12 Weeks Pregnant
Your Body in Pregnancy
Your waistline may be starting to slowly disappear, as your abdomen begins to “pooch” out a little. Particularly if this isn’t your first pregnancy, looser-fitting and less restrictive clothes may be more comfortable now. Some women even start wearing maternity clothes around this time, but many can still wear their pre-pregnancy clothes; at least loose pants, such as sweat pants or any kind that is made of stretchy material. Very soon, you won’t be able to squeeze into your regular clothes any longer.
Shortly, you may notice a dark vertical line of skin pigmentation running down the middle of your abdomen, from your belly button to about where your pubic hair begins (the center of your pubic bone). This line, called the ‘linea nigra’, has always been present. It is normally pretty much invisible, but sometimes during pregnancy, it darkens to a brownish color. Women with darker skin tones tend to get a darker linea nigra during pregnancy, than those that are more fair-skinned. One of many old wives’ tales is that the appearance of a linea nigra means you’re having a boy. This is just that: an old wives’ tale! The good news is that it will probably fade and possibly gradually disappear in the months following delivery. Besides your belly, other areas of your body may be targets of increased pigmentation, including your nipples (or rather the areolas, which is the skin surrounding your nipples) and your underarms (well, your arm pits). Unlike the linea nigra, your areolas may stay permanently darker, even after delivery.
As your first trimester is drawing to a close, your miscarriage risk is significantly reduced. The majority of all miscarriages occur before the twelfth week; many so early in pregnancy you weren’t even aware you were pregnant in the first place. Now you can enjoy your pregnancy a little more, knowing your odds of delivering a healthy baby are very good, especially if you’ve already seen your baby’s heart beating during an ultrasound or heard the heartbeat at your doctor’s office. If an early ultrasound confirms a heartbeat, the risk of miscarriage is reduced to less than 5% for women who are 35 or under, during the first trimester. If you have waited to announce your pregnancy, now may be a good time to share the exciting news with friends and family!
By the twelfth week, you may notice that menacing metallic taste, which may have been bothering you since soon after missing your period, starts to disappear. This may help your nausea and food aversions out a bit and you may gradually begin to feel better. Some of your previously favorite foods, which had temporarily become your worse enemy, may begin to sound appetizing once again. If you are one of those unlucky women who continue to suffer with nausea and vomiting well into their second trimester, you should ask your doctor or midwife what will help bring some relief. Most of the time, continued morning sickness won’t hurt your baby, but if you get to the point where you can’t keep any food or fluids down, you should notify your doctor or midwife. It may be necessary in a case like that for you to be re-hydrated by IV fluids in a hospital
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Implantation Bleeding
Missed Menstrual Period
Positive Pregnancy Test
Tender Breasts
Sensitive Nipples
Ultrasound Detection
Darker Areolas
Fatigue
Nausea and Vomiting
Mood Changes and Irritability
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Dizziness
Headaches
Frequent Urination
Sensitivity to Smell
Food Cravings
Food Aversions
Heartburn
Breakouts
Constipation
Hegar's Sign
Chadwick's Sign
Increased Vaginal Discharge
Excessive Salivation
Bleeding Gums
Heartbeat Detection
Backaches
Weight Gain
Enlarging Abdomen
Nipple Discharge
Braxton-Hicks Contractions
Fetal Movement
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