12 Weeks Pregnant

*Counting from the first day of your last menstrual period

Your Baby at 12 Weeks

Size: 2.13 inches (5.4 cm)
Weight: 0.49 ounce (14 grams)

Your baby can now be considered to be fully-formed; with finger and toenails and even tooth buds in place, her sole purpose now is to grow larger and stronger for the next several months. The most vital parts of her development are now in the past so your chances of a miscarriage are considerably lower from this point onwards.

Baby's vital systems and organs in in place and many are starting to function on their own now too. Her nervous system will continue to develop as the rest of her vital systems and organs mature.

Activity is the word this week as baby starts to move arms and legs and may be even do a few backflips for the fun of it! Keep in mind that it is generally too early to start feeling those flutters just yet.

Mom at 12 Weeks Pregnant

As your first trimester races towards an end, you may start to feel a bit of relief from the nausea that has been plaguing you for several weeks now. The general feelings of moodiness may also start to subside as the pregnancy hormones in your body start to level off. An added bonus is that you might start to feel a bit of your old energy levels returning as your body settles into its pregnancy routine.

This week your belly might be a little bit more noticeable as your favorite jeans simply can't be buttoned up anymore. What a difference a week makes! Friends and co-workers might not yet notice your belly but you certainly will notice it, especially if you have a small body frame.

Your doctor may suggest performing several tests in order to determine the overall health of your baby, and to rule out any genetic concerns. These tests are just a matter of routine so there's nothing to be concerned about when your doctor brings them up.

Common Symptoms:
A decrease in nausea accompanied by an increase in your energy levels could have you feeling ready to hit the gym. However, your ligament and muscle aches are likely to stick around for some time now as your body continues preparation for the arrival of your little one.

Your moods may also be on the upswing as you worry less about feeling so crummy and get more excited about being pregnant. You may experience headaches and dizziness, however.

As your skin starts to stretch and grow, it may be incredibly itchy. Keeping your skin well moisturized can help to relieve some of the itching.

You may feel an increase in your levels of thirst as your body continues to increase the levels of blood. This increase in fluid intake, coupled with the growing pressure of your uterus, could have you making a lot more frequent potty breaks. You may also start to wake up during the middle of the night to tend to your potty needs, even if you try to restrict the amount of water that you drink prior to going to bed!

Weight Gain:
This week you may notice another added pound or two when you step onto the bathroom scale; however, your weight gain should only be of a concern if you have gained much more than 8lbs by this point. Another consideration to keep in mind when making healthy food choices is that the faster you gain weight the more likely that you are to develop stretch marks.

Now is a good time to consider your fiber intake; constipation is a common complaint for pregnant women as even the pregnancy hormones can contribute towards constipation - as can the added iron in prenatal vitamins. It can be very uncomfortable and even painful if you aren't ensuring that you are getting in your fair share of fiber.

Tips/Advice:
Take a tissue to your next doctor's appointment. Around this week or maybe a bit before, you will be able to hear your baby's heartbeat in the office. Many women report hearing their baby's heart beat to be a very moving experience so having a tissue nearby might be a good idea just in case you fall to pieces. Make sure to include your partner in the visit if they are interested in hearing it as well.

Videos - 12 Weeks Pregnant

** Note: Every baby develops at a different rate. The numbers provided are averages based on a "typical" pregnancy. Your baby's size and weight may vary significantly. Your healthcare provider is the best person to interpret information on your baby's size, weight, health and development during your ultrasounds and pregnancy.

	Comment from Iamloved » Posted Oct. 14, 2013 8:57am 12 weeks 1day today, so glad we've finally made it, the first few weeks seemed like they took forever to go by. We've got out scan tomorrow, we can't wait to see little bean and hear their heartbeat for the first time.
	Comment from 2Frsty » Posted Feb. 26, 2013 9:36am I am so excited to finally be out of my 1st trimester! 12w2d today, and have had the easiest pregnancy ever; hope this continues through delivery!
	Comment from MillerbabyThree » Posted Feb. 7, 2013 2:00pm Hello 12wks 1 day =D having great dreams about my lil bean and I am praying its a girl like my husband's says to me, cause he called it with our first child which is a Boy.. SO I hope he is rite on this cause he hasnt been wrong on a lot of things so far.. lol
	Comment from 2ontheway » Posted Dec. 14, 2012 2:38pm 12 weeks, 4 days, ande going BONKERS!!! I have been overwhelmed with the need to hold my babies already! Pregnant with twins, and super excited! Got to hear both heartbeats the other day, and wow! Can't wait!
	Comment from 1stTimeMommy_Aug2012 » Posted Jan. 30, 2012 10:49am 12 weeks 4 days! I can't wait for my 2nd trimester too! this is my first and I love being pregnant. Its such a game of, I can't wait for the next part! I dream about my baby all the time :)