Welcome to week twelve!
This is a very important week! As you complete it you will be officially through your first trimester and at much lower risk for a pregnancy loss.
By now you are probably able to feel a little bump in your lower abdomen. A constant reminder of your growing baby. Maybe you even rub that little bump while you imagine what it will be like to hold your baby one day. Your little one is the size of a lime now and has reflexes, fingers that open and close, and a mouth that can make sucking motions. Another reason to celebrate is that the numerous discomforts of the first trimester usually resolve by 12-14 weeks.
As you complete this very important week you will be officially through your first trimester.
How my Baby Grows
- Your baby now looks like a tiny human being and his/her digestive system is beginning to work, all physical features and body parts are in place now and will continue to grow and develop over the coming months
- He/she is about 2.5 inches in length and weighs almost ½ an ounce
- The placenta is fully functioning now to support your baby through the rest of the pregnancy
- Baby’s liver has started to make its own red blood cells
- Baby’s skin is delicate, and veins can be seen through the skin
- The bones, skeleton, skull and long bones of the body are hardening
- Fingernails are forming and even the vocal cords are shaping up in your tiny baby
Symptoms Mama may Feel or Experience
- Many of the early symptoms of nausea, vomiting, fatigue, breast tenderness and bloating may improve this week
- Most women will start feeling better and have more energy as they go into the second trimester
- For some it takes a few weeks longer, so hang in there
- Pay attention to your mood swings as we now know that depression is almost as common during pregnancy as during the postpartum period
- This is especially true if you have a history of a mood disorder
- Don’t be afraid to let your doctor or midwife know if this is happening to you
- Increased saliva may not be something that your friends have talked about, but it is a real symptom for many women
- Other common symptoms of pregnancy like nausea, vomiting and indigestion may be potential causes of this symptom and if controlled may decrease the amount of saliva that you experience
- For some women this is an early pregnancy symptom while for a few women it continues through the entire pregnancy
- Although there is no guaranteed cure, some women are helped by the measures listed below
- Good dental care and brushing
- Adequate hydration with water
- Eating small frequent meals and limiting starchy foods
- Most women can swallow the excessive saliva but for some this will increase their nausea, if this is the case you can carry tissues or something to spit into when necessary
Thoughts to Consider
- Now that your pregnancy is well established, and you are moving into the second trimester you may be more comfortable telling a broader audience about your pregnancy
- Consider the job that you do and if there are any safety issues like heavy lifting, prolonged standing or exposure to chemicals
- You may want to start asking around for pediatricians
- Think about their practice hours and the number of providers they have
- Some couples like seeing the same provider over time and many practices have a large number of providers
- One benefit of a large practice is that you can usually get in for same day appointments when needed
- Many couples interview pediatricians either one-on-one at an appointment or in a group if the office has “meet and greets”
- Ask your friends about who they go to and sometimes the same group will come up over and over again
- Decide before the birth of your baby as some pediatricians may be limiting their practice and unable to accept a newborn
- Your baby will either be seen by the pediatrician you have chosen or a hospital provider while in the hospital, if you are going to a birth center you will need to ask what their policy is for newborn exams
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
- How are you doing with the healthy changes that you challenged yourself to during the first week of our time together, it is not too late to recommit to them or choose a few more
- Hopefully by now you have a 64-80 oz water container that you are filling each day and taking with you wherever you go
- Recommended weight gain in pregnancy is dependent on your pre-pregnant body mass index (BMI) according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, your provider can calculate this number for you, or you can use a BMI calculator online
- If you are underweight, with a BMI of 18.5 your total recommended weight gain is 28-40 pounds
- If you are of normal weight with a BMI of 18.5-24.9, your total recommended weight gain is 25-35 pounds
- If you are considered overweight with a BMI of 25-29.9, your total recommended weight gain is 15-25 pounds
- If you are considered to be obese with a BMI of 30 or greater, your total recommended weight gain is 11-20 pounds
Dr. Cheryl Sharp,
Certified Nurse Midwife
Chief Content Officer
Chief Content Officer