12 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Tips, and More

Entering your 12th week of pregnancy means you’re almost through your first trimester. This is also the time that the risk of miscarriage drops significantly.

If you haven’t announced your pregnancy to your family, friends, or people at work, this might be the perfect time for the Big Tell.

Changes in Your Body:

You may still be able to fit into your regular clothes, but they’re probably a little snugger than they were a month ago.

Typically, weight gain to this point is only about 2 pounds. What’s causing your jeans to fit a little differently these days is the other ways your body is preparing to carry your baby. Your uterus, for example, is growing rapidly. Your doctor may be able to feel your uterus in your lower abdomen at this time.

The surge in hormones produces all kinds of changes in your body. One of them is an increase in pigmentation. The “mask of pregnancy” is a condition known as melasma or chloasma. It affects about half of pregnant women, and results in dark spots appearing on your forehead and cheeks.

These spots usually disappear or lighten considerably soon after delivery.

What Bodily Changes Can You Expect During Pregnancy?

Your areolas are likely to become darker at this stage of your pregnancy. Breast tenderness or soreness may continue into the second trimester. A good-fitting bra can be helpful, but make sure it’s the right size. Wearing a bra that has become too tight will make you more uncomfortable.

Ice packs, cool cabbage leaves, or bags of frozen peas on your chest while you lie down may also offer some relief. Look for small, silicone-filled breast soothing products that you can keep in the refrigerator and wear inside your bra.

Your Baby:

Week 12 is a time of big changes for your baby. Your baby is now about three inches long and weighs about 1 ounce. Increased hormone activity means external sex organs should be appearing now or very soon. The fingers and toes aren’t webbed anymore, and fingernails are starting to develop. The eyes will move nearer to each other this week and the kidneys can start to produce urine.

Your baby may also start moving spontaneously this week, though you probably won’t feel it until weeks 16 to 22. Complex reflexes, such as sucking, are also developing right now.

Twin Development at Week 12:

The vocal cords your babies will use to cry and coo are getting ready to develop this week. Their kidneys are also working now. Your babies are approximately 3 inches long, and they each weigh just around an ounce.

Things to Do This Week for a Healthy Pregnancy:

Because you’re gaining weight simply due to the pregnancy, you should pay closer attention to your diet to make sure you don’t gain too much. This can lead to complications such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and pain in your back and legs. Carrying around a lot of extra weight can also lead to greater fatigue.

Don’t avoid eating, either. If you haven’t started following a balanced diet every day, try to end your first trimester on a healthy note. Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates. Avoid junk food. Instead, eat snacks that contain protein, calcium, and minerals, such as yogurt and dried fruit.

Ask your doctor for suggestions or talk with a dietitian. And if you haven’t already, talk with your doctor about taking prenatal vitamins.

Don’t Try Losing Weight While Pregnant:

If your usual diet wasn’t especially healthy up to this point, now is the time to make a change. You and your baby need a variety of nutrients to get through this wonderful but challenging time.

Your skin is also becoming more sensitive. To help reduce the effects of the “mask of pregnancy,” be sure to wear sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher whenever you are outside, and wear a baseball cap or hat to help keep the sun off of your face if you’re outdoors for a prolonged period of time.

Week 12 can be a good time to start doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the vaginal muscles. This can help with delivery and with recovery after the birth.

If you’re unsure how to do Kegel exercises, talk with your healthcare provider. You may also learn about these exercises if you participate in a birthing class.

When to Call Your Doctor:

The risk of miscarriage drops near the end of the first trimester, but it’s still vital that you pay attention to warning signs that could indicate problems. These include:

• bleeding with cramps
• spotting that lasts for three or more days
• severe or crampy pain that lasts all day

By this point you know what normal morning sickness feels like (even if it’s slight nausea experienced throughout the day). If you suddenly feel severe nausea and vomiting more than two or three times a day, please call your doctor immediately.

Encouraging Developments:

For many women, the 12th week of pregnancy is the time that morning sickness symptoms start to ease or even disappear completely. If you’ve been feeling especially tired during the first trimester, you may start getting your energy back at this stage.





source: http://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/12-weeks-pregnant