7800 Wolf Trail Cove, Germantown, TN 38138 • (901) 682-9222 • Open Weekdays 8:00 - 5:00
PREGNANCY TIMELINE: WEEK 12
Well here it is, Week 12!
As you make your way through the second trimester you should be feeling better and better as each day passes. With so many changes occurring daily it can be difficult to keep track of your baby's progress. Rely on
our pregnancy timeline to mark this special journey with informative tidbits and helpful hints for you and your baby.
Week Twelve Overview
Over the last three weeks your baby has doubled in length. By the end of this week the growth of the head slows down considerably. Your little one is looking like a baby and has advanced to the stage that its brain can transmit messages. While the brain is not the same size it will be at birth, it does have the same structure. Primitive breathing motions have begun - the lungs are taking shape and the baby breathes amniotic fluid as practice. The swallowing reflex has been mastered as baby sucks its thumb while floating weightlessly in amniotic fluid. Using a Doppler, you may be able to hear your baby's heart beat at this office visit. It will be very fast, almost like the sounds of galloping horses hooves. Things are really shaping up as baby prepares for extrauterine life!
Smile Mom, you should begin feeling better soon. Say "so-long" to morning sickness and "hello" to what many women consider to be the best time of pregnancy. The risk of miscarriage has been reduced to almost zero.
Your uterus now rises above your pubic bone. You can tell you're pregnant -- can anyone else? Your placenta will take over the production of hormones around this time. If you have suffered from corpus luteum cysts they may begin to dissolve now.
Baby's Physical Development
- Baby weighs 8-14 grams and is 2.5 inches long.
- The placenta has reached full functional maturity, acting as the baby's lungs, kidneys, liver and digestive and immune systems.
- Urinary tract is on line and working fine. A big portion of the amniotic fluid from this point on will be baby urine.
- Lungs are developing.
- The pituitary gland is beginning to make many hormones.
- Bile is being secreted by this time.
- The arms have almost reached their final relative lengths, but the legs are still not so well developed and are slightly shorter than their final relative lengths.
- Finger and toes have separated.
- External genitalia are beginning to show distinct signs of male/female characteristics.
Time to Start Thinking About...
If your not looking pregnant by now, you soon will. Now is the time to purchase a few maternity clothes. Women who have been pregnant before recommend lighter-weight clothes. With the added weight and extra work your body is doing your core temperature is likely to be a bit higher than normal. Dress in layers to ensure comfort in all environments.
Now is the perfect time to schedule a dental checkup for sometime after your 12th week of pregnancy. Your nine-month companion draws much-needed nutrients from your body, causing your teeth to lose much needed calcium. Your gum wills bleed more now that you're pregnant so be careful to floss and brush regularly.
Tips for Mom
Heartburn and indigestion are common side effects of pregnancy. Try eating small meals more often, avoiding greasy and fatty foods, and sleeping with your top half elevated. Tums (all calcium) are fine -- and have the added advantage of giving you some much-needed calcium. Recent studies have revealed that pregnant women who did not get enough calcium had higher levels of lead in their blood compared with women who did have adequate calcium intake.
Great news Mom! It's time to stop doing those traditional crunches. Traditional crunches can cause the weight of your uterus to compress the vena cava (large vein that carries blood to your heart.) To tone your abdominals try kneeling on all fours, draw your abdominals in toward your spine and hold for a count of 5. Repeat 12-15 times until you can do 3 sets. A good exercise mat will make working out much easier.
Make sure you avoid any activity or exercises that might increase your risk of falling. Downhill skiing, snowboarding, waterskiing, rock climbing, gymnastics, and bicycling in traffic are strictly prohibited. Following a sensible exercise routine will help you stay energized, and is important to a healthy baby and a healthy mom!
Tips For Dad
Many men start to develop the same physical symptoms as Mom. "Sympathetic pregnancies" include weight gain, nausea, mood swings, and food cravings. These symptoms usually subside after the third month, and then may reappear in the last month or so before birth. Hold on Dad, your pregnancy will miraculously disappear when the little one arrives!
Prenatal Care Checklist
- Lying on your left side with a firm pillow under your head will usually be the most comfortable position for sleeping.
- Try a body pillow.
- Bath water should not exceed 100 degrees F. Saunas and hot tubs are off limits.
- Do not douche or use tampons. Take a warm bath or use pads instead.
- You should not be changing the kitty litter because harmful parasites may be present.
- Travel is okay as long as you don't travel far from home during the last month of pregnancy. Check with your doctor first if a travel emergency arises.
- Seatbelts will not harm your fetus.
- Use both shoulder and lap belts and make sure to place the lap belt under your belly, across the hips and thighs.
- Avoid contact with any harmful chemicals or fumes.
7800 Wolf Trail Cove, Germantown, TN 38138
Phone: (901) 682-9222; Fax: (901) 682-9505