12 weeks of pregnancy: what happens to your body?

The term of 12 weeks of pregnancy is transitional for every future mother. After all, it is this period that means that the first trimester is over. At the same time, the pregnant woman becomes much easier, since the first wave of toxicosis passes. There comes a time when you can completely surrender to the nascent maternal feelings.

What happens to the baby's body? 12 weeks of pregnancy are of great importance for your future baby. The fact is that at this stage the tabulation of all organs ends - in the future they will only develop.

The heart of the fetus is reduced with a frequency of 110 to 160 beats per minute and it can be heard with a special device.

Your baby starts to develop new skills. First, it begins to move actively, although there is no coordination. The muscles of the chest begin to contract, imitating the respiratory movements. And the skin on the feet of the baby acquires sensitivity.

The child at the 12th week of pregnancy already has a weight of about 8 to 14 grams and an increase of 9 centimeters. At this stage, peristaltic movements of the intestine begin to appear. At first it is represented by chaotic single movements, but by the end of the first trimester it is already possible to trace the full-scale waves of contraction. Sometimes a baby swallows a small amount of amniotic fluid, thus training the digestive system.

The kidneys of the future child already fully produce urine, which subsequently is released into the amniotic fluid. The process of producing and excretion of bile acids is already beginning in the liver.

12 weeks of pregnancy mean that the skeleton of the baby is already fully formed and now the process of formation of bone tissue and replacement of cartilage begins. The toes of the limbs are already fully formed and the child starts to move them.

The development of the nervous system is active. At this stage, the hypothalamic-pituitary system begins to function, which in the future will control many of the most important functions of the body. In addition, the maturation of the thymus, which takes a direct part in the formation of leukocytes, ends, therefore, white blood cells can already be found in the fetal blood.

What happens to the body of a pregnant woman? At this stage, a decrease in the yellow body and a gradual loss of its functions are observed. Generation of the hormone progesterone completely takes over the placenta. This is what explains the disappearance of toxicosis. Absence of nausea and weakness positively influences the woman's mental balance and gives the chance to fully enjoy future motherhood.

The uterus greatly increases in size and rises into the abdominal cavity. In the body of a future mother, the blood volume increases, as a result of which the blood pressure index may rise slightly and the heart rate may increase .

The abdomen at 12 weeks of pregnancy is not too large, especially if it's your first pregnancy. Therefore, special clothes for pregnant women are not needed. But if this is not the first child you are pregnant, it is likely that the stomach has already become much more rounded. Sometimes a dark line appears on the abdomen, which stretches from the pubic bone to the navel.

In addition, the period of 12 weeks of pregnancy is accompanied by a significant increase in the volume of the breast - the mammary glands begin to develop intensively, preparing for the birth and feeding of the baby. Sometimes it can be accompanied by itching. It is worth remembering that proper breast hygiene, contrasting showers and massage are very important for normal breastfeeding.

12 weeks of pregnancy: recommendations. As a rule, it is during this period that a pregnant woman is sent to the first ultrasound. The doctor will be able to examine the future child's body , determine its weight and height, sometimes even sex. By the way, based on the size of the fetus, it will be possible to make assumptions about the date of future birth, although it is rather approximate.