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Pregnancy Week 12 - Pregnancy Week by Week - Pregnancy Calendar

By Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com

Mother:

You may actually start feeling better from your extreme tiredness and nausea this week. Others will hang on to it for awhile longer. Your abdomen may start expanding, especially if this is not your first pregnancy.

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. Your risk of miscarriage is reduced even further.

Baby:

While your baby's brain is not the same size it will be at birth, it does have the same structure. Bile is being secreted by this time. S/he weighs about 14 grams and is approximately 3.54 inches in total length.

Your baby has its reflexes and also practice movements in the digestive tract. All of this in preparation for extrauterine life. If your practitioner uses a doppler, you may be able to hear your baby's heart beat at this prenatal visit. It will sound very fast. Some say that they hear clicking or the sounds of horse hooves. Your risk of miscarriage is greatly reduced once you hear this sound.

Dad:

Consider joining a support group for dads! There are plenty of online groups dedicated to the art of fathering. These groups can be havens for you to discuss all of your feelings from the good to the bad and every joy and frustration in between.

Twin Tips:

Your uterus may begin to measure larger for dates than a singleton mom. This could also be one of the first times that multiples are suspected. Are you having twins?

Suggested Reading:

Expecting Fitness by Brigitta Gallo
A look at ways to stay fit or get fit in pregnancy. Fitness can help alleviate pregnancy symptoms as well as make labor easier for you.
Click Here to Order

Photo © T. Foster

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