Day 91 of 280, second trimester
You are 13 weeks exactly
Your hormones have done the hard work of establishing your pregnancy, and as they settle, so should your nausea.
189 days until your due date
Morning sickness usually eases around the start of the second trimester. It's thought the rapid hormonal changes needed to establish and maintain the pregnancy early on may cause it. By now your pregnancy is well established, and your baby's major organs and support system are fully formed, so hormone levels start to stabilize, which may be why the nausea passes.
There's also a theory that nausea protects your baby from harmful substances during the crucial early stages by putting you off things like alcohol and junk food.
If your sickness hasn't started to ease yet, don't worry; for some women it continues into the second trimester. See your doctor if you're worried about how sick you are.
As a matter of fact
A weaker immune system
Your immune system weakens in pregnancy so your body doesn't reject your developing baby.
Unfortunately, this makes you more prone to colds and bugs, and pregnancy hormones can make a stuffy nose and nausea worse.
Ask a Mum
My partner hasn't wanted sex since I got pregnant. Will he ever desire me again?
Yes! It's hard, but try not to take it personally. When I was pregnant, my husband didn't want penetrative sex, mostly because he feared harming the baby or me. It was made worse because I'd taken a long time to conceive and was having a difficult pregnancy with lots of sickness.
Our doctor reassured him that sex couldn't harm the baby in any way and told us it's common for either partner to lose interest in sex during pregnancy, for all sorts of reasons. Many women feel more desire at this stage, but their partners may not.
Talk to your partner to find out his fears and explain your own feelings, and don't let it turn into an argument. Every couple is different and you'll need to work it out together.
It may also help to talk to someone less involved, such as your doctor or a trusted friend.
Explainer
Staying close
You don't have to lose intimacy even if you're having less sex. Take time to be affectionate and show your partner you want to be physically close.
Appointments and key dates around now
- Dating scanBetween 11 and 14 weeks
Read the full 13 weeks pregnant guide
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.