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12 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby, Your Body and What to Do
The end of the first trimester: your baby's reflexes are developing and the risk of miscarriage falls.
Before you use this guide: Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period. Sizes are rough averages, and healthy babies vary. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor or midwife.
How your baby is growing
Your baby is fully formed, with every organ and body part in place. From here the work is mostly growth and maturing. The fingers and toes are separate, the face looks more human, and your baby can make a fist, curl the toes and open the mouth.
Reflexes are developing, and your baby moves around a lot, although it is still too small for you to feel. The intestines have moved back inside the tummy, and the kidneys are making urine.
How you may be feeling
Many people notice nausea and tiredness easing in the next week or two. The risk of miscarriage falls noticeably after the first trimester, which is why many people choose to share their news around now. Your womb now rises above the pelvic bone, and you may see a small bump, especially if it is not your first pregnancy.
Your to-do list for week 12
- Many areas offer a dating scan around now. It checks your baby's size and heartbeat, shows whether you are expecting one baby or more, and estimates your due date.
- Folic acid is usually recommended until the end of week 12. Ask your care team what to take next, because many health services also advise vitamin D through pregnancy.
- Decide when you want to tell family, friends and your workplace, and check your rights to paid time off for antenatal care and to maternity leave.
- Start gentle pelvic floor exercises if you have not already.
When to ask for help
A scan can sometimes raise unexpected questions. It is fine to ask the sonographer or midwife to explain anything in plain language, and to bring someone with you for support.
For heavy bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, a severe headache with vision changes, or a baby who is moving less than usual, do not wait for your next appointment. Contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. Our guide to pregnancy warning signs has more detail.
Not sure which week you are in? Use the due-date calculator to estimate your due date and current week.
Useful at this stage: conception date calculator.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own care team and local health service.
- NHS: Pregnancy — Pregnancy care, common symptoms, screening and complications.
- NHS: Week-by-week pregnancy guide — Pregnancy development and care by week.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.