12 Weeks Pregnant
At 12 weeks pregnant your baby is about the size of a lime. You are in the first trimester, and this week brings its own small changes — for your baby and for you.
End of the first trimester — the risk of miscarriage drops significantly.
- Size of
- a lime
- Length
- 5.4 cm
- Weight
- 14 g
- Trimester
- 1
Your baby this week
- Reflexes begin: your baby can curl fingers and toes and open the mouth.
- The kidneys start producing urine, which becomes part of the amniotic fluid.
- Vocal cords take shape, although sound needs air to travel.
Your body this week
- The uterus rises out of the pelvis and can be felt low down.
- For many women, nausea starts to ease around now.
Common symptoms
- Nausea that finally starts to fade
- Dizziness when you stand up too quickly
- A blocked nose that has nothing to do with a cold
What to expect
Early pregnancy can feel invisible from the outside and very loud on the inside. Symptoms come and go from day to day, and that is normal. With 28 weeks to go, the priority this week is rest, gentle food and your first antenatal appointment.
Tips for this week
- Arrange your dating scan, usually offered between weeks 10 and 14.
- If you have not already, plan when to tell your employer and check your rights.
- Start getting used to sleeping on your side, ideally the left.
Frequently asked questions
How many months is 12 weeks pregnant?
12 weeks is about 3 months. Pregnancy months do not divide evenly into weeks, so counting in weeks is more precise.
How big is my baby at 12 weeks?
At 12 weeks your baby is around a lime — roughly 5.4 cm long and about 14 g. Healthy babies vary a lot around these averages.
What symptoms are normal at 12 weeks pregnant?
The most common ones this week are listed above. Contact your doctor or midwife about heavy bleeding, severe pain, a fever, or any change in your baby’s movements.
Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period, so week 1 begins before conception.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or midwife about your own pregnancy.