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Women’s Services   

  Women’s Services

Your Pregnancy at Week 12

This week, your baby is as big as a plum.

Explore your pregnancy at Week 12

Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16

28 Weeks to go!

The following information was reviewed by Dr. Cheng Ka Ning, Katherine

At A Glance

Week-12

Fully formed baby

Your baby's organs, muscles, limbs, and bones are almost fully formed and they will continue to grow and mature. You can even make out their fingers and toes!

Is your baby interacting with you?

By 12 weeks, your baby is beginning to move around in your womb, and their mouth may open and close, but you won't be able to feel their movements yet. Some pregnant women can feel their baby move as early as 16 weeks, while first-time moms may not feel it until 18-20 weeks.

Dizziness

Your baby is growing quickly and you may feel dizzy or lightheaded at times. Don't worry, this is normal and can be helped by slowing down your movements when getting up or sitting down.

Time to shop

Most women don't start to show until 12 weeks or later. As your baby bump continues to grow, your clothes will; begin to feel tight. It's time to get some comfortable maternity wear!

Baby Development at 12 Weeks

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Development of the fetus

The development of the fetus in week 12 is progressing quickly. The fetus has now grown to be 1.5 times its original size, and all major organs and body systems are in place.

You can now identify the fetus' fingers and toes, and even see them move and the nails start to grow. Teeth are now growing under the gums, and the first tooth will appear when the baby is 6 months old.

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Deciduous teeth growth

The baby teeth are now growing under the gums, and the first tooth will appear by 6 months after the baby is born.

boy-or-girl

Gender of your baby

If you are eager to know the gender of the baby, it is still difficult to identify through ultrasound. The "nub theory" looks at the angle of the genital tubercle in the ultrasound scan to determine the gender. If the angle is greater than 30 degrees, it is a boy, and if it is less than 30 degrees, it is a girl. However, this theory is not 100% accurate. If you have chosen to do prenatal genetic screening earlier, you will be able to find out the gender with more certainty.

Your Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 12

Dizziness

The baby in your belly is growing quickly, extra blood will flow to the baby, reducing your blood, which can make pregnant women feel dizzy and lightheaded. Furthermore, during pregnancy, blood sugar levels fluctuate more, which can also make you feel dizzy.

Cravings

The changes in pregnancy hormones may cause you to suddenly dislike foods you previously enjoyed, or to crave foods you previously didn't like.

Fatigue

You may have been feeling fatigued in the past few weeks, but the good news is that you will start to feel better as you enter the middle of your pregnancy!

Nausea

Do you feel nauseous? The worst days are almost over. More than half of pregnant women no longer feel nauseous after 14 weeks, greatly improving morning sickness.

Frequent urination

The frequency of bathroom visits continues to stay high. In late pregnancy, frequent urination will be more common.

Pregnancy acne

Pregnancy hormones can cause your sebaceous glands to produce more oil, which can lead to acne on your face, back, shoulders, or chest.

Heartburn

About 50% to 75% of pregnant women suffer from heartburn, eating more fiber, eating fewer meals and drinking enough water can help. In addition, you may occasionally feel stomach pain, which may be caused by constipation or uterine ligament traction. Eating lots of fibre and drinking enough water can help.

Dry Mouth

Pregnancy hormones and frequent vomiting can cause dry mouth, so it is best to avoid coffee and caffeinated drinks.

Increased appetite

Are you hungrier then before pregnancy? Remember that what you eat affects your baby. Maintaining a healthy diet throughout your pregnancy will be good for your baby. 

Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds during pregnancy are normal and there is no need to worry. Most nosebleeds are caused by increased blood volume and hormonal changes. But if you have frequent nosebleeds or severe symptoms, consult your obstetrician to exclude any complications.

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Advice from OT&P Obstetricians

Entering the 12th week of pregnancy, the fetus has stabilized and the good news can be prepared to tell family and friends! Expectant mothers will undergo a series of blood tests, including prenatal blood tests (blood type, hemoglobin, platelets and infectious disease screening) and fetal chromosomal tests. Down syndrome (T21) is the most common chromosomal abnormality and genetic intellectual disability. In addition, two more common chromosomal trisomies can also be tested - Edward's Syndrome (T18) and Patau's Syndrome (T13).

OSCAR ultrasound serum screening is the traditional fetal chromosomal test. Expectant mothers measure the thickness of the fetal subcutaneous transparent layer (commonly known as neck skin) with ultrasound scanning between 11 to 13 weeks +6 weeks of virus thrombosis test, and then combine with the mother's age and pregnancy weeks to calculate the probability of the fetus having Down syndrome, with an accuracy of 90%. However, there is now a more accurate screening method - "Non-invasive Fetal Chromosome Screening" (NIPT). The expectant mother's blood contains a small amount of fetal chromosomes, and NIPT can detect fetal chromosomal problems through the expectant mother's blood test as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy. The accuracy of NIPT for Down syndrome detection is 99%, and it can also be used to detect sex chromosomal related diseases and microdeletion syndromes.

When undergoing an examination, it is advisable to consult your obstetrician to understand more about genetic screening tests and make the best choice for the baby's health. In addition, expectant mothers can also undergo gestational toxemia screening. Gestational toxemia is a serious complication of pregnancy, usually appearing after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnant women will have high blood pressure and proteinuria, and may also have symptoms of headache, blurred vision and abdominal pain. Severe cases may have cramps or strokes, and may also affect liver and kidney and coagulation function. Studies have shown that one in every 13 pregnant women is affected by gestational toxemia, resulting in placenta dysfunction, unable to provide enough blood to the fetus, affecting the health and life of the pregnant woman and the fetus. Therefore, pregnant women can undergo gestational toxemia screening between 11 to 13 weeks +6 weeks of virus thrombosis test, so as to take medication in time to reduce the chance of occurrence.

It's time to make an appointment for an examination! Contact and arrange an appropriate examination with your obstetrician as soon as possible to protect the health of mother and fetus.

Tips for 12 Weeks Pregnant

  • Drinking enough water can help prevent common problems during pregnancy, such as constipation, hemorrhoids, and urinary tract infections. If you are taking in enough water, your urine should be pale yellow or colorless.
  • Writing a pregnancy diary to record all the changes and feelings you are experiencing can be a great keepsake and something to share with your child in the future.
  • For expectant mothers with chronic illnesses, it is important to control diet and pay attention to health. You can also consult OT&P nutrition and dietetics services to get the best personalised plan.
  • Working mothers can plan to report their pregnancy to their boss. Discuss family expenses with your partner, such as clothes, diapers, toys and other baby supplies, and make a financial budget.

 

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