Week 12 of Pregnancy

Around week 12 you will almost be through your first trimester.  People might be telling you that you “glow”.  This is the best time to tell others that you are expecting if you haven’t already. Hopefully your mood swings will have calmed down and you should start to feel less anxious.

Changes in your body at Week 12 of Pregnancy

Your skin might start to look smoother due to an increase in blood volume which with work together with the hormone hGC to increase oil gland secretions.  Your looks are so called the “pregnancy glow” might be occurring but it doesn’t happen for everyone. Bathroom visits should be less frequent for now due to the uterus shift up and forwards.

Common body changes you may notice at 12 weeks pregnant include:

• Morning sickness may decrease for some
• Your energy levels should increase
• You may suffer from headaches or light-headed due to increase of blood volume or lack of protein

Baby's Development at Week 12 of Pregnancy - Baby size: 10.0cm

Your baby is fully formed except for the brain and fat and will have doubled in size in the last 3 weeks.  The baby will be able to open its mouth swallow amniotic fluid. The finishing touches on internal organs will occur, and your baby will start to look more human from this point onwards.  A scan would should normal looking baby, but sex might still be difficult to decipher.

Below are typical developments which occur during the 12th week of pregnancy:

• A skeleton of cartilage is forming
• Lungs are completely formed
• Thyroid gland and pancreas have completely developed
• The liver is fully functioning
• Your baby's first urine is made and discharged into the amniotic sac
• The gallbladder secretes bile
• Intestines can now fit within the baby’s abdomen