So you’re on your 13th week of pregnancy. This roughly translates to the final days of your first trimester, a.k.a. the morning sickness phase.
But don’t get us wrong, morning sickness can happen at any time during your pregnancy. It’s usually just the first trimester when morning sickness is toughest.
As you are about to enter your second trimester, you may already be thinking about different things regarding your baby.
Not to mention, you may also be wondering what are the changes happening in your own body.
One of your concerns may be at 13 weeks pregnant belly still soft.
In this article, we will talk about what is going on in your body and what you can expect in the coming weeks.
Plus, let’s talk about the sensation of feeling your belly harden in your second trimester and what it could mean.
And while you may be wondering why at 13 weeks pregnant belly still soft, it may not mean anything serious or harmful for your baby.
Still, it’s best that you head over to your doctor to get a consultation.
Explaining Your Pregnancy at 13 Weeks
Now that you’re in your second trimester, your placenta will be taking over the production of your hormone levels.
This is the time when your belly will start to show and expand outwards.
It may also be the time that you start wearing maternity clothes as these will feel more comfortable than wearing tight-fitting clothes.
Not to mention, maternity clothes typically have stretchy fabric so you’ll have more room to move around in.
Apart from your clothes, these are the things that will change:
1.) Changes with your baby
At this time in your pregnancy, you may be wondering about your little one.
With regards to his size, he will roughly be the size of a pea. This is the time when your baby’s intestines return to the abdomen after spending time growing in the umbilical cord.
Your baby’s legs, arms, and head will also slowly start to form into a bone.
Internally, your baby will start urinating in the amniotic fluid; which will be its contents until you give birth.
The second trimester may be an exciting time for most parents as this is the time when doctors reveal the baby’s gender via ultrasound.
Your doctor will likely schedule an ultrasound between the 17th and 20th week. Apart from identifying the gender, your doctor will listen to the heartbeat of your baby using a Doppler machine.
2.) If you have twins
On the other hand, if you have twins, things will be a little different for you.
On your 13th week of pregnancy, your babies will have a size of around 4 inches and individually weigh over an ounce. And that means you’ll be more obviously pregnant.
Your babies’ tissues will also start forming into bone, which will make up their heads, arms, and legs.
And the amniotic fluid will also start containing your babies’ urine.
Changes in Your Body
As mentioned, your early pregnancy symptoms will start fading away. This is also the time when you start to get into your pregnancy glow.
If you were having frequent bouts of nausea or exhaustion, you can expect those symptoms to go away in the coming weeks.
Some of the symptoms you’ll experience at your 13th week include the following:
1.) Increased Energy
There’s a reason why people refer to this trimester as the “honeymoon period” throughout your pregnancy. And that is because most of the typical pregnancy symptoms start to fade.
If you were feeling exhausted a lot during your first trimester, you can start to get more things done during this time.
You’ll have more energy during the second trimester. But it’s best to say that you should enjoy it while it lasts.
The third trimester comes just as quickly and you’ll start to experience new symptoms such as back pain, restless sleep, and swollen ankles.
2.) Round Ligament Pain
During this time in your pregnancy, your uterus will continue to rapidly grow. You will start feeling the top just above your pelvic bone.
Because of this, you may experience a common symptom known as round ligament pain.
This symptom is characterized as a sharp pain in the lower abdomen when you shift positions or get up too quickly.
Most of the time, this sensation is not an indication of a serious condition. But if you experience pain with bleeding, chills, or a fever, call your doctor right away.
3.) Leaky Breasts
Another pregnancy symptom that may start to occur during this time is leaking breasts. This is the time when you will start producing colostrum, a precursor to breastmilk.
If you notice your breasts leaking a sticky and thick liquid that is color yellow or light orange, it may be time to start saving it.
It is highly nutritious for your newborn baby to consume when he has been delivered.
Leaky breasts don’t usually indicate anything serious. But if it comes with discomfort or pain, you can consult your doctor for it.
13 Weeks Pregnant Belly Still Soft
Now that you know the common symptoms that will start during this stage of your pregnancy, it’s time to understand why your belly gets firm.
This is particularly important to know because you may be wondering why at 13 weeks pregnant belly still soft. If you are worried why your belly is still soft, it’s not really a bad thing.
There are many reasons why you may feel your belly harden during pregnancy. And when you feel your belly get firmer, it’s actually a normal thing too.
But if you feel like your belly is hardening more than usual or quite frequently, you should inform your OBGYN as soon as possible.
Your doctor will assess your situation and determine if it is a normal occurrence.
Here are the possible reasons why your belly gets firm at 13 weeks:
1.) Constipation
One of the common reasons why you may feel your belly harden is constipation.
This can occur at any point in your pregnancy because of the quick hormonal changes that take place.
As a result, your intestinal flow will cause an increase in the formation of gas. This will then make your belly bloated and feel harder.
If your doctor prescribed iron supplements, you may also feel your belly harden.
The best way you can reduce discomfort brought about by constipation is to make sure you drink enough water throughout the day. At the same time, have a fiber-rich diet. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
2. Stretching
Another possible reason why your belly may harden is because your abdominal muscle is stretching due to your growing baby and uterus.
The hardening of your belly can be caused by the excessive stretching of your abdominal muscles.
This typically starts to happen on your 7th and 8th week of pregnancy.
And you may feel like your lower abdomen will look harder and more swollen than before.
This is completely normal. But if the feeling gets uncomfortable, make sure to tell your doctor.
3. Miscarriage
Sadly, when you feel that your belly hardens on your first trimester, it could also be an indication of a miscarriage.
This usually happens before your 12th week.
Other symptoms to look out for include a sharp lower back pain and bleeding with clots.
If you believe you had a miscarriage, head straight to the hospital for an ultrasound.
Your doctor will check your condition, as well as your baby’s.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should my belly be hard at 13 weeks pregnant?
Having a hard belly at 13 weeks isn’t something out of the ordinary. And if you are worried why your belly still isn’t hard during this time, it could be because of several reasons.
Pregnant women usually start to feel their belly harden during their second or third trimester.
This is caused by a growing uterus, which pushes against the abdominal wall.
Is it normal to have a soft belly during pregnancy?
A lot of pregnant women tend to worry about their belly still being soft even if they are on their 17th week.
The good news is, it is very normal to have a soft belly during this time of your pregnancy.
It will all depend on your fetus’ size and position. Further along in your pregnancy, you will start to feel your belly harden.
When do pregnant bellies get firm?
One thing you have to remember is that the hardening of pregnant bellies is mostly because of the excessive stretching of the abdominal muscles. Typically, this happens on weeks 7 and 8.
If you are worried about your lower abdomen being more swollen and harder, there is no need to panic. This is completely normal.
Iesha is a loving mother of 2 beautiful children. She’s an active parent who enjoys indoor and outdoor adventures with her family. Her mission is to share practical and realistic parenting advice to help the parenting community becoming stronger.
