Pregnancy week thirteen marks the start of your second trimester, with most women finding this trimester to be the smoothest of the three trimesters, says KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH).
For mom
Welcome to your second trimester! The 2nd trimester will span from pregnancy weeks 13 to 28. Most women find this period the smoothest sailing trimester of all. Many of you can say goodbye to the annoying symptoms from before, feel more energetic and get ready to deal with what's to come.
That said, some of you may continue to experience nausea and lethargy up to the 5th month. Please do not feel discouraged. If you feel very low, please talk to your partner and doctor.
That said, although this trimester is meant to be "easier" for many of you, you will not be completely symptom free. In the coming weeks, the KKH pregnancy planner will discuss symptoms to expect, easy solutions and of course, health tips.
Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?
That's probably one of the questions weighing on your mind right now. You're wondering whether it's "safe" to have sex during pregnancy. Well,
the simple answer is, yes,
it is safe in an uncomplicated pregnancy and will not harm your baby.
Which complications may prevent you from having sex during pregnancy?
If your pregnancy is not complicated by the following, it is safe to proceed with having sex:
-
Placenta praevia (low-lying placenta)
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Burst water bag
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Abnormal vaginal discharge
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Preterm labour
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Genital sores or any sexually transmitted infection.
Bleeding after sex?
Pregnancy enhances the blood flow to the pelvic area and thus, may lead to more pleasurable sex.
However, this also means that sometimes, bleeding can occur after sex. You may also experience transient cramps after sex. This is normal, but if the cramps become more intense or if bleeding occurs, please see your doctor.
For baby
No two fetuses develop at the same rate
During the 2nd trimester, all fetuses will be growing at different rates. Some may grow faster than others. It will be difficult to correlate an exact measurement to your gestational age. For that reason, we will be providing you with an estimate of your baby's "height" and weight at 4-week intervals moving forward (at pregnancy weeks 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40).
Before week 13, your baby’s head was growing the fastest, making up almost half of the entire crown rump length for the past 8 weeks.
Now, it's time for the rest of the body to play catch up!
Ref: L20
Click the link for the
complete listing of articles for Pregnancy Week 1 - Week 40.
