Body Changes and Baby Development Milestones at Pregnancy Week 12

You’re officially three months along your pregnancy. Congratulations Mama! At pregnancy week 12, the first trimester is coming to an end and most of the discomfort from pregnancy symptoms is going away or at least subsiding as well. 

 You’ve probably attended your first antenatal clinic visit and had a comprehensive health assessment plus an ultrasound scan. That flicker of heartbeat for the first time makes everything all so real and might even bring more joy in the coming months as you wait to hold your little one. 

If you haven’t attended your antenatal appointment, we highly recommend getting to it before the end of this week. Reach out to our maternity care team at Malaica if you’re feeling overwhelmed or not sure where to start.  

Your Changing Body at Pregnancy Week 12 

This week, you will start feeling dizzy but it should be no cause for alarm. Pregnancy hormones cause your blood vessels to widen and relax so as to increase blood flow to your growing munchkin. You can manage this feeling of dizziness and light headedness by avoiding standing up too fast. Should you feel dizzy, sit with your head between your knees and take deep breaths.

You may start feeling hungrier as well as the morning sickness goes down. Speak with your midwife or nutritionist on the best foods to eat during pregnancy so that you’re compensating for this hunger with a healthy diet. 

The most exciting thing happening at pregnancy week 12 is that you’ve survived the first trimester and all its challenging changes such as morning sickness, low energy, and frequent urination. Your waist is also getting bigger and your breasts fuller, beginning to become more evident that you’re pregnant. 

Pregnancy Week 12 tip: Now may be the time to tell your parents that they are going to be grandparents. While it’s always a personal choice as to when to share the good news and with whom, this is considered by many as the safe time to announce your pregnancy to the world. Also, if you do it now, you get to say it in person rather than wait for your growing belly to announce itself.

Previous Week: Week 11 of Pregnancy: Body Changes and Baby Development Milestones

Baby Development Milestones at Week 12 of Pregnancy

In the past three weeks, your baby has doubled in size and is not around 5.4 cm or the size of a plum. Most of their organs and body systems have formed and will be coming to full maturation in the next 28 weeks. 

For instance, their digestive system’s muscles have begun flexing in practice of the contraction movements required to digest food. And while their skeleton is still tissue that will harden over time, their bone marrow has started producing white blood cells to fight infections after birth.  

Your baby’s sexual organs are also fully developed at the 12th week of pregnancy but it might be hard to pick with an ultrasound scan only. 

Next Week: Pregnancy Week 13: Baby Development and Your Body’s Changes

Get Your Antenatal Care at Malaica

The second trimester is often known as the honeymoon phase of pregnancy because for most women, their symptoms subside and the energy returns. But even then, you still need your antenatal care team to walk with you from here till delivery and beyond. 

Malaica ensures you’re never alone through our personalized and holistic antenatal care. From an online community of pregnant moms to a virtual psychologist and 24/7 emergency line, our support never leaves you. 

Call us at +254 746 610643 to learn how we can empower your pregnancy journey from bump to baby.