Fetal development 12 weeks of pregnancy • hello healthy

The baby is 9-13 weeks old? This is a sign that you have entered the 3 months pregnant phase. There are many things that pregnant women feel from the development of an increasingly enlarged fetus. The following is a complete explanation about 3 months of pregnancy with a gestational age range of 9-13 weeks.

3 months pregnant

At the beginning of the 3 months pregnant phase, many pregnant women still feel nauseous. This is normal because the gestational age of 9-13 weeks is included in the first trimester with morning sickness which happens a lot.

Not only nausea and vomiting, the 3 months pregnant phase also includes a lot of fetal development and growth in the womb.

For more details, here are further reviews.

9 weeks pregnant: the anus begins to form

At 9 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus is experiencing rapid development. Approximately, it is the size of a grape, weighing about 28 grams and about 2.54 cm long.

The baby's back has shrunk and is almost gone. However, the baby's head continues to grow and is quite large in comparison to the rest of the baby's body.

At 9 weeks pregnant, baby's head weighs about 3 grams with a developed nose and the skin in the eyes begins to form eyelids.

The intestines grow longer and the anus forms gradually. The reproductive organs (testes or ovaries) will begin to form this week.

Given that at the 3 months pregnant phase the muscles have grown, it is possible that the first few movements will occur when your little one is 9 weeks old.

However, you cannot feel these movements directly through the stomach because they are still very small. New pregnant women can see the movements through ultrasound.

The heart rate is very well developed at 9 weeks of pregnancy. You can hear it using an ultrasound when you visit the doctor.

If you haven't heard your heartbeat at 9 weeks of pregnancy, there's no need to worry. This can happen because the position of the fetus with its back to the ultrasound device makes it difficult to find the fetus.

10 weeks of gestation: start to grow baby teeth

At 10 weeks of pregnancy, your little one is the size of a longan fruit with a weight of about 7 grams and a length from head to toe of about 2.54 cm.

The bones of the baby in the womb have also begun to form. His appearance was getting closer to a complete human form.

Cartilage has formed and small grooves in the legs that will become the knees and ankles, have started to grow.

In addition, the baby's arm is complete with elbows and can even be flexibly moved.

Tooth buds that form under the gums begin to grow in the 10 weeks gestation phase. These shoots will grow into teeth when your little one turns 6 months and over.

The baby's stomach begins to produce digestive juices. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) explains that at this age, the fetus begins to produce large amounts of urine.

In addition, baby boys already produce the hormone testosterone. The embryo has also entered the end of the embryonic period and next week, to be precise at week 11 of pregnancy, it can be called a fetus.

In addition, disabilities almost no longer grow when they are 10 months pregnant because your little one has entered a new period.

11 weeks pregnant: fetal hair follicles begin to grow

At this stage, the fetus is about the size of a golf ball with a length of more than 3 cm from head to toe.

To help the growth and development of the baby in the womb, the mother must eat lots of nutritious food to meet the nutrition of the fetus in the womb.

The baby's face has begun to form, especially the ears which are nearing their final positions on both sides.

If you look at an image of a baby on ultrasound, the head measures half the length of the entire body.

At 3 months pregnant, at 11 weeks to be precise, the baby's reproductive organs are developing rapidly. However, the external genitalia of the baby will not appear until the end of the 11th week and will not be clearly visible until the 14th week.

Quoting from Medlineplus, baby hair follicles in the uterus begin to appear and grow at 11 weeks of gestation.

Uniquely, these hair follicles are not only on the head, but throughout the body. It's no wonder that when a baby is born, it has fine hair on its body.

Apart from the hair follicles, the baby's fingers and toes are getting clearer so that they look less webbed like a frog.

As the fingers grow, the fetal nails also begin to develop at 11 weeks of gestation.

12-week fetal development: the fetal digestive system is working

At this time the fetus is the size of an orange, weighing about 15 grams and a length of 5 cm from head to toe.

Fingernails and toenails, vocal cords, and intestines will begin to form in the development of the 12 weeks pregnant fetus.

Apart from the changing size of the baby, the baby's digestive system also starts working in the middle of this 3 months pregnant.

The muscles in the baby's digestive system start working. Muscles work by training the contraction movement and pushing food through the digestive tract.

The fetal bone marrow is also busy making white blood cells that will help the baby fight infection when it is born.

The pituitary gland at the base of the brain has also started producing hormones to help develop the fetus at 12 weeks of gestation.

At the end of this 3 months pregnant phase, the baby's kidneys have started working. After absorbing nutrients from the amniotic fluid, the baby's body can filter and excrete feces in the form of urine.

Fetal development at 13 weeks: the baby's vocal cords are formed

At 13 weeks of pregnancy, the baby is already 7 cm (from head to toe). While it weighs up to 30 grams.

When entering the end of the 3 months or 13 weeks pregnant period, the development of the placenta is getting better and serves as a supplier of oxygen, nutrition, and processing of fetal waste.

The placenta also produces the hormones progesterone and estrogen which help maintain pregnancy.

At this age, the baby's eyes can open and close. Your little one is able to put his thumb in his mouth even though the sucking muscles are still not fully developed.

In addition, the fetal intestine undergoes a great development. Actually the fetal intestine has grown in the cavity in the umbilical cord (umbilical cord).

But only recently experienced a move to a more comfortable place, namely the baby's stomach.

Fetal vocal cords also develop at 13 weeks of gestation. The vocal cords will be used by the baby to cry when it is born.

What you feel when you are 3 months pregnant

Before becoming pregnant, the uterus is the size of a small pear. Then at 3 months pregnant, the uterus becomes as big as a grapefruit. This makes the stomach even bigger.

Some things that are felt by 3 months pregnant women with a gestational age range of 9-13 weeks, namely:

Leucorrhoea

Leucorrhoea during pregnancy is a normal condition, although it is often bothersome. At the end of the 3 months pregnant phase, or 13 weeks, vaginal discharge will increase.

Leukorrhea (another name for vaginal discharge), is caused by an increase in the production of the hormone estrogen. Not only that, vaginal discharge during pregnancy also occurs due to increased blood flow to the pelvic area.

Although it makes it uncomfortable, vaginal discharge during pregnancy has a function as a protector of the birth canal from infection and maintains the balance of bacteria in the vagina.

Nausea and vomiting during 3 months of pregnancy

At the end of the first trimester, nausea will still be present. However, there is no need to worry if nausea prevents you from eating a variety of healthy foods or you have not gained weight.

Your appetite will return soon and from then on, your body weight will start to gain 0.5 kilograms per week. Most women only gain 1 to 2.5 pounds during the first three months of pregnancy.

Towards the second trimester, appetite will usually increase even more than usual. It is in this phase that being underweight usually pays off.

Pregnancy glow

When in the final phase of 3 months of pregnancy, to be precise at 12 weeks, pregnant women are likely to start to be more confident.

You may feel that you become prettier, your skin becomes smoother, and that glow is what is known as pregnancy glow.

The cause of this change in self-confidence and appearance is due to increased blood flow and hormonal activity while the fetus is developing in the womb.

As a result, hormones and blood flow to the blood vessels increase the activity of the oil glands.

This makes your face brighter and the skin surface firmer and smoother. But sometimes, this condition can cause inevitable breakouts.

Other conditions that are also felt by 3 months pregnant women are:

Tiring easily
Unstable appetite
Constipation
Bloated
Enlarged breasts
Heartburn
Discomfort during sexual intercourse.
Blood flow increases.

Quoted from Kids Health, pregnant women will experience a condition of increasing blood flow in the body.

As a result, pregnant women experience dizziness, frequent urination, swelling of the blood vessels in the hands and feet, or nosebleeds.

Bleeding can occur in the first three months of pregnancy and is not necessarily a cause for concern.

However, this can also be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if you experience bleeding that is considered unnatural.

Things that need to be considered when consulting a doctor

There are several conditions that require you to be tested when you are 3 months pregnant.

However, depending on the needs and style of examination the doctor will usually perform the following examinations:

Measure body weight and blood pressure
Check urine for glucose and protein levels
Check fetal heart rate
Position of the uterus
Check for swelling of the hands and feet, including varicose veins

You can ask the doctor what tests are needed at this time.

At 9-13 weeks of gestation, your doctor will likely recommend a measurement test nuchal translucency or ultrasound to examine the skin of the baby's nape to diagnose risks Down's syndrome.

Pregnant women do not need to worry because this test is not dangerous for the mother and the fetus in the womb.

You may also undergo blood tests to measure the levels of protein in the blood. In this test, doctors can find other problems that may cause pregnancy complications to the fetus and mother.

Tips for maintaining health during 3 months of pregnancy

In the 3 months pregnant phase, it is necessary to maintain the health of the mother and baby so that their development continues. Some of the ways are:

Take vitamins

Doctors may provide pregnant women supplements according to nutrition and vitamins to optimize fetal development.

Eating a healthy diet helps ensure that the unborn baby has enough vitamins and minerals.

Various vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy are folic acid, zinc, iron and calcium.

Please consult with your doctor to determine the best way to take vitamins, such as drinking them while eating or drinking together with certain types of drinks.

Monitor weight gain

It is normal to gain weight during pregnancy. However, what is the ideal amount of weight gain during pregnancy?

To find out the answer, please consult a gynecologist. Generally, weight gain recommendations are based on body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy.

Measuring weight gain is very important so that obesity does not occur and interfere with fetal development when the mother is 3 months pregnant.

Avoid moving suddenly when you are 3 months pregnant

When you are 3 months pregnant you may not have a belly that is too distended. However, the baby has grown and your tummy will grow over time.

When the stomach begins to expand, the center of gravity changes. This will cause you to experience lower back pain. Avoid pushing yourself or moving suddenly.

Bulge in the stomach (baby bump) indicates the uterus is growing and can put pressure on major blood vessels.

The most appropriate sleeping position for pregnant women is to sleep on the left side because it ensures an adequate supply of blood and nutrients to the baby.

This is also to ensure the safety of the mother and fetal development during pregnancy.

Limiting caffeine at 3 months pregnant

Don't eat too much chocolate, tea, and coffee because all three contain caffeine.

Although there is no evidence to know the amount of caffeine that will harm pregnant women, it is better for pregnant women to limit eating chocolate.

In addition, these foods can dominate the healthy food consumed.

As a result, you consume too many calories, causing excessive weight gain for both the mother and the fetus.

Eat foods high in iron

Iron is needed for the production of fetal red blood cells as it develops in the womb.

If you have anemia, you are at increased risk of infection and bleeding during childbirth.

To avoid this, you should consume animal products so that they have enough nutrition for yourself and the development of the fetus in the womb.

Avoid taking aspirin

Quoting from the Mayo Clinic, pregnant women are not advised to take aspirin during pregnancy because it can interfere with fetal development.

Unless pregnant women have certain health problems, doctors may recommend using aspirin to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications.

Low-dose aspirin (60 to 100 milligrams daily) is recommended for pregnant women who have had recurrent miscarriages, clotting disorders, and preeclampsia.

It's good, first consult your doctor before taking the drug.