12 week of pregnancy: how the fetus develops and what happens in the body

In the twelfth week, the first trimester is almost over. It would seem that only yesterday you learned about a happy event in your life, and almost three months have passed since conception. What to expect in the twelfth week, what changes will occur in your body and how will your baby develop?

12 week of pregnancy - sensations

When you reach twelfth week of pregnancy, you will feel much better if you have suffered from nausea and dizziness up to this point. The corpus luteum, which provided the baby with nutrients before this, has already completed its functions. Now the placenta is responsible for the life support of the child. Therefore, all the signs toxicosis will remain only in memories. But if you have twins or triplets, then you will have to say goodbye to dreams of a quiet life for a while. Your toxicosis will last for some time. And along with nausea, an emotionally unstable state will remain due to hormonal changes.

From this time on, body weight will gradually increase. It is considered normal weight gain up to half a kilogram weekly. A child actively developing in the mother's womb demands full dedication from her body. In this regard, the volume of blood in your body increases, it circulates faster throughout the body, the heart rate increases, the kidneys and lungs work actively. At the same time, the excretory system returns to normal. Because of this, urination is normalized and you no longer want to run to the toilet so often. But there may be a problem with digestion instead. You may become constipated because the enlarging uterus presses on your intestines and slows it down.

12 weeks pregnant - what happens to the baby

This week, the child continues to actively grow and develop. Its weight is approximately 14 grams, and its height increases to 7 centimeters. It is still disproportionate: the head is much larger than the child's torso.

The kid tries to straighten the back and lift his head from the chest. He even tries to breathe. He already had tactile sensations and his sexual characteristics were finally formed.

The placenta by the twelfth week is about 15 centimeters thick. It supplies the baby with all the nutrients through the general blood supply system. Through it, the fetus senses all changes in the mother's emotions.

The baby's brain at this stage is a miniature copy of the brain of an adult. It has two hemispheres divided, there is a cerebellum and a pituitary gland. The baby's heart is also very much like the heart of an adult. It actively pumps blood through a small organism.

The child's skeleton gradually grows stronger and turns from cartilage tissue into real bones. In this case, further development and maturation of bone tissue occurs. By this time, the arms and legs of the baby were formed quite well. The membranes between the fingers have already disappeared, marigolds have formed and clear papillary lines are gradually emerging. At the place of the eyebrows and eyelashes, a fluff of hair appears.

At the twelfth week, the part of the intestine, which did not fit in the abdominal cavity before, returns to its rightful place. He is already ready to actively work and push food. The thyroid gland, like the pituitary gland, is already producing hormones and iodine with might and main. Other systems are also developing. Facial features are formed, vocal cords and salivary glands are formed.

The baby in your belly is actively moving around. The eyes, while tightly closed by the eyelids, are already capable of responding to external stimuli. The child already knows how to roll over, sucks on a fist, opens his mouth and makes faces. He is even able to express his emotions with facial expressions.

12 weeks pregnant - what happens to mom

Your body is also constantly changing. Symptoms and signs are replaced by completely different ones.

Not entirely pleasant sensations may appear:

• The increased pressure of the uterus on the pelvic bones can cause pain in the pubic area.
• The uterus grows, it no longer has enough space in the pelvic bones, so it gradually shifts upward into the abdominal cavity.
• The mammary glands are gradually enlarged. This can cause stretch marks and itching. Now you need to find the right one bra not compressing the chest and preferably pitted.

• Due to the movement of the uterus into the abdominal cavity, the surrounding organs are compressed. Therefore, you may experience heartburn. To reduce the manifestations of heartburn, you need to eat small meals using the principles of a balanced diet.
• Your body is already accustomed to changes in hormonal levels, therefore, the emotional state improves. You become calmer, irritability almost completely disappears.
• At this time, the tummy begins to increase noticeably.

• The process of "building" the placenta is coming to an end.
• Constant sleepiness gradually recedes. You are not so tired anymore.
• Now the liver, kidneys, heart are functioning in an enhanced mode. Therefore, an exacerbation of any chronic diseases can occur.
• The amniotic fluid is constantly being updated. In this regard, it is important to carefully monitor your water-salt metabolism.
• Small swelling is possible.
• Due to the rapid growth rate, the skin on the abdomen is stretched. Often, itching is observed, stretch marks may appear.