What Happens During Week 12 and Week 15 of Pregnancy?

Many women choose to wait until the significant 12 weeks pregnant landmark to share the happy news of their pregnancy. At the end of the first trimester and the start of the second, there are more visible signs of pregnancy with a nicely rounded tummy, and there is statistically less likelihood of a miscarriage from now on. At 12 weeks pregnant your baby will be about 2.5 inches/6cms long and weigh about half an ounce. She’ll be growing very quickly now and although she’s still somewhat out of proportion (with her head about one third of the size of her body) her brain development will now be slowing down allowing her body growth to catch up. She’ll be lying straighter in the womb and her arms, legs, fingers and toes will be elongating into more recognisable shapes. At 12 weeks pregnant your baby will be practising her breathing by using amniotic fluid to prepare her lungs for air respiration. Baby’s face now looks less alien-like and more human as her eyes will have moved from the sides to the front of the face. She’ll also have developed some reflexes and will be opening and closing her fingers, eyes and mouth. Heartburn is not an uncommon side-effect for mums-to-be at 12 weeks pregnant. Blame the high levels of progesterone in your body which relaxes the valve between your oesophagus and stomach allowing gastric acid to travel back up and cause a burning sensation. 15 weeks pregnant In just three weeks your baby will have almost doubled in length and quadrupled in weight. So at 15 weeks pregnant your baby is now over 4 inches (10cm) long and weighs about 2.5 ounces (75 g). She will have fully functional joints in her limbs and her legs will have grown longer than her arms. You’ll most likely be feeling lots of movement as she wriggles around in the amniotic fluid. Baby will be moving her facial muscles a lot and although her eyelids are still fused together she will be able to sense light. If you shine a strong torch beam on your tummy the baby will turn away from it. It’s around the 15 weeks pregnant mark that it becomes possible to tell if you are carrying a girl or a boy when you have your scan, but this does very much depend on the position of the baby. You should have gained about five pounds in weight at 15 weeks pregnant and may be experiencing some new side effects of your condition. Increased blood flow to your nasal passages sometimes causes nose bleeds or a blocked nose. This condition is very common and known as ‘pregnancy rhinitis’. But on the whole your second trimester should be the most enjoyable as increased hormone levels can make you feel great – and sometimes a little emotional.