colostrum can already be allocated a colostrum - a nutrient-rich liquid, with which you will feed your baby during the first few days after birth

3 Questions ... Food for two

• How much should I eat daily?

You need about 300 extra calories a day more, during pregnancy, than before. Try to take into account calories as follows: skip the reception of heavy meals and drink instead a glass of milk with whole grain toast.

Do not be obsessed with quantity, it is better to monitor the quality of food.

• What nutrients are needed most?

Protein, iron, and calcium are the three main nutrients needed to maintain your health, as well as your kid's health.

Protein: Ideally, you need to eat up to 71 grams a day. Lean meat, eggs, and dairy products, as well as nuts, beans, and soy products are a good source of protein. Three meals a day will help achieve the goal. Fish is a rich source of protein (and also useful omega-3 fats), but because of possible water contamination and expert disputes, one should consult a doctor about the name and quantity of fish that can be eaten without risk to health.

Iron: 27 milligrams of iron per day is especially important, for the prevention of iron deficiency anemia, a common problem among pregnant women. Iron, contained in products of animal origin, is absorbed by the body more easily than iron of vegetable origin. The best source? Lean meat. If you are a vegetarian, use spinach and beans, these sources are not as rich in iron as meat, but, nevertheless, they can provide it. Vitamin C promotes the absorption of iron from plant origin, so experts recommend the use of fruits of citrus fruits, strawberries and sweet peppers.

Calcium: Four servings of dairy products per day will provide you with 1,000 mg of calcium. Your child needs calcium to form bones and teeth. If he does not get enough of this nutrient, then he will take it from your body and you will lose the calcium needed for your bones.

• Do I need to monitor nutrition if I take prenatal vitamins?

Yes! Despite the fact that prenatal vitamins contain all the minerals necessary for pregnant women, they are not intended to replace a healthy diet. It is very important to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as fiber contributes to digestion. In fact, if you are a healthy woman who adheres to a healthy balanced diet, taking multivitamins and minerals is not necessary. However, experts believe that taking folic acid before conception and during the first trimester, and iron during the second and third is necessary.

This Week's Activity: Share your prospective parenting practices with your partner. To start a conversation, try with a creative approach: take a sheet of paper and make a list called "My Mom is Always ..." and "My Mom is Never ...", and "My Father Is Always ..." and "My Father is Never ...". After drawing up the list, discuss with your partner your results, think about what you want to leave, and what to add when raising your own child.

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