It was just four short weeks ago that your baby’s intestines were competing with her umbilical cord for space. This week, the intestines will move back into place in her abdomen where they should be.
Her pituitary gland has started to produce the hormones she needs for her own reproduction one day. Her bone marrow is producing white blood cells that will help her fight germs.
12 weeks pregnant is how many months?
You’re finally three months pregnant. You’re crossing the rainbow bridge, from the first to the second trimester, in which you’ll hopefully wave goodbye to your morning sickness and extreme exhaustion, at least for a few months.
Your Baby at 12 Weeks
Your baby is almost finished developing new body structures. These body parts and systems will continue to grow and develop further, but they’ve all begun, which means you can say goodbye to some of your exhaustion.
For the next 28 weeks, you’ll be maintaining and maturing a growing fetus, and much of your exhaustion in the final months will be from sheer size.
Your baby’s digestive system has started contracting, which is a necessary skill for moving food through. White blood cells are multiplying to aid in immunities one day. The hormones she’s now producing will send her through puberty and beyond, although you don’t need to worry about that for a few more years.
At your next checkup, you’ll hear your baby’s heartbeat, if you haven’t already. You’ll feel waves of emotion wash over you at this moment, and they may be conflicting. Just remember, a racing heartbeat means you’re having a healthy baby.
How big is a baby at 12 weeks?
Your baby is the size of a lime now and has doubled in size in just the past two weeks or so. She is 5.3 centimetres long and weighs 58 grams. You may or may not be starting to show, but it won’t be long now at this rate.
Your Body at 12 Weeks
Your uterus was already the size of a grapefruit last week, but now it’s a rather large grapefruit. It’s starting to move from your lower pelvis to the centre of your abdomen for all to see. Your need to urinate will increase with this move, but hopefully, your nausea, tender breasts, fatigue, and food aversions are fading away.
Your bump is normal, no matter what size it is. Pregnancy hormones and the size of your growing baby will differ from other women at the same stage, so don’t get too worked up over what you look like right now.
You may be developing a new symptom right now that has you a little disoriented. Dizziness at this stage of pregnancy is completely normal, thanks to progesterone coursing through your body, relaxing your blood vessels, and increasing the rate of flow. It can affect your balance, as can your growing belly, so be careful doing normal activities you may have been used to doing on your own thus far.
You’re also at risk for low blood sugar, so don’t skip meals, even if your nausea has not subsided. It’s still a good idea to have healthy snacks with you always—just in case. If you do feel dizzy, lie down if you can, loosen your clothing, and wait to get up (slowly) until you feel a bit better.
You’re tired and bloated, so having sex may be the last thing on your mind. Or it may have turned up the heat in the bedroom. Either way, you’re normal.
Many things contribute to your desire or lack thereof, so be straightforward with your partner about how you’re feeling. You need to be on the same page about what will or will not be happening before bed tonight.
Symptoms
One of the most remarkable pregnancy symptoms is an increased sense of smell. It can contribute to some of your cravings or aversions because when you catch a whiff of something that no one else can smell, it can be stomach-turning.
If your sense of smell is bothering you, keep lemons on hand because they can help eliminate odours and quell your nausea.
Many women complain of headaches during pregnancy due to the constant flow of new and increased hormones. Don’t skip meals, and make sure you have some acetaminophen around for times when you can’t seem to shake the pain.
Some of the same symptoms you’ve had this whole time are still hanging around, including bloating, gas, excess saliva, and fatigue. Keep doing what you’re doing, and soon these things may disappear, or at least fade.
Tips/Things to do
Get a flu shot. With a nine-month gestation, you’re bound to be pregnant at some point during flu season. All expecting mums should be vaccinated to keep themselves healthy and protect their baby from infection.
Enjoy some loose-fitting clothing that’s still flattering until you’re ready for maternity clothes, or you are ready to tell the world. Wrap dresses are cute and comfortable, giving your belly room to breathe while you struggle with plenty of discomfort in other places.
Avoid drinking alcohol while pregnant to protect your baby from birth defects and other complications. If you had a few drinks before you found out you were pregnant, don’t worry. Stop drinking now that you know, and you can resume after the baby arrives.
You don’t have to avoid seafood like you do alcohol, but you need to be smart about it. Raw fish is a no-no, but fully cooked shellfish, salmon, or tuna are fine in small quantities. It’s important that the fish you do eat has been properly prepared to kill off bacteria.
Stay hydrated now that your energy will be increasing. If you head back to the gym, drink plenty of water to replenish what you lose. If you’ve been sweating or it’s summertime, hit the bottle harder, but spread your intake through the whole day, instead of downing it all at once, so your body is always hydrated enough to take care of the baby.
About The Author
Kids, chai latte’s, blueberry muffins, and reading way too many books… That pretty much sums up Louise. She’s also passionate about giving back to the community, in this case through this site, finding and answering questions about parenting.