Week 12
First Trimester

What happens to me?

You are getting close to the end of the first trimester. Most of the baby's critical development will be behind you after the next couple of weeks, and the odds of miscarriage will soon drop considerably. You may have headaches. Women who had frequent headaches before they were pregnant and/or while you were taking birth control pills will probably have headaches during the pregnancy.

Check with your doctor before taking any pain medication. Ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, Medipren) and aspirin are all medications that you should not take while you are pregnant. Ask your doctor if you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) when you have a headache. You can also try lying down in a dark room with a cool cloth on your forehead or on the back of your neck. This can sometimes diminish the pain of a headache. There is also a condition in which women get severe headaches or migraine headaches from sleeping too much. Try to decrease your nighttime sleep, and increase your rest during the day with a short nap.

You may actually start feeling better from your extreme tiredness and nausea this week. However, it could hang on for several more weeks.

How much will I be showing?

You may be getting bigger in places besides your stomach. You may notice weight gain in your hips and legs and your breast may be more tender and larger. Also, your abdomen may start expanding, especially if this is not your first pregnancy and your placenta will take over the production of hormones around this time. A dark vertical line of pigmentation, called the linea nigra, may appear on your abdomen. Your uterus has risen above your pelvic bones, and your healthcare provider can now feel it during an external examination.

What happens to baby?

The baby is busy kicking and stretching, and their movements are so fluid they look like water ballet. Fingers and toes have fully separated. Now the fetus's main task during the next six months will be to grow larger and stronger until it can survive on its own outside the womb.

The fetus has all parts, from tooth buds to toenails. The baby's brain is smaller than it will be at birth, but it does have the same basic structure. The baby also has reflexes now.

If your practitioner uses a Doppler (special stethoscope), you may be able to hear the baby's heart beat at this office visit. It will sound very fast and almost like the sounds of horse hooves.

How big is the baby?

The fetus weighs about 14 grams now and is less than 3 inches in total length.

Tip of the Week

Continue using a seatbelt throughout your pregnancy, as there is no evidence it will harm the baby and your safety is extremely important!

Want to figure out your due date? Click Here

Just found out you're pregnant? Don't forget to check out the previous Weeks!

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