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How big is my baby?
At 12 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 2 1/2 inches long and weighs about 1/2 an ounce. On the inside, your baby’s heart is getting stronger every day and if you didn’t hear it at you pre-natal appointment around 10 weeks, you are more likely to hear it at your next appointment. In addition to your baby’s heart, your baby’s intestines are starting to move into place. Having developed inside the umbilical cord, at this point they are making their way into your baby’s abdomen where they will continue to mature.
On the outside, your baby’s genitalia are starting to show and it is possible to tell if you will have a boy or a girl, but it won’t be evident on an ultrasound or sonogram just yet, so you’ll have to sit tight for a few more weeks if you’re dying to know.
In addition to your baby, your baby’s environment is also changing and developing. Throughout your pregnancy, your baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid which provides a watery cushion while he or she is in utero. While your placenta plays an integral part of producing that fluid, at 12 weeks pregnant, your baby’s kidneys have developed enough so that you baby actually starts peeing, which also contributes to the amniotic fluid that it’s floating in.
If you’re kind of grossed out by that fun fact, take comfort in the fact that the amniotic fluid is replaced by your body about every three hours which in turn means two things – you have to go to the bathroom all the time and you need to be drinking a lot of water so that your body is equipped to handle this new demand for fluids.
Are these really my breasts?
You may be looking at your body and feeling like you don’t recognize yourself at this point. For many women, but not all women, their breast become significantly enlarged during the first trimester with another surge of growth during the third trimester. All of this is preparing your body to breast feed.
While you may (or may not) be excited by your new size, you might also be noticing that your breasts feel more lumpy. This is because there is increased blood flow to your breasts. Additionally, your breasts are also experiencing an increase in estrogen to aid in developing your milk ducts as well as an increase in progesterone which helps develop your glandular tissue. While it may definitely look and feel different, it’s all a perfectly normal part of pregnancy – in this case preparing your to take care of your baby after it is born.
Are these really my pants?
It’s also about this time that you are probably starting to show and probably not fitting into your pants so well except for that favorite pair of yoga pants that are providing you with so much casual comfort. But, chances are that if you are still working that yoga pants probably aren’t quite going to cut it and it’s time to venture into the world of maternity clothes.
Ahh, maternity clothes, those magical garments made with elastic panels, large prints, and bows that seem to be in all of the wrong places most of the time. The good news is that maternity fashion, while still not always fashionable, has taken a turn for the better in more recent years. Even better news is that you can find a lot of great stuff at consignment shops and garage sales which can mean big savings compared to buying everything new.
At 12 weeks pregnant, you probably don’t need the full support panel just yet, but just buying pants that are one size bigger isn’t really going to cut it either. Look for pants and skirts that have a panel that you can roll down for the next few months until you really need it in your third trimester. It will be more comfortable than just buying bigger pants and more economical than buying a whole new wardrobe every month.
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