12 Weeks Pregnant

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Here's what's happening during Week 12 of your pregnancy:

Your Growing Baby

The face begins to look more human. Length: 3 inches (head to heel, the measurement from now on).

She may weigh as much as half an ounce. This begins the age when the fetus starts to look really cut in those womb pictures. If you had a womb camera, you'd be able to see your baby's proportions changing, with the growth of the head slowing down to let the rest of the body catch up. Arms, legs, and fingers are also growing out and tapering to look more like a newborn's, and your baby's posture becomes less curled and more upright.

Your Growing Belly

This is about the time the muscles of your stomach slow down, making your stools harder and drier and making you gassier. You uterus has gotten too big to fit in its usual spot—your pelvis. It's now pushing into your abdomen, though not yet in any uncomfortable way. Your heart rate may speed up because of the extra volume of blood in your body. Your hips are actually widening to make more room for your uterus to grow.

With one week to go in your first trimester, you may feel more like your pregnancy is real. The magic end of the first trimester is at hand, which means it'll soon be time to tell your boss, co-workers, and distant relatives about your condition, if they haven't figured it out already. Take brisk walks, eat high-fiber foods, and drink plenty of water to keep your intestinal tract moving. A trimester-by-trimester guide to the perfect walking workout for pregnant women of all sizes, shapes and fitness levels >>

Tips & To-Do's

Our Favorite Prenatal Recipes

Healthy prenatal eating isn't just about avoiding certain foods. It's also about choosing wisely. We share 10 of our favorite recipes to give you more energy and protect your and your developing baby’s health. Get the recipes >>

Things to think about this week

Deciding when and with whom to share your news is a very personal decision, but there are a few things to consider. Keeping your pregnancy a secret for a while will give you and your partner some time to absorb the idea privately. While some women wait until the risk of miscarriage drops markedly, others spill the beans right away because they’d tell their friends anyway if they miscarried. Telling co-workers is trickier. You may find that your employer expects the news to be followed by the details of your maternity leave, but you may not have decided yet when to return to work—if ever. The Working Woman's Guide To Pregnancy covers breaking the news at work, navigating maternity leave, and more >>

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