Week 12
At 12 weeks you have reached the end of your first trimester! Your baby is around 5cm (2”) long and weighs about 15g (half an ounce). This week is a bit of a milestone for your baby – by now, he or she is fully formed with everything in place, and the only job left is to grow and mature all those muscles, bones and organs. Until now, your baby's skeleton has been made of cartilage (the flexible tissue found in the ears and the tip of the nose). Around now, it begins the process of hardening into bone.
Feeling good?
You’re probably starting to feel good (or at least better!) now – the pregnancy nausea may be wearing off, you might not feel quite so tired, and the frequent loo visits and mood swings may have settled down.
And you should feel good - you've made it to end of the first trimester! This is a great reason to celebrate – after all, you're past the greatest risk of miscarriage now, and your baby is well established and growing rapidly. (Not to mention that this is the last week you'll have to remember to take those folic acid supplements!)
What it’s like for the mum-to-be in week 12
You'll be excitedly waiting for the first faint signs of movement from your baby. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait a bit longer for that too, though the chances of detecting your baby’s movements increase as your baby gets bigger.
Keeping fit
As you start to feel better and more energetic, it's a great idea to put some of that energy to good use by getting some regular exercise. Don't worry – mild to moderate exercise is just as good for your baby as it is for you!
For more advice on exercising during pregnancy, visit the NHS website.
Your bump begins to emerge
You'll now begin to notice a bit of a bump as a result of the weight you’ve gained from your body’s increased fat reserves. Other people might notice your bump in the next few weeks and, if it’s your second or third pregnancy, it will be visible sooner.
As you’re now gaining weight at a rate of 250 to 300 grams a week, the question of clothes, and especially of finding comfy things to wear, will become more and more of an issue.The HiPP pregnancy weight chart allows you to keep a close eye on your weight.
You're in control of, and responsible for, how much weight you actually gain. Eating healthily is a key part of this: don’t eat for two, make sure you get a healthy, balanced diet, and remember to get enough exercise.
Important blood tests
If you often feel tired or feel extremely tired at times, you should go to your doctor or midwife to have your iron levels checked via blood tests. They will tell you if you have any nutrient deficiencies, such as low iron levels, and they can recommend particular food or supplements to get your levels back up to where they should be.
