Welcome to the last week of the first trimester! You’ll be glad to know that after week 12 of pregnancy, the chances of a miscarriage drop significantly. Joy! And, if you’re expecting twins, your little bump will be showing too.
title="How Big is Your Baby?
">How Big is Your Baby?
Your Baby’s Development
Pregnancy Symptoms
Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist For Week 12 of Pregnancy
How Big is Your Baby?
At 12 weeks, your baby is as big as a rambutan. He/she is about 5.3cm and weighs 13.8g.
Your Baby’s Development
Great news! You’ll be happy to know that all of your baby’s vital organs and body parts are in place and they’ll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy. Makes all those days of nausea so worth it. In this week-by-week pregnancy guide, you’ll learn that:
- Your baby is preparing for yet another rapid growth phase focusing on organs and tissues.
- At 12 weeks he is beginning to develop reflexes.
He now flexes his/her tiny toes and hands, which may look like he’s waving back at you during ultrasounds!
- He can now curl his/her fingers and toes and even open and close his/her tiny hands.
- His/her tastebuds are quickly maturing.
- His/her fingernails and toenails start forming.
Pregnancy Symptoms
The honeymoon phase of pregnancy is fast approaching, and unwanted bouts of morning sickness have started to subside. Some of the symptoms you may experience during this week are the following:
- Hormones may also cause your skin to breakout or itch, leaving you insecure. Fret not, off-the-shelf options such as calamine lotion can help zap them. For more severe cases, seek treatment from your gynaecologist.
- The “mask of pregnancy” or chloasma (also referred to as melasma) may be slowly creeping up on you.
- Your stomach muscles are becoming less active, causing harder stools and making you release more gas than usual. Drink more fluids and eat more fruits to promote bowel movement and prevent dreaded constipation.
- You may still be getting headaches, which is a common symptom this week. Try to avoid them by eating small meals frequently, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep and staying active.
- 95 per cent of pregnant women experience fatigue, especially during the first trimester. Don’t hesitate to slow down and rest. Hopefully, you’ll have more energy in the coming weeks.
- Aside from getting exhausted, you might be having shortness of breath. This is normal, as the hormone progesterone actually expands your lung capacity so you can take deeper breaths. However, if you are having chest pains and rapid or irregular heartbeats, contact your doctor right away.
- Thanks to the growing bump, your stomach might start to feel a little stretched, and, well, some clothes might feel a little tighter around the waist. Breathe easier by donning comfortable clothes.
- Now for some good news in this week-by-week pregnancy guide: you may start to glow, and that’s a happy thing! Shine on, mama and enjoy pregnancy week 12!
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Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist For Week 12 of Pregnancy
- If you are one of the lucky few with nary a loss of appetite or nausea, you are indeed fortunate! In this week-by-week pregnancy guide, know that weight gain during the first trimester should be slow and steady, but if you’ve been overindulging, do take heed of the recommended weight gain by your gynaecologist.
- If you have been losing your appetite and feeling constantly tired, it’s common to lose weight or gain minimally. By the end of the first trimester, once all these symptoms clear, you’re well on your way to the honeymoon period of your pregnancy.
- As your uterus expands, you may occasionally experience mild cramps when there’s a sudden change in movement e.g. coughing or moving from lying to a sitting position. Muscle cramps are normal but do take note if the cramps are severe and prolonged causing major discomfort.
- Your breasts may be screaming for space at this point. It’s time to get fitted with comfortable support bras to tide you over the next few months (until you get bigger). Head to the lingerie department to get measured.
- If you have been living in pants, jeans, and shorts, it’s about time to get maternity clothes that can accommodate your growing belly. Make sure they are comfortable enough to accommodate movements such as sitting especially around the hips and thigh areas.
- You may want to start hunting for a confinement nanny as early as now to give an allowance for the actual search and hiring process.
Second trimester, here we come!
Image Source: iStock
Your next week: 13 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 11 weeks pregnant
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
