12 Weeks Pregnant

At 12 weeks into your pregnancy you have had time to adjust to the positive pregnancy test. If it was a surprise pregnancy, planned pregnancy, or long awaited pregnancy, there is still an adjustment period as the reality sinks in…you are pregnant! If you chose to keep the pregnancy private until the risk of early miscarriage passed or to allow yourself some time to make some decisions about a surprise pregnancy, it will be time to “go public”. This will be necessary because if you aren’t already showing, you will be soon!

MOM                                                               

If you had morning sickness, if it hasn’t passed it should at least be diminishing in symptoms now. Strange lumps on your gums may develop. Many women develop harmless, non-cancerous lumps that disappear after giving birth. Freckles may darken and a dark vertical line (linea nigra) on the abdomen may appear. Skin sensitivity may increase. Increase in heartburn can begin. Leg cramps may be experienced can be alleviated with increasing dairy consumption (vitamin D) and using a pillow to raise the legs at night. Your energy level will resume.

  BABY

The baby’s length is about 2.5 inches and weighs about ½ an ounce. Genitals begin to be recognizable. The brain is beginning to make hormones, and nerve cells are multiplying at a rapid rate. The baby may start sucking as early as this week. The kidneys may even be producing urine. Stimulation of certain points of your uterus may cause the baby to move in response, though you won't be able to actually feel your baby moving for another few weeks!

LIFE

This is a good time to schedule a dentist appointment. Good dental health and oral hygiene is important. It is much more difficult to take care of a dental problem you put off with a baby in tow. Also, the increased demands on your body in the coming months may cause the acceleration of existing dental problems. Avoid all x-rays and make sure you tell the dentist you are pregnant.

Don’t worry about wearing a seatbelt. The ammonic fluid will protect the baby in the unlikely event of an accident. There is more risk to mom and baby without a seatbelt when a car accident occurs.

This is a milestone week as you leave your first trimester and enter into your second trimester.

13 Weeks Pregnant

11 Weeks Pregnant

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