What happens in the 12th week of pregnancy? Just 12 weeks after your last period, the foetus is fully formed. All its organs, muscles, limbs and bones are in place, and the sex organs are well developed.
Your baby in the 12th week of pregnancy:
- The biggest fetal development at 12th week of pregnancy is reflexes
- When the mother taps her abdomen with a finger, the baby squirms
- Your baby is now comparable to the size of a lime
- His/hers height is 2.1 inches and weighs 0.49 ounce
- The basic brain structure is complete now
- The neurons are multiplying rapidly and the synapses are forming at speed
- The eyes and ears are in the right position
- The arms and legs are fully formed
- As those reflexes develop your baby's tiny hands will open and close
- Toes will curl and that small mouth will begin to suck
- The thyroid is fully formed and the pancreas has begun to synthesize insulin
- The bone marrow is starting to produce WBCs while the pituitary gland begins releasing specific hormones
- Muscles in the digestive tract are getting prepared
- The small intestines are now in place
- Your baby's heart is beating at a pace of 160 beats per minute that is double the pace of the mother's heartbeats
- Mothers waist grows so thick that you probably need loose clothing
- Mothers might notice the darkening of their skin on the face and neck
Your body in the 12th week of pregnancy:
Your growing uterus Your uterus is now the size of a grapefruit and starting to come out of the pelvis. This means you'll be able to feel it. It also means you'll get twinges of discomfort as it strains for freedom from the ligaments that are holding it to your abdominal wall. The ligaments will win but you may feel the pain. Avoid sudden movements.
Weight gain It may not be much - the baby, placenta and fluid is just about 2lb. You need to wait until the last trimester to pack on a pound a week. But your body may no longer feel like it used to. If you've already had a baby your abdomen will go "I've done this before" and spring out like an inflated balloon.
Unless you have done serious abdominal workouts since your last pregnancy, you're doomed to look close to term by the end of 12 weeks or, at best, find you can't fit into your jeans any more. It can be depressing (illogically, of course) but that's the problem with pregnancy, you know you're having a baby but you still feel fat.
- 327 views
