By weeks 11 and 12, pregnancy is about to reach the end of the first trimester, and the fetus well resembles a human being. This is the time when most women need to start their routine antenatal visits with a doctor or an obstetrician. Many women also have their pregnancy week 12 ultrasound scans as part of their prenatal screening.
What happens during week 11 of pregnancy?
As the pregnancy progresses to the 11th week, the fetus is about 4.5 cm long and weighs about 10g. The nervous system and the brain have almost developed, and the muscles are being controlled by the nerves, which allow the fetus to make small movements in the uterus. The body of the fetus and head are almost of the same length, and the arms and legs are tucked in the front. The fingers and toes have nails, while the gums in the jaw have tiny teeth. The nasal passages are open, and the tongue has formed.
The pregnancy week 11 symptoms continue to remain the same as they were for the last few weeks; however, many women will notice that the symptoms get better with passing weeks. Some women might also experience pregnancy week 11 cramps if the calcium intake is low in their diet. To deal with the cramps, it is important to consume foods with more calcium, such as milk, cheese and yoghurt. Some moderate exercise such as household chores, walking or stretches is also helpful to keep the muscles active and free from cramps.
What happens during week 12 of pregnancy?
By 12 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus has grown to 6 cm long and weighs around 18g. It is not fully formed, and the size has doubled since last month. As all the organs and the limbs have fully developed, the fetus fills up the volume of the uterus. The body is now bigger, and the head is only about half the size of the body. While the arms look proportionate to the size of the body, the legs are still short. At this point, the kidneys of the fetus are functioning and passing urine. The fetus also swallows the amniotic fluid and practices breathing movements. The digestive system is also starting to function to practice for birth. The heartbeat of the fetus is also strong and can be heard with a heart monitor.
The pregnancy week 12 symptoms such as morning sickness and tiredness will start easing by this time. The symptoms can be expected to get better and almost stop by week 14 when the placenta starts supporting the fetus and pregnancy hormones decrease. The uterus would also have moved above the pelvic cavity, releasing pressure on the bladder and relieving the frequent need to urinate. Some would also experience ‘chloasma’- dark patches on the face and neck caused by the hormonal changes to the body.
Wrapping up
By week 12 of pregnancy, the fetus is fully developed, and the organs are starting to function. This is the time when antenatal visits to the doctor should begin so screenings and tests can be performed to assess the health of the mother and the fetus.
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