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12 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Belly & More

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1113

Highlights this week

Your growing uterus

Your uterus has grown to the size of a grapefruit! Your healthcare provider can now feel the top of it (the fundus) low in your abdomen, above your pubic bone.

Miscarriage rate drops

If you've been worried about miscarriage (like many expecting parents), here's some happy news: The risk drops significantly as your pregnancy progresses. Once you've had a first prenatal visit and seen or heard your baby's heartbeat, the chance of miscarriage is very low.

Your baby is fully formed

All of your baby's vital organs and body parts are in place. They'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

Baby development at 12 weeks

Small movements

This week, your baby can open and close their hands (making a fist) and curl their toes.

Tiny fingernails

Your baby has itsy bitsy nails growing on their fingers and toes.

Your baby's intestines

The stomach and esophagus started forming around 7 weeks of pregnancy, and your baby's intestines grew so fast that they protruded into the umbilical cord. Soon, the abdominal wall will close and their intestines will make their way inside their abdomen.

Having twins?

Learn more about being 12 weeks pregnant with twins.

Your baby at 12 weeks

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Your baby is about the size of a lime

length

2.13

inches

head to bottom

weight

2.05

ounces

Pregnancy symptoms during week 12

Pregnancy stress

It's normal to feel some stress during pregnancy. Many moms-to-be (and partners) worry about their baby's health, finances, and how they'll handle the changes ahead. But if stress becomes constant or overwhelming, talk to your doctor or midwife. Chronic stress isn't good for you, and it can spiral into pregnancy depression or anxiety.

Headaches

Headaches are a common pregnancy symptom at 12 weeks. You may be able to avoid them by eating small meals frequently, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, exercising, practicing relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga, and getting a prenatal massage. If you're suffering from a headache, apply heat or cold to your forehead or the base of your skull, take a shower, and consider acupuncture. Healthcare providers consider acetaminophen (Tylenol) the safest over-the-counter pain reliever during pregnancy, but talk to your doctor or midwife before taking any medication during pregnancy.

Food aversions

Pregnancy hormones and a heightened sense of smell are likely behind any food aversions you're experiencing. About 60 percent of pregnant women have aversions, often to meat, eggs, dairy products, spicy foods, foods with strong smells, and coffee. The odds are good that food aversions will fade as you enter your second trimester. Until then, try eating bland or cold foods, which can be easier to stomach. If food smells make you sick, see if your partner or a loved one can do the cooking for now.

Fatigue

Still exhausted? Studies show that 95 percent of pregnant women experience fatigue during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. Most likely, you can look forward to having more energy in the second trimester. Many expecting moms start to feel tired again in the third trimester, when they're carrying more weight and having more sleep disturbances. Though it may seem counterintuitive, gentle exercise is one of the best ways to keep your energy up during pregnancy. And though it's normal, pregnancy fatigue can be a symptom of iron-deficiency anemia or depression, so talk to your provider if it's not letting up.

Dizziness

Dizziness in pregnancy happens because your cardiovascular system undergoes dramatic changes: Your heart rate goes up, your heart pumps more blood per minute, and the amount of blood in your body increases by 30 to 50 percent. If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, lie down on your side to maximize blood flow to your body and brain. If you can't lie down, sit down and put your head between your knees.

Shortness of breath

If you feel like you can't catch a full breath, you're not imagining it. Being short of breath during pregnancy isn't uncommon. You need more oxygen when you're expecting, and an increase in progesterone actually expands your lung capacity so you can take deeper breaths. However, if you have a respiratory issue like asthma, it may worsen during pregnancy. And while some shortness of breath is normal, if you have symptoms like chest pain, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, or severe or sudden shortness of breath, call your provider immediately.

Don't see your symptom?

Wondering about a symptom you have? Find it on our pregnancy symptoms page.

Your body at 12 weeks

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Pregnancy checklist at 12 weeks pregnant

Make a baby budget

Sit down with your partner to discuss how you'll handle baby expenses – baby clothes, diapers, toys, feeding supplies, and baby gear add up fast. If you'll pay for childcare, it can take a huge bite out of your monthly budget. Brainstorm where you can trim your spending to save money for your baby. This may feel like a chore, but the resulting peace of mind can be worth it.

Start a pregnancy workout

Exercise helps you develop the strength and endurance you'll need to manage the extra weight you'll be carrying; prepare for childbirth; and prevent some of the aches and pains of pregnancy. It's a great stress reducer and mood booster, too. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends at least 20 to 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most or all days of the week (to equal 2.5 hours per week). If you haven't been exercising during your pregnancy, check in with your healthcare provider before you start and make sure to take it easy, listen to your body, and follow these guidelines for safe pregnancy exercise.

Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water can help prevent common problems in pregnancy such as constipation, hemorrhoids, and urinary tract and bladder infections. It's recommended that pregnant women drink about ten 8-ounce cups of water or other beverages each day, although this target isn't an exact science. Your needs may vary based on your activity levels, your size, and the weather. For example, you're likely to need more fluid than usual when it's hot outside or if you're exercising. The best way to tell if you're getting enough water: Your urine should look pale yellow or colorless, and you should feel thirsty only occasionally.

Keep a journal

Pregnancy journaling is a powerful way to record and reflect on all the changes you're going through. And keeping a journal can actually be good for you: Research shows that writing in a journal (also called expressive writing) can improve your emotional well-being, mental clarity, and even physical health. Your pregnancy journal is also a keepsake you'll enjoy looking back on – and maybe sharing with your child.

Do your Kegels

Kegels are exercises that strengthen the muscles of your pelvic floor. Do them consistently and you may have an easier time healing post-birth. Kegels also help prevent urinary incontinence, and can make sex after birth more enjoyable. You can do Kegels anytime – while brushing your teeth, sitting at a red light, or waiting in line at the coffee shop. Squeeze and hold your pelvic floor muscles, starting with a quick squeeze repeated 10 to 20 times.

Get vaccinated

The flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine are safe and recommended for all pregnant women. Both shots significantly lower your chances of getting a severe infection and being hospitalized. There's also an important benefit to your baby: Antibodies that you develop during pregnancy in response to the flu shot and COVID vaccine are passed to your baby and provide protection after birth. Learn more about which vaccines are safe for pregnancy and which ones to avoid.

12 weeks pregnant bellies

Is it time to start shopping for maternity clothes? It depends. For now, you may be comfy wearing roomier items from your existing wardrobe, such as leggings, maxi dresses, and oversized sweaters. There are also many tried-and-true pregnancy clothing hacks you can use, such as threading a hair tie around your pants button to leave more room for your growing belly, or making your own belly band to wear on top of unzipped pants.

But once you start showing and your belly pops, maternity clothes are often most comfortable. When shopping, know that maternity sizes work the same as regular clothing sizes, so you can stick with your pre-pregnancy size. Sizing remains true for plus-size maternity clothes, too.

This week's video

What are you and your partner most likely to argue about?

Sex and affection

Chores and responsibilities

Marcella Gates

Marcella Gates is executive editor at BabyCenter, the world's number one digital parenting resource, and is an expert on pregnancy and parenting. As a mom of three, she loves that her professional life is focused on supporting and empowering parents and expecting parents. Gates lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.

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11 weeks 13 weeks

12th week of pregnancy what happens to the fetus

Obstetric 12th week of pregnancy, which is counted from the first day of the last menstruation, is equal to the 10th week from the moment of conception. During this period, all the baby's systems are almost formed, nature is working on the details. This is the moment when the first trimester comes to an end. Any abnormalities in the development of the fetus are less likely. The baby is no longer so susceptible to the effects of external factors, the risk of early termination of pregnancy is behind.

What happens to the fetus?

At 12 weeks, the baby weighs an average of 15 g and is about 6 cm long. His body is still disproportionate - a large head and long limbs, but little fingers are covered with marigolds, and the eyes are not so widely spaced. In a tiny man, the upper layer of the epidermis is updated.

Interesting! The baby has facial expressions: he can close his eyes, wrinkle his nose, open his mouth.

There are other changes in the whole body:

• The pituitary, thyroid and thymus produce hormones and cells for the immune system.
• The liver produces bile and the kidneys excrete urine into the amniotic fluid.
• The inside of the ear is forming, but the auricle itself is not yet formed, although the lobe may already be visible.
• The intestine has moved to its proper place and is actively contracting
• The heart is a complete organ: 4 chambers, 2 atria and ventricle. The frequency of contraction reaches up to 160 beats per minute.
• Muscles begin to master movements.
• The neck and larynx are being formed - the baby tries swallowing movements.
• The skeleton is formed in the same way, but is still more represented by cartilaginous tissue.
• The activity of the fetus is high - it moves the legs and arms, makes grasping movements.
• The final stage of the formation of the respiratory system is also taking place. The baby's chest rises up and down, which is similar to the breathing cycle.

At the 12th week, a planned ultrasound is done, on which you can see the sex of the baby, but not always - the genitals are not yet fully formed. Diagnostics allows you to exclude fetal malformations, determine its size, find out the tone and parameters of the uterus of the expectant mother.

Important! At the 12th week, a woman will have to undergo a series of tests that are designed to detect genetic diseases. Such a survey is highly informative and safe.

What happens in the mother's body?

The function of producing progesterone, which was previously performed by the corpus luteum, is now transferred to the placenta. The uterus increases in size, but no longer presses on the bladder, so urination is less frequent than before. But the intestines feel pressure, hence constipation and flatulence appear.

It's time to change your usual clothes for more free and comfortable. It may seem to some mothers at the 12th week of pregnancy that they already feel the movement of their baby, but so far this is an illusion. Explicit tremors of tiny legs are yet to come.

Help! When choosing comfortable clothing, it is important to consider that it must be functional, made from natural hypoallergenic fabrics. A bra with wide straps is good, but softly supports the chest.

Rapid heartbeat, which is often observed in women, is associated with an increase in blood volume due to the fact that the fetus takes most of the oxygen and nutrients for its development. It can also increase blood pressure and cause anemia. During this period, hormonal changes sometimes lead to the formation of age spots on the body and face. But they will leave soon. Some women may begin to have problems with the condition of their hair and nails, while others, on the contrary, note improvements.

Weight gain must not exceed 3.5 kg, i.e. no more than 400 g per week. But it all depends on whether the expectant mother had excess weight before pregnancy. The mood and psychological state stabilizes somewhat, but the woman can still notice mood swings during the day. In addition, expectant mothers feel tired and overly sensitive.

what happens to mother and baby

11 weeks 13 week

Simulated breathing

By the end of the third month of pregnancy, the digestive system of the fetus is improving. The intestines are elongated and fit in loops, as in an adult. Its periodic contractions begin - peristalsis. The fetus makes swallowing movements, swallowing amniotic fluid. To digest them, the liver begins to produce bile. The brain has two developed cerebral hemispheres. Reflex movements are improved - the fetus compresses and unclenches its fingers, grabs the thumb in the mouth and actively sucks it. White blood cells - leukocytes - appear in the blood. It is already possible to register single respiratory movements in the form of rhythmic movements of the chest. But this is an imitation of breathing, since the lungs will begin to function only after birth. There is a development of the genital organs according to the male and female type, but it is still difficult and unlikely to determine the sex of the child by ultrasound: the sex of the child will be determined at 16 weeks.

About fetus

At the 12th week, the neck, eyelashes and eyebrows appear. Ossification points appear in the skeletal system of the fetus. Ultrasound at this stage determines the number of fetuses in the uterus, the position of the fetus, heart rate, the size of the fetus (or, in earlier periods, the fetal egg) and the correspondence of its size to the gestational age. Be sure to examine the placenta and its condition, the presence of calcifications (aging of the placenta) and possible foci of detachment. They look at the walls and cervix, as well as the condition of the ovaries. Ultrasound can reveal a gross pathology of fetal development - defects in the spine, limbs, brain, and abdominal wall.

How does a woman feel?

A woman has almost all the symptoms of early toxicosis. She is glad that the first trimester of pregnancy, which is very important for the development of the fetus, has passed. The uterus increased in size and reached the pubic articulation. Now a woman should walk more in the fresh air, take care of herself. It is important to follow the diet: if there is a large weight gain during the first trimester, this may affect the health of the pregnant woman and the fetus at a later date. The volume of circulating blood in the mother's body has increased. This leads to the expansion of the veins of the lower extremities and pelvis. A capillary network may appear on the skin of the thighs. Women suffering from constipation tend to develop hemorrhoids from this period. In this state, it is recommended to eat a lot of fiber (vegetables, fruits, cereals, unleavened wholemeal bread), drink kefir in the evening, which should be fresh, because a day after making kefir it gets the opposite effect (aggravates constipation). You can take a mild laxative. But it is better to consult a doctor, as a sharp bowel movement leads to uterine contractions. It is not worth sitting and standing for a long time - you need to move more and do physical education for pregnant women, but always under the guidance of an experienced trainer-instructor in therapeutic exercises or an obstetrician. This will relieve the stagnation of blood in the pelvis and legs. After exertion, it is advisable to bring the legs to a slightly vertical position for a short while.

Advice for expectant mother

At 12 weeks, you can do the sanitation of the oral cavity, cure teeth from caries. The fetus needs calcium to develop bones and teeth, so your teeth and bones may not get enough calcium if you don't get enough of it in your diet. The recommended norm is 200 g of cottage cheese per day, while phosphorus and fish oil must be present, that is, fatty fish must be added to your daily diet. If calcium is still not enough, it is washed out of the teeth and bones of the pregnant woman. Then she will have to take it in the form of tablets in courses on the advice of a doctor. The hormonal background of pregnant women contributes to the softening and bleeding of the gums. Therefore, observe oral hygiene: brush your teeth 2 times a day, after each meal (preferably) rinse them with decoctions of herbs (oak bark, St. John's wort, chamomile, calendula). In this way, you will avoid inflammation of the gums and oral mucosa, called pregnancy gingivitis.

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