CHANGES IN BABY: WEEKS 13 TO 27

Congratulations, by week 20 you will have reached the halfway mark of your pregnancy!

Make sure you ask your doctor about genetic screening NT Scan or NIPT scan.

This is usually done at 11-13 weeks to identify the higher risks for genetic defects e.g. Down’s syndrome.

Sign up for antenatal class that is recommended to be done at around 26 weeks and run in all of our Mediclinic hospitals by our Midwifes.

Physical symptoms:

  • Your weight gain should be approximately 1.4 – 1.8 kg for every month of pregnancy
  • Your skin may be more sensitive to the sun. Use sunscreen to prevent permanent hyperpigmentation
  • Prevent stretch marks with daily use of a moisturiser or stretch mark cream to keep your skin supple
  • Alleviate cramps by upping your fluid intake, taking a magnesium supplement or having a massage
  • Fingers may swell. Remove rings to prevent them becoming too tight

Baby development 

MediJupiterDevFoetus_Wk13
WEEKS 13
BABY IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PEACH. TEETH AND TINY RIBS ARE FORMING.
MediJupiterDevFoetus_Wk14
WEEK 14
BABY IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A LEMON AND WEIGHS 45 GRAMS. SEX WILL BECOME APPARENT SOON.
MediJupiterDevFoetus_Wk15
WEEK 15
BABY IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF AN ORANGE AND SCALP HAIR PATTERN IS FORMING.
MediJupiterDevFoetus_Wk16
WEEK 16-17
BABY IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF AN AVOCADO, ABLE TO FORM FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, PLAY WITH UMBILICAL CORD AND CAN HEAR THE SOUND OF YOUR HEART AND VOICE.
MediJupiterDevFoetus_Wk18
WEEK 18
BABY IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SWEET POTATO AND WEIGHS ABOUT 200 RAMS. YOU MAY BECOME AWARE OF QUICKENING MOVEMENTS.
MediJupiterDevFoetus_Wk19
WEEK 19
BABY IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A MANGO AND IN GIRLS, THE UTERUS AND VAGINA ARE FORMING.
MediJupiterDevFoetus_Wk22
WEEK 20-24
BABY IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PAPAYA. YOU MAY FEEL HICCUPS AS SMALL RHYTHMIC TWITCHES AND MAY ALSO EXPERIENCE BRAXTON HICKS CONTRACTIONS.
MediJupiterDevFoetus_Wk26
WEEK 25-28
BABY IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF AN AUBERGINE AND IF BORN AT THIS STAGE MIGHT SURVIVE. THE EYES BLINK, HAVE EYELASHES AND CAN SEE LIGHT.