You're about to say goodbye to your first trimester and you're officially on your way to your second trimester. At 11-12 weeks of pregnancy, many make an announcement about the new position, because the risk of miscarriage drops, and the baby at 12 weeks is already more human-like.
For those who are faced with this situation for the first time, the question arises: 12 weeks of pregnancy is how many months? The 12th week of pregnancy is the third month, but the 12th obstetric week of pregnancy is different from the usual one, since gynecologists count from the date of the last menstruation.
Symptoms
12 weeks of pregnancy fetal development and sensations: your hormones are a little tamed. Your body has adjusted to your new status, so you should feel much better (hopefully!). But while some first trimester symptoms may disappear, more other symptoms may appear to replace them.
Increased vaginal discharge
Discharge at 12 weeks of pregnancy. Having more clear or milky white, odorless vaginal discharge, called leukorrhea, is your body's way of fighting bacteria. You can rest easy as long as your vaginal discharge is not red in color, does not have an unpleasant odor, and does not cause any discomfort. If the color is yellow, greenish, pink, or brown, call your doctor as soon as possible, as this may indicate an infection or a sign of preterm labor.
Below is 12 weeks of pregnancy fetal photo table:
Dizziness
The cause of dizziness at this stage (12 to 12) may be hormone levels (hello, progesterone!) and changes in blood pressure, as your body sends more blood to your baby than your body does. You're also producing more heat now, and another possible culprit could be low blood sugar if you're not eating well.
To combat dizziness, try to stay in well-ventilated areas. Eat regularly and drink plenty of water. Move slowly and steadily as you change positions, from lying down to sitting to standing. If you feel dizzy, sit with your head between your knees, take a deep breath, loosen tight clothing, and then eat or drink something as soon as you feel better.
Below 12 weeks of pregnancy fetal size ultrasound photo:
Vision changes
The increase in blood volume and flow can cause the lens and cornea of the eyes to thicken and increase pressure, which can sometimes cause blurred vision and dizziness when moving too quickly. Other vision changes may include temporary nearsightedness or farsightedness, lack of peripheral vision, and sensitivity to sunlight. This should improve after delivery, but tell your doctor you have a problem to rule out any other complications.
Headache
There can be many reasons for a headache, such as fluctuating hormone levels, dehydration, hunger (maybe even caffeine withdrawal), lack of sleep, or even stress. Consult your doctor before taking any medications. If you notice that your headaches are occurring more frequently, are more intense than before, or are accompanied by vision problems, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Below 12 weeks of pregnancy fetal development photo:
Low sex drive
Twelfth week of pregnancy: After first trimester symptoms subside, some women experience an increase in libido. For other pregnant women, it may be the opposite. They experience low sex drive also due to hormonal fluctuations. The point is to maintain an emotional connection with your partner. Remember that you can have intimacy without sex.
Skin color changes
12 weeks pregnant: Your areola may be larger and darker than usual, but these are not the last skin changes you may experience during your new position. You may begin to notice a change in skin color known as chloasma, irregular dark patches on your face and neck. These skin changes are expected to return to normal within a few months after delivery.
Frequent urination
That feeling of having to go to the bathroom is finally starting to subside. But be sure to do Kegel exercises over the next few months to prevent pregnancy-induced incontinence.
Bloating and gas
Expect frequent belching and gas, which is caused by relaxed muscles in your intestines. Stay away from foods such as fried foods, broccoli, root vegetables and beans.
Excessive salivation
Producing more saliva now may be due to morning sickness, which should be reduced as you enter the second trimester. If you are still experiencing this, chewing sugar-free gum may help.
Heartburn and indigestion
The muscle valve between the stomach and esophagus has relaxed, so you can now easily get heartburn. Your uterus may also have started to press on your stomach. Eat slowly and drink only after you have eaten. Avoid eating spicy, fatty and fried foods.
Fatigue
Your body is still continually producing more blood and increasing blood flow to your uterus as well as other parts of your body. Listen to yourself and don't overexert yourself. Rest and sleep if necessary.
Vitamins B6 and B12 may help with morning sickness
Research shows that taking vitamin B6 for morning sickness significantly reduces nausea, although not vomiting, in many pregnant women. There were also no signs of harm to the fetus from its additional intake. The typical dose of vitamin B6 to relieve nausea from morning sickness is 25 mg 3 times daily. But talk to your doctor before taking dietary supplements for this purpose.
Vitamin B6 also helps the body use and store energy from food and produce red blood cells. Bananas, brown rice, lean meats, poultry, fish, avocados, whole grains, corn and nuts are excellent sources.
Vitamin B12 is also important during pregnancy, and taking extra vitamin B12 has been shown to relieve vomiting in many pregnant women.1 Although you only need a small amount to stay healthy, if you are deficient in this vitamin you may develop a type of anemia called pernicious anemia. . This may cause you to feel very tired, develop mouth sores, or have tingling or numbness in your fingers and toes. Make an appointment with your doctor if you think you are developing this condition.
If you eat eggs or dairy products, you are unlikely to be deficient in vitamin B12. But vegans need to either eat plenty of foods fortified with this vitamin or take a supplement. Some brands of soy milk, breakfast cereals and yeast extracts are fortified with vitamin B12, so check the packaging for information.
Fetal size at 12 weeks gestation
12 weeks of pregnancy, what happens to the baby: now the 12-week embryo is more than 9 centimeters long and weighs about 30-50 grams. The fetus at 12 weeks of gestation is approximately the size of a plum, lime or ripe apple. If you're unlucky enough to detect your baby's heartbeat, now is the time to try again.
All the major organs of the baby's body are already formed and working now, and your baby will soon enter his growth and maturation stage.
Fetal development
What does a baby look like at 12 weeks of pregnancy? -The baby's digestive system begins to move food through the intestines. His bone marrow is now producing white blood cells to help him fight infection once he leaves your womb. The baby's pituitary gland, responsible for producing hormones that will help him bear children in the future, also began to do its job.
Your 12-week pregnant baby has probably discovered that he can open and close his fingers, curl his toes, jerk his arms and kick his legs. The baby may also have learned to develop reactions, especially the Moro reflex, otherwise known as the startle reflex. If you did a 12 week ultrasound and tapped your belly, you may see your 12 week pregnant fetus moving as a reflex reaction.
Below belly at 12 weeks of pregnancy photo:
An ultrasound will help you see your baby more clearly, but if you want to find out if it's a boy or a girl, your doctor won't be able to predict with much certainty. (You can get non-invasive genetic testing to find out sooner.)
Below is a photo of the fetus at 12 weeks of pregnancy:
Your to-do list this week
So many things to do, but so little energy to do them, right? I hope not anymore as the first trimester symptoms disappear. Here's a checklist of what you need to do now that you're about to become more active.
Plan, plan, plan
You can now email your boss or your company's HR department and let them know about your - to help you with maternity leave (and thankfully, extended maternity leave is now law!). This will give them time to prepare for their upcoming absence.
Stomach pain at 12 weeks of pregnancy: is it dangerous?
Pregnancy is a natural physiological state in a woman’s life. However, it does not always go smoothly and without complications. Many pregnant women at some point begin to feel aching pain in the lower abdomen. To some extent, they can be explained by the characteristics of fetal development. But one cannot completely ignore such problems.
What happens at 12 weeks of pregnancy?
This period is considered one of the most important in fetal development. By this moment, all the child’s organs have already been formed, and their further development awaits.
It receives nutrients from the placenta, which is formed at the end of the second month. The outlines of the fetus become human-like, although its head is larger than the body. Its length is about 10 cm and its weight is approximately 15 g.
At the 12th week of pregnancy, the child exhibits the following signs:
- Internal organs formed
- The eyelids cover the eyes
- Lobes appear on the ears
- Limbs and fingers formed
- Nails grow on your fingers
- The fetus clenches and unclenches its fists and begins to move.
- His mouth muscles work, he can open and close his mouth, wrinkle his lips
- The child is able to swallow the liquid around him and urinate
If in the early stages of pregnancy a woman suffered from toxicosis, then at 12 weeks it usually disappears. This is due to the fact that the resulting placenta produces the necessary hormones.
At this stage, the belly is not yet very noticeable to others, especially if the woman wears loose clothes.
Her breasts begin to swell and enlarge, and in some cases they may become itchy. By this time, the uterus becomes larger in size so much that it protrudes above the pubic bone. At week 12, the first ultrasound examination is performed, which determines the sex of the baby and the approximate due date.
Pain at 12 weeks
While a woman is carrying a child, she may experience pain in different areas of the body. The body experiences increased stress, all its organs work intensively. There may be inflammation of the lymph node in the armpit, which is associated with changes in hormonal levels. The growing mammary gland is also susceptible to colds.
You should take pain in the abdominal area more seriously. They are considered safe only in cases where they arise on the sides and extend to the waist and back area. Here we can talk about the effect of the hormone progesterone on the body of a pregnant woman. The ligaments that support the uterus soften. They stretch along with the growth of the abdomen.
If you experience pain in the lower abdomen, you should consult a gynecologist. Dangerous is the pulling, aching and cramping form of pain.
In some cases, along with painful sensations, bleeding of varying intensity is possible. In such cases, you should not hesitate to seek medical help. Such signs indicate the likelihood of miscarriage. If you miss time, serious problems with a woman’s health are possible.
Miscarriage and its causes
Statistics show that about 20% of pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion. Depending on the timing, doctors distinguish between several types of miscarriages. They most often occur in early pregnancy.
Medicine is developing at a rapid pace, which makes it possible to deliver children born prematurely. However, for up to 12 weeks there is no talk of preserving the fetus.
Perform a prenatal checkup
Make sure you write down your questions to your doctor if this is your first time seeing a doctor. If this is your follow-up appointment, be sure to bring the results of your routine pregnancy tests, such as a blood test and urinalysis. During this period, you can undergo your first ultrasound. Ask your doctor about genetic testing as well. Some doctors perform screening at 12 weeks of pregnancy to make sure that the baby does not develop any pathologies.
What happens to the child: development and growth characteristics
The weight of the embryo during this period is 14 grams, and the length is already more than 6 cm.
In the first three months, all important organs have already formed, and then they will only grow and improve.
The weight of the embryo will steadily increase, which will be reflected in weight gain.
The future baby already feels the hand placed on the mother’s belly, responding with active movements.
But it’s still difficult to feel them, because the baby is still very small. But his fingers are already bending and unbending, and his mouth is performing sucking movements.
What does a baby look like at 12 weeks
At this stage, the baby already looks like a person, except that the head is still larger than the body. The child’s facial features are already formed, the eyes and ears are in their places. The eyelids are still tightly closed and wait until 27 weeks to open.
What organs and systems develop
Every day the child becomes more and more perfect.
Throughout pregnancy, its organs and systems prepare for full formation. At week 12, the following are in the process of development:
- oral cavity;
- digestive system;
- reproductive system;
- nervous system;
- circulatory system.
What is being formed
At week 12, the following important parts of the body’s functioning are formed:
- brain;
- hairline;
- Bone tissue;
- muscles.
During the period from 12 to 16 weeks of pregnancy, the formation of the cerebral cortex occurs, which is accompanied by the formation of new nerve cells and connections between them, called synapses.
What has already been formed
The little man is now the size of a small lemon. In such a short period of time, almost all organs have already been formed:
- pancreas;
- liver;
- kidneys;
- fingerprints;
- facial features;
- lungs;
- organs of hearing.
The first trimester is very important for the baby's development. During this period, the mother’s lifestyle especially affects the child: from diet to daily routine and mood. By the 12th week, the child feels touch and expresses dissatisfaction with the ultrasound sensor: his personal behavioral characteristics are formed.
Discuss pregnancy with your doctor
Unless you have a high-risk condition, you will benefit from exercise, so start with simple, low-impact exercise. You may want to work on Kegel exercises to strengthen your muscles and prevent incontinence.
Below is a photo of an ultrasound at 12 weeks of pregnancy:
Watch your weight
Weight gain is expected, but depending on your body mass index before your new position, you may not need many more calories added to your diet. The key is to eat healthy (not for two!) and take essential vitamins and supplements regularly.
Necessary tests and ultrasound appointment
Analyzes. It is mandatory to donate blood for biochemical analysis. The list of examinations is updated:
- blood for sugar;
- test for AIDS, syphilis;
- hepatitis B test;
- determination of blood group and Rh factor;
- analysis for the level of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin);
- coagulogram;
- flora smear;
- sowing tank.
They also monitor mommy: they measure volumes, control weight, measure pressure and temperature.
Ultrasound. It is at this time that it is appointed for the first time. The mother and baby meet for the first time, she sees what her child looks like.
After the procedure, they are sure to give you ultrasound photos, and you can admire them at home and show them to your family.
Even yesterday's embryo from a small dot is increasingly acquiring its usual shape. You can also see subtle vibrations in the chest on the monitor screen - these are your baby’s first attempts to breathe on his own. But for now he is in the womb, and this is just training.
In addition, using ultrasound:
- the uterus is examined, its tone is assessed;
- the location of the placenta is determined;
- the size of the expected replenishment is determined;
- the possibility of pregnancy outside the uterus is excluded/confirmed, etc.
Interpretation of an ultrasound scan at the 12th week of pregnancy makes it possible to determine the presence of congenital defects and chromosomal abnormalities.
The obtained data are compared with standard indicators. This way both the doctor and the parents will know if everything is going according to plan.
