What's happening when you're 12 weeks pregnant? It’s a landmark week for your little one, since most of his key body systems and vital organs are fully formed by now. Your baby will spend the rest of his gestation bringing those systems up to speed and full maturation so they’ll be able to function to perfection once his big birthday arrives.
Your fetus can now boast the achievement of having more than doubled in size in just three weeks. Crown-to-rump length is about two and a half inches, so he’s about the size of a kiwi, but weighs a lot less, just half an ounce. A fair amount of heft is in that crown: basic brain structure is complete and now it’s time for that brain mass to rapidly increase.
Your baby’s thyroid is now fully formed, the pituitary gland has started producing hormones, and the pancreas has begun to synthesize insulin. Not to be outdone, your baby’s bone marrow is churning out white blood cells, the critical weapons needed to fight infection once your little warrior is on the outside and no longer protected by your immune system.
Muscles in the digestive tract are getting primed, practicing their contractions so they can process food – and lots and lots of poop – after birth. And even though much of the small intestines are still folded up in storage in the umbilical cord, the villi – tiny, finger-like projections that absorb nutrients from food – are now in place.
The best development of all? If you haven’t already heard it, this is the week that your cutie’s heartbeat will come through loud and clear at your checkup. And that’ll be music to your ears.
Did You Know?
If you're genetically prone to stretch marks (e.g. you already have some elsewhere), it’s unlikely you’ll prevent them during pregnancy. Stretch marks occur when your skin grows too fast and the skin fibers are torn, leaving purple indented scars which will fade with time. Your best bet is keeping your skin very elastic with creams that contain cocoa butter, vitamin E or sweet almond oil.
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