- Preparing for Pregnancy
- Diet and Exercise
- Emotional Wellbeing
- Health
- Antenatal Care
- Preganancy at 1-3 Weeks
- Preganancy at 4 Weeks
- Preganancy at 5 Weeks
- Preganancy at 6 Weeks
- Preganancy at 7 Weeks
- Preganancy at 8 Weeks
- Preganancy at 9 Weeks
- Preganancy at 10 Weeks
- Preganancy at 11 Weeks
- Preganancy at 12 Weeks
- Preganancy at 13 Weeks
- Preganancy at 14 Weeks
- Preganancy at 15 Weeks
- Preganancy at 16 Weeks
- Preganancy at 17 Weeks
- Preganancy at 18 Weeks
- Preganancy at 19 Weeks
- Preganancy at 20 Weeks
- Preganancy at 21 Weeks
- Preganancy at 22 Weeks
- Preganancy at 23 Weeks
- Preganancy at 24 Weeks
- Preganancy at 25 Weeks
- Preganancy at 26 Weeks
- Preganancy at 27 Weeks
- Preganancy at 28 Weeks
- Preganancy at 29 Weeks
- Preganancy at 30 Weeks
- Preganancy at 31 Weeks
- Preganancy at 32 Weeks
- Preganancy at 33 Weeks
- Preganancy at 34 Weeks
- Preganancy at 35 Weeks
- Preganancy at 36 Weeks
- Preganancy at 37 Weeks
- Preganancy at 38 Weeks
- Preganancy at 39 Weeks
- Preganancy at 40 Weeks
- Labour and Birth
- The First Few Days
Pregnancy at 12 Weeks
Your baby has grown to about the size of a lemon. This stage of pregnancy, which marks the end of the first 3 months, often feels like a milestone for many women because the risk of miscarriage is reduced after week 12. The major development of your baby is complete and the emphasis is now on growth. Although the placenta is small, it is now complete.
Development
Your baby's ears have moved to the sides of her head and the remainder of her face is now formed. Her jaws have tooth buds in place, and she can suck and swallow. She has an unmistakable chin and her nose is more obvious. Her eyelids are fused shut over her eyes. Her circulation is fully functioning, her kidneys are working, and her bones are becoming harder.
The muscles of your baby's intestine are moving, practising peristalsis, the contractions used to move food through the bowels.
Appearance
Her skin remains very thin and translucent and the blood vessels are visible through it. Her limbs are growing in length and are more in proportion to the rest of her body.
Tiny nails are growing on her fully formed fingers and toes. Her external genitals are forming,, although it would still be very difficult to determine the sex of your baby on an ultrasound scan.
Movement
The movements of your baby will increase as the muscles in her limbs develop, although you will not be aware of them. She can even move her fingers, clenching and unclenching her hands. Researchers have described a baby's movements, seen on an ultrasound scan at this stage, as'graceful'.