Week 12
You’re coming to the end of your first trimester. Congratulations! Read more about this week.
BABY DEVELOPMENT
As your first trimester is coming to a close, you can now see the face of your baby. And frankly, what a gorgeous face it is! His bone marrow is now mature enough to start producing its own red blood cells, and will, from now on, take over the liver. It will continue this exclusive role during the entire life of your child. If your baby is a boy, his penis is already apparent and visible on ultrasound. If you want to wait until he or she is born to know whether you’re having a son or a daughter, make sure you let everyone know so they don’t spoil the surprise.
YOUR BODY
Good news – the end of the first trimester is when most mothers-to-be report their nausea disappearing overnight. Second great news – if you have been dying to feel the baby move, it generally starts around the 4th month of your pregnancy. Don’t worry if it doesn’t happen immediately, especially if you are a first time mum. You just might not know what it feels like. It isn’t a huge earth-shaking sensation, more like light, butterfly-wings flapping inside you. When you do feel it, you can rub your belly to say hello right back!
NUTRITION
There are lots of foods you can eat that nourish the developing brain of your baby more than others.
The B vitamins can be found in brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, fish and eggs. Folic acid, important throughout your pregnancy, is in green, leafy vegetables. You can find the essential fatty acids in oily fish and oils like walnut and colza. Talk to your doctor to be sure you are including all the right kinds of foods in your diet.
TIPS
A lot of women wonder what can happen if they get ill while pregnant. A cold or a stomach upset usually has no effect on an unborn child. It is just important to inform your gynaecologist about any illness because they will know exactly which treatment and which medicine will help a mother-to-be without damaging the child. Don’t try to choose medicine on our own.
Related articles
Baby Teething Tips
Learn how to recognize teething signs, soothe pain, and prepare for teething with expert advice for parents.
5 mins to read
Tips for potty training for toddlers
Find out when to start potty training, key tips for success, and signs your toddler is ready. Make this milestone a positive and stress-free experience.
5 mins to read
Understanding Pregnancy Pains and discomfort
Understand pregnancy pains, their causes, and warning signs. Learn what discomforts are normal and when to contact your healthcare provider for guidance.
5 mins to read
How to deal with colics in babies
Learning about colics in babies, how they happen and how to sooth your child might be beneficial to your daily life as a new parent.
5 mins to read
Your baby proofing action plan
Protect your baby with effective baby proofing strategies. Discover essential tips to make your home safer as your little one begins to explore and grow.
6 mins to read
How To Help Baby Sleep Better
Learn the importance of baby sleep for growth and development. Discover red flags in your baby's sleep patterns and ensure they get the rest they need.
5 mins to read
How to emotionally prepare for parenthood before becoming a mom
Discover how to emotionally prepare for parenthood, recognize red flags, and manage challenges to ensure a smoother transition into motherhood.
5 mins to read
How to handle toddler sleep problems
Learn how to address toddler sleep problems with expert tips, identify red flags, and promote healthy sleep habits for your little one's well-being.
5 mins to read
Understanding why babies cry
Explore helpful techniques to calm your crying baby, from addressing basic needs to create a peaceful environment, fostering comfort and connection.
5 mins to read
Morning Sickness
Amid your joy about your pregnancy, you may experience morning sickness – nausea with or without vomiting, that can occur any time of the day or night.
3 mins to read
Week 03
You’re at the very beginning of the journey. You can’t see anything yet, but that doesn’t mean there’s isn’t a whole lot going on.
2 mins to read
Week 11
If you could look inside, you’d see thin little hairs developing on your baby’s eyebrows and above her lip.
2 mins to read
Week 20
There’s so much going on in your belly this week that you may want to take a little nap after reading about it! Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
Week 28
Your little one is around 38 cm long from crown to toe and already weights about 1.2 kilos, a third of her birth weight. Her feet measure around 5½ cm – yes, they are tiny!
2 mins to read
Week 36
From now until she makes her grand entrance, your baby will continue to put on about a half a pound per week, or around 220 g. She is already 47 cm long and weighs 2.7 kg!
3 mins to read
Your checklist of antenatal testing questions
Baby health checks start before they’re even born. Here are some questions you may want to ask your healthcare provider about antenatal testing.
1 min to read
Am I ready to give birth? Signs of labor checklist
Learn to identify the first signs of labor and understand the stages of childbirth. Get practical recommendations for a smoother labor experience.
5 mins to read
C-section recovery: Things to think about
As with any surgery, C-section recovery takes time and self-care. Here are some things to have in mind to help you heal, from C-section recovery time to cleaning C-section incisions.
2 mins to read
Coping with separation anxiety in babies and toddlers
Clingy Baby Syndrome, otherwise known as separation anxiety in toddlers, can be upsetting for you and your baby. Here are some tips to help you both cope with separation anxiety.
1 min to read
Related tools
Pregnancy Weekly Calendar
Enjoy this amazing journey to motherhood week by week on our pregnancy calendar. Find out what changes you can expect in your body or your emotions.
