Pregnancy: Week 13

Mrs. Undaground's pregnancy hits 13 weeks today. The fetus is about 3 inches long, or about the size of a peach (but not quite as fuzzy). I found some week-by-week pregnancy sites on the internet here and here, and this is what they had to say about week 13:

As our baby continues to develop, the vocal cords begin to form. The face is looking more and more human each day as the eyes begin to move closer together instead of being on the sides of the head and the ears move to a normal position.

I'm glad this happens during fetal development and not early childhood. I doubt kids would be so cute if they had eyes on the sides of their head. Their peripheral vision would be excellent, however.

It would be possible now to determine the baby's sex by looking at the genitals if we could only get close enough. (We usually can't "guess" via ultrasound until around the 16th week.)

Stop looking at my baby's genitals. I'm serious.

Your high-risk period is over, and it's time to begin sharing the news. Hooray! Your morning sickness should be starting to subside.

Not so fast. Mrs. Undaground has perfected the spontaneous bathroom sprint, a maneuver usually reserved for Moroccan restaurants.

Yes, you're really having a baby! Now that the high-risk period is over, you probably have some pregnancy announcements to make. That is, if you've been able to keep the big news a secret.

We were expert secret-keepers. Water in a beer bottle and fake gin and tonics at parties can work wonders.

You should be seeing your doctor again: Make sure to track your progress in your pregnancy journal.

Journal? People are blogging nowadays.

If you haven’t quit smoking make today the day. That’s right. Take that pack and break it in half. If not for you, then do it for your baby. Find out why your body should be a smoke-free environment.

What!!! So smoking is OK through the first trimester? I've never heard that before. Maybe I should pick a different website for these weekly tips.

Meow! Who’s changing the cat box? Not you, I hope. Cat feces and raw meat can contain toxoplasmosis, a disease that can cause birth defects.

I've assumed cat litter responsibility on behalf of the family. I tried to pay a neighbor kid to do it, but they started a union and are currently picketing in front of the house. Now I'm convinced that I have toxoplasmosis because I've had some joint pain and a ringing in my ear.

For Dad
The joy of telling friends and family the news really helps settle in the reality that you're going to be a dad. Enjoy this time! If at all possible take a romantic weekend away to celebrate the victorious second trimester.

Thanks for the tips, but maybe you should warn Dads that Moms might start crying during Lowe's Home Improvement commercials. I'm very proficient at planning weekends but have a tendency to freeze up when my wife is crying about a hardware store.