You come into a very important week when you are 12 weeks pregnant because it marks the conclusion of the first trimester and brings to an end a crucial phase in the development of the baby. Since miscarriages seldom happen after the first trimester given that the soon-to-be moms take care of their health, exercise regularly and take a healthy diet, women start feeling confident and are willing to break the good news to friends and colleagues.

What Are the Pregnancy Symptoms at 12 Weeks?

The nausea that you were feeling will start to die down and you will have your energy levels restored. You will start feeling confident as well since the chance of miscarriage has significantly reduced.

You might still be having symptoms of morning sickness, but your appetite will be returning soon. Watch out for what you eat though and only consume meat which has been completely cooked or else you will be at risk of becoming a victim of toxoplasmosis. Stop eating steaks and eat carefully at barbecues.
New moms are eligible to receive prescriptions and dental care free of cost until their babies reach the age of one. Since pregnancy increases the chances of contracting gum and teeth diseases, visiting the dentist regularly is important.

The bleeding of gums intensifies during pregnancy; therefore, take extra care when brushing or flossing. You may start making use of an OTC product, but if you are unsure, then call your doctor and seek his advice in this matter.

How Does Your Baby Grow When You’re 12 Weeks Pregnant?

In the 12^th week of pregnancy, the most important development in the baby’s growth is his reflexes. He would start flexing his fingers, curling his toes, make sucking sounds as well as beginning to clench his eye muscles, too. Prodding your belly is in fact going to invoke a response from the baby, but it won’t be felt by you. The kidneys and the intestines of the baby would also have developed and would be producing urine and protruding into the umbilical cord respectively. The baby will start appearing human as well and would have his eyes and ears at the place where they should be. His nerve cells and synapses in his brain would also be forming rapidly. He would have gained a height of about 2 inches and would be weighing around a half ounce.

You can watch this video and get more information about how your baby grows when you’re 12 weeks pregnant:

How Does Your Life Change When You’re 12 Weeks Pregnant?

By now, your uterus would have started growing and the doctor would be able to touch the bulge in your stomach, which is, in fact, your baby’s head. Your waist would have started to become thick and you would have started feeling that loose clothes are more suitable for you as they can accommodate your growing belly.

Heartburn is another problem that you would have started facing. During pregnancy, the placenta starts producing excess amounts of progesterone which impairs the working of the valve present in between the stomach and the esophagus and results in the spillage of the acid into the esophagus. Due to this, pregnant women suffer from heartburn during the advanced stages of their pregnancy.

Recommended Foods for 12 Weeks Pregnancy

Foods	Descriptions
Eggs	Eggs contain protein which is vital for pregnancy.
Salmon	Salmon is rich in omega-3 fats and proteins.
Beans	Beans have fiber and proteins along with many essential nutrients.
Sweet potatoes	There are carotenoids in them which are also rich in vitamin C.
Popcorn and other whole grains	Popcorn and grains offer fiber and vitamin E.
Walnuts	Walnuts have fiber, protein and plant-based omega-3 fats.
Greek yogurt	Greek yogurt has calcium and is rich in protein.
Dark green vegetables	Green vegetables have vitamins present in them.
Lean meats	Lean meats are rich in protein.
Fruits and veggies	Fruits and vegetables have minerals and vitamins present in them.

Important Notes:

Since you are pregnant, you might think that you have the license to eat anything. However, this should not be the case. You must intake the essential nutrients but avoid eating sweets, junk foods and late night snacks.

What Can You Do When You’re 12 Weeks Pregnant?

1. Take Care of Yourself

Taking care of yourself and your baby is important in this week of pregnancy. You will stop having the symptoms that are synonymous with pregnancy like nausea, fatigue and morning sickness, which means that your pregnancy is going nicely and everything is fine.

2. Talk to Your Doctor

If the pregnancy symptoms like nausea and fatigue remain then you must ring your doctor and take his advice. The prolonging of these symptoms might be due to a molar pregnancy which could result in bleeding. Molar pregnancy indicates presence of cysts and might be caused by placenta’s abnormal development. Molar pregnancy should be taken seriously, as it is one of the biggest reasons for miscarriages in the 12^th week of pregnancy.

3. Take Some Exercises

Exercising is important during pregnancy. Kegel exercises are among the best when it comes to pregnancy as they can help in strengthening the muscles of the vagina which would be severely tested during delivery.

4. Make a Baby Budget

Since your baby is only a few months from being in your arms, start planning about your baby’s upcoming expenses with your partner. A baby is going to be an added member of your family and you would have to think about his clothes, toys, diapers and food. Plan your budget with your partner and see to it that you find ways in which you can fit the needs of your baby. Start saving now so that you can have plenty available when the baby walks into your lives.

5. Tips for Your Partner

The partner should take care of his wife. He should appreciate the fact that she is going through a very tough phase and would be having difficulty in doing most of the things that she was able to do without encountering any difficulties before her pregnancy. Moreover, he should also take care of her as well and make her feel as comfortable as possible.