First trimester · 12 weeks pregnant
Week 12: the dating scan
Reflexes appear and the risk of miscarriage falls sharply.
Your baby can curl its toes, clench its fists and make sucking movements. The intestines move into the abdomen and the kidneys produce urine. Many parents share the news after this week's scan.
Size and weight
About the size of
a lime
Length
5.4 cm
Weight
14 g
Averages from standard growth charts. Measured crown to rump until week 20 and head to heel afterwards.
How your baby is developing
- Reflexes develop: fingers open and close, toes curl, eye muscles clench.
- The intestines, which developed inside the umbilical cord, move into the abdomen.
- The kidneys begin to make urine, which becomes part of the amniotic fluid.
- The pituitary gland starts producing hormones.
How you may feel
- Energy slowly returning
- The uterus rising above the pubic bone
- A dark line down the belly (linea nigra) or patches on the face (melasma)
- Fewer bathroom trips as the uterus lifts off the bladder
- Heartburn
The risk of miscarriage drops significantly once a heartbeat is seen at 12 weeks, which is why many people wait until now to tell friends.
What's next
Tests and appointments
- 12-week screening scan: dating, nuchal translucency, early anatomy and the number of babies, with the screening blood tests.
- If the results place you in a risk group, you will be referred to the regional Mother and Child Screening centre for second-stage tests at 16–20 weeks.
What to do this week
- Start pelvic floor exercises now; they help with continence and recovery after birth.
- Decide where you would like to give birth and how to register for care.
- Use a high-factor sunscreen; pregnancy skin pigments more easily.
Call your doctor or maternity hospital if
- Bleeding that is heavier than light spotting, or bleeding with cramps
- Severe pain on one side of your lower abdomen, or pain with dizziness or fainting
- Vomiting so often that you cannot keep fluids down for 24 hours
- A temperature of 38 °C or higher, or pain when you pass urine
If something feels wrong, trust yourself and call 103 or your maternity hospital. You will never be wasting anyone's time.
Not sure this is your week?
Enter your last period or due date and we will show the right page and your checkup timeline.
Get this week in Telegram
Our bot sends you a short weekly digest for your exact week, your due date countdown and a list of upcoming checkups. It also knows the warning signs that need a same-day call.
- ✓A short digest every new week
- ✓Countdown to your due date
- ✓Reminders about upcoming checkups
- ✓Kick counter and contraction timer