Pregnant: What happens in week 12

Baby development in the 12th week of pregnancy

A 'fully formed human': In the 12th week of pregnancy, your baby's body and internal organs are formed with all the basics. The fetus increasingly develops human proportions and grows very quickly during this time.

Supply via the placenta: While in the first weeks the baby primarily used resources from the yolk sac of the egg, from the 12th week of pregnancy the nutrition takes place exclusively via the umbilical cord and placenta instead.

Facial expressions and gestures become more refined: Nerve and muscle connections continue to develop and appear increasingly sophisticated. Thus, your baby can already in the 12th week of pregnancy yawn or frown. Its wrists and elbows are also more flexible.

Mouth opening: In week 12 there are already first tooth buds and your baby can open its mouth to drink amniotic fluid. From time to time it even gets the occasional hiccup, which you as the expectant mother do not yet notice. These functions are important breathing exercises for the future.

Development of balance and sense of touch: The development of the sense of touch must be a revelation for the baby, because now it perceives its surroundings more distinctly: It feels the surrounding amniotic fluid and the uterus. These sensory impressions are essential to the fetal brain development.

Always on the move: No wonder your baby's muscles and nerve connections form so quickly; after all, it is practically moving around the clock. It wriggles, turns, and begins to react to external stimuli. It now even forms tiny fists and 'kicks' cheerfully. You yourselves will, however, only perceive your baby's movements around the 20th week of pregnancy.

The first ultrasound examination including risk assessment

If the first ultrasound examination did not yet take place in the 9th week of pregnancy or in the other two preceding weeks, then by week 12 it is the time at the latest to examine your baby closely. As a rule, the gynecologist checks in this examination, whether your baby is positioned correctly in the uterus, the heart beats regularly, and whether it is large enough for the calculated week of pregnancy. Unlike in week 9, however, a vaginal probe is not used here; instead the ultrasound is performed by sonography over the abdominal wall Instead. Depending on the result, the doctor corrects the estimated due date.

In addition, the first ultrasound examination is often associated with the idea of the prenatal diagnostics linked, which encompasses a series of tests to determine whether your fetus is developing properly or whether you are experiencing a high-risk pregnancy. Nuchal translucency measurements, the triple test and amniocentesis, to detect a genetic defect or disabilities, generally take place only in the 12th week of pregnancy, which is why you may have had to reschedule your appointment from a few weeks ago to this pregnancy week.

If you have made it to this point and the examination turned out positive, it means: you have passed the critical phase. The risk of miscarriage has now decreased significantly. For many expectant parents this is the perfect timing to announce the pregnancy.

What can be seen on the ultrasound?

In the 12th week of pregnancy the fetus is between 5 and 6 centimeters in size and by now very active. The size is comparable to that of a passion fruit, which is why your little tiny human is now becoming increasingly visible on the ultrasound image. The baby's eyes migrate more and more toward the center of the face, which becomes more prominent on the ultrasound. The head is still somewhat larger compared to the body, the forehead usually even has a proud diameter of 20 millimeters. In week 12 the baby already weighs 14 grams – about as much as three pieces of chocolate.

Physical changes – what happens in the mother in week 12?

The uterus of the mother is in the 12th week of pregnancy approximately the size of an average man's fist. Even if not much is visible externally yet, the last week of pregnancy in the 1st trimester means that many of your pregnancy symptoms are now free of, or at least appear in a significantly milder form show. Your body is now completely adjusted to supplying your baby and knows how to continue caring optimally for your fetus in the coming months.

Placenta fully developed: By the end of the 1st trimester the placenta fully developed and takes over the sole supply of the baby until birth. Your body has now slowly adapted to the increased blood volume and the 'extra work' of supplying mother and baby. Dizziness and circulatory weakness decrease.

The first slight rounding? On closer inspection many women already notice a slight bulge of the belly in the 12th week of pregnancy. Outsiders will hardly notice it, nevertheless clothing may already fit somewhat tightly. If this is your 2nd or 3rd pregnancy, the likelihood that you already have a small baby bump in week 12 is greater than in the 1st pregnancy. Generally, many pregnant women now gain about 250 to 300 grams per week and buying comfortable maternity wear can already be worthwhile.

Heartburn: Constant nausea is finally over in week 12, but many women now experience heartburn more frequently. The growing uterus pushes the surrounding organs in the mother's abdomen together, which leads to stomach acid rising into the esophagus and causing a slight burning sensation. Heartburn can recur throughout the pregnancy – but there are effective home remedies, with which you can keep it in check.

Tips against heartburn during pregnancy

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Eat small portions frequently: Smaller portions require the stomach to produce less stomach acid for digestion, thus reducing the likelihood of heartburn.

Dairy products: A sip of milk helps many women against heartburn. Since calcium requirements are increased during pregnancy anyway, you kill two birds with one stone.

White bread: A piece of untoasted white bread or a soft roll absorbs stomach acid like a sponge; this can help against heartburn in the short term.

Almonds: A traditional home remedy for heartburn is natural almonds. If you chew three to five pieces thoroughly, they neutralize stomach acid and usually relieve heartburn very reliably.

A second pillow for the night: If you position your head relatively high, stomach acid has difficulty rising into the esophagus. Therefore it helps many women to raise their head with a second pillow when sleeping.

This is important in the 12th week of pregnancy

Finding calm: After the strains of the first three months, many women can now really enjoy their pregnancy. Use the regained well-being for time together with your partner or for relaxation.
Shopping for maternity clothes: Perhaps you'd like to take a look at maternity pants and dresses? Many models have an adjustable waistband and grow with the belly. If your normal clothing is getting tight, it therefore makes sense to buy the first maternity dresses to buy.
Plan a holiday trip: Many couples use the time around the 5th or 6th month of pregnancy to take one last holiday together and really relax. From the 7th month, when the belly is already very large, longer trips become rather exhausting. Therefore, the beginning of the 4th month of pregnancy is a good time to think about the holiday destination and date.

To the 13th week of pregnancy