Week 12 in a woman’s pregnancy is very significant because it marks the end of the first trimester. The first trimester is the most critical stage of your baby’s growth and development. Chances of miscarriage are low after week 12 as long as you maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise. This article outlines what you should expect when 12 weeks 3 days pregnant, for you and your baby.
Your Baby at 12 Weeks 3 Days Pregnant
- Size: 2.13 inches (5.4 cm)
- Weight: 0.49 ounce (14 grams)
Your baby is fully formed and ready for the next stage. In the next stage of development, your baby grows larger and begins to practice sucking and breathing. You can see your baby at this stage if you take a dating scan. However, the scan may not reveal the sex of your baby.
1. Increases of Movements
At this development stage, your baby moves around a lot but you may not feel these movements. This is because the baby has plenty of space in the womb to move around. Eyelids move from the side of the head to their right position at the front and remain shut. They will open at around week 27. The baby’s wrists and elbows bend as the baby moves around.
2. Skeleton Development
At 12 weeks 3 days pregnant, your baby’s skeleton is made of cartilage found in your nose or ear. This cartilage hardens into skeleton in the subsequent weeks. At birth, the baby has 300 parts of bone and cartilage, which later reduce as they develop. Adults have 206 parts of bone and cartilage because some bones fuse together into larger and stronger bones.
3. Organ Development
Your baby’s organs and intestines develop as the skeleton develops at week 12. The kidneys begin to excrete urine into the bladder. The intestines grow so fast at this stage and protrude into the umbilical cord. They later move back to their right position in the abdominal cavity.
4. Reflexes Practices
Your baby starts to practice their reflexes at week 12. These reflexes include curling fingers and toes, using their mouth to make sucking movements, and trying to clench eye muscles. You may not notice these reflexes or any other movements but your baby wriggles every time you poke your stomach.
Check out this video for clearer idea of what your baby will be like at 12 weeks 4 days:
You at 12 Weeks 3 Days Pregnant
When your pregnancy comes to 12 weeks 3 days, your baby’s growth and development discussed in the previous section has an effect on your body. You should expect the following changes at this stage:
1. Subsiding of Several Symptoms
In your first trimester, you may have experienced severe symptoms such as nausea, low energy, and moodiness. These symptoms subside at the end of the trimester as pregnancy hormones reduce in your body. You feel less nauseated and moody. You will regain your energy levels at week 12 as the body gets used to the pregnancy routine.
2. More Noticeable Belly
One major change in your body at 12 weeks 3 days pregnant is that your belly is more noticeable than before. Other people begin to notice your growing belly and some of your clothes may not fit any more. The belly is more noticeable if you have a small body frame.
3. Uterus Growth
At this stage, your stomach muscles are slow and you are likely to experience harder and drier stools. Your stomach will be gassier than before. Your uterus grows to the extent that it does not fit in your pelvis. It pushes your abdomen but this will not cause any discomfort at this stage. The additional volume of blood increases your heart rate. Your hips widen to make room for the growing uterus.
4. Weight Gain and Itching Skin
You will add one or two pounds at this week of pregnancy. You should not be worried about any weight gain below 8lbs. It is advisable to eat healthy foods because sudden weight gain will lead to stretch marks.
As your baby grows, your skin stretches and grows as well. It becomes very itchy. You can relieve your skin by moisturizing it consistently.
What to Think at 12 Weeks 3 Days Pregnant
At this stage, there're several things that you should consider for the health of both you and your baby. For example, you don't have to panic much when your doctor brings up several tests as she or he is just trying to determine the health status of your baby and identify or rule out any genetic concerns.
1. Visit Your Obstetrician
At week 12, your uterus is grapefruit sized and protrudes to your abdomen. During your routine visits, the doctor will palpate your uterus through your stomach. Expect this routine check at each visit because the doctor must determine the position of your uterus. The doctor may perform the same test in the coming weeks to check the position of the fetus. Ask your doctor to measure your weight and uterus size and keep both measures in your pregnancy journal.
2. Prepare to Receive Your Baby
You need to make critical decisions about your baby at this stage. Determine the best environment for you and your baby. Decide if you will use cloth or disposable diapers. You can search for information online or ask other mothers why they chose either cloth or disposable diapers. If you settle for cloth diapers, consider their cost, the best deals, night changing routines, and messy bowel movements among other factors. Consider buying cloth diapers in bulk to save money.
3. Make Necessary Lifestyle Changes
At this stage, the nausea and moodiness experienced in the first trimester have reduced. You should consider your diet and nutrition in your lifestyle. It is important to note that pregnancy is not an excuse for overeating. Check your body mass index to determine your ideal weight gain for a healthy body.Obese women are advised to lose weight safely during pregnancy. Consult your doctor on your ideal weight.
Eat a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, proteins, whole grains, and healthy snacks. Health snacks include nuts, yoghurt, fruits, and raisings. Avoid sugary calories but take about 300 extra calories per day. The normal weight gain is about 25-35 pounds depending on the mother’s weight and BMI.