The first trimester of pregnancy ends. This means that exactly one third of the difficult path a woman has successfully passed. The 12th week of pregnancy is unusual and very interesting. On it, the expectant mother, perhaps, will have the first "meeting" with her baby for an ultrasound scan. This time is well suited to take stock of the first results. What happens to the baby and mother at 12 weeks, we will tell you in this article.
How many months is it?
The third obstetric month of pregnancy ends. In each obstetric month, in contrast to the calendar month, there are exactly 4 weeks and not a day more. Often, women are confused about their own terms, because according to their calculations, there is only one term, and in the antenatal clinic the doctor sets a longer term.
The fact is that obstetricians-gynecologists count from the first day of the last menstruation, and expectant mothers themselves, for the most part, consider it from conception (or from ovulation, since it is during this period that conception is most likely). Obstetric week 11-12 is the last in the first trimester. It means that goes 10 weeks from conception, 8 weeks from delay. Exactly in a week, the woman will enter the second trimester, which is considered the most pleasant and unhindered, filled with positive emotions and expectation of a miracle.
Baby development
Over the past week, the baby has made a real breakthrough in his development - in just a few days he has dramatically changed externally and internally. Now the baby no longer looks like a creature from another planet or a tadpole, he is almost formed, only a very small person.
Almost half a month ago, the baby changed status - he is no longer an embryo, but a fetus. This is what doctors call him. This means that the most dangerous period of development has passed, and now the baby will grow and grow stronger, all organs and the system are laid. Some of them are already functioning.
The growth of the baby now ranges from 50 to 95 mm, the weight is approaching 15-20 grams. To imagine what size the child has reached, you need to remember what a medium-sized lemon looks like. The growth rate is impressive: in just the last 2 weeks, the baby has doubled its size.
Changes in development in 7 embryonic weeks
Appearance
The fetal head is still large, which is why there is some disproportion in the appearance of the child. The limbs appear short, the arms and legs have yet to grow and acquire normal proportions. The baby's arms are longer than the legs. The formation of the fingers is complete: they already have small, still translucent nails.
The eyes of the crumbs moved to their proper place on both sides of the bridge of the nose. This week, the formation of the eyelids, which are still tightly covering the organs of vision, is being completed. The baby will not learn to open his eyes soon. In the meantime, the formation of the retina, cornea and lens continues. The small auricles, which have continued to form over the past weeks, have practically taken shape. At 12 obstetric weeks, the baby's ears "acquire" lobes.
The nose grows. The face ceases to be flattened, a relief, profile appears. Hair grows on the head. Many women associate this process with the occurrence of heartburn at this time. Whether this is true or not, medicine is not known for certain. But now babies who are destined to be born with luxurious and funny hair are taking on a slightly different look than the crumbs who are born almost bald.
Internal organs no longer "look" out of the abdominal cavity, the abdomen takes on a neat appearance. The neck is more and more drawn: it is already formed, and the baby can theoretically make head movements. The skin does not look red because the baby's skin is of a different color. It's just so thin that blood vessels and capillaries can be seen through it.
Nervous system
It continues to evolve and form. So far, the main impulses enter the spinal cord, since the brain cannot yet receive and process them. It is actively developing. Already, the brain of the crumbs has two hemispheres, the cerebellum and the medulla oblongata are formed. The number of brain cells increases by about a quarter of a million every day.
The neural connections that started forming earlier continue to appear every day. Neuromuscular connections are starting to be added to them this week, as the child begins to actively grow muscle tissue. Reflex connections are gradually formed - grasping, swallowing and sucking reflexes are already available to the baby.
Nerve endings also penetrate the thin skin of the fetus, its tactile sensations are constantly expanding, the baby begins to learn the world around him.
What is outside the mother's womb is not of interest to him yet, but already now the baby is well-versed in changing circumstances - he has learned to react to external stimuli (shaking, a sharp change in the position of the mother's body, etc.).
The reaction is still manifested by an increase in motor activity and heartbeat. Taste receptors have formed on the tongue and the inner surface of the cheeks, the child distinguishes between tastes and already now begins to give preference to sweet and not to like bitter and sour.
Internal organs
The laying and shaping of all organs is complete. Now they have to grow and improve. Completed the formation of the rectum. The intestine completely fits in the abdominal cavity, and the formed diaphragm separates it from the chest cavity. At 12 obstetric weeks, the intestines begin to "rehearse" their work after the baby is born. It shrinks slightly. Then these contractions will become full-fledged peristalsis.
The fetal heart is divided into 4 chambers, it is exactly the same as in adults, just still very small. The heart works properly, supplying blood to all internal organs and tissues of its "owner". Heart rate (heart rate) this week averages 162 beats per minute. Indicators in the range from 150 to 174 beats per minute are also considered normal.
Changes undergo not only the vessels of the baby himself, but also the vessels that provide a strong connection between the mother and the baby - the uteroplacental. They grow, increase in diameter, and become more durable.
The baby at 12 weeks feeds with the placenta, through the bloodstream he also receives oxygen from his mother's blood. Back through this system, he gives up metabolic products.
The baby's liver looks large. This is completely normal. The stomach begins to accept what enters the esophagus, and this is so far only water that the baby swallows. The urinary system is actively working - the kidneys, the bladder. The baby pisses directly into the waters that surround him. The unique ability of amniotic fluid lies in its ability to self-purify and renew itself. This happens every 3-4 hours.
Sex determination
The genital tubercles, which are small protrusions between the legs, which a week earlier were almost the same in both boys and girls, begin to change. This is the process of the formation of the external genital organs. At 12 weeks, in boys, the genital tubercle becomes a penis, and in girls it shortens and begins to turn into the labia.
It is theoretically possible to find out the gender. But so far the sex differences are so small that it is very easy to confuse them.
That is why on an ultrasound scan at 12 weeks, even if the doctor tries to consider who lives in the mother's stomach, he will not give any guarantees of accuracy and will advise you to contact him with this question in the second trimester at a scheduled ultrasound scan no earlier than 16-18 weeks.
Now in the body of little boys, the sex hormone testosterone begins to be produced. In tiny girls, development continues according to the female type - under the influence of mothers and a small amount of their own estrogens.
What did the baby learn to do?
The kid acquires new skills with unprecedented speed. If the expectant mother could now watch her baby in real time, she would see that he does not have to be bored. At 12 obstetric week, the fetus knows a lot, he:
- sleeps and is awake;
- actively moves as muscles grow;
- opens and closes the mouth;
- yawns;
- swallows amniotic fluid;
- tries to suck a thumb or fist;
- clenches his hands into fists;
- makes faces and grimaces, because mimic muscles are already quite developed this week;
- wrinkles his lips and folds from the "tube";
- grabs his face, touches the umbilical cord, began to reach his legs with his hands;
- swims in the amniotic fluid, actively "raking" with his feet;
- kicks off the wall of the uterus when accidentally touched.
It cannot yet hear and see, but it already perfectly feels the vibration that arises from the mother's voice, cough, loud music from outside. This week, the baby begins to empathize with mother's emotions. If mom is sad, then the baby is not up to fun, if it hurts, the baby also experiences something like fear. How exactly this invisible connection is realized, medicine cannot explain.
The only intelligible version of what is happening is based on subtle changes in hormonal levels that accompany any vivid emotions of a woman. It is this difference at the chemical level that the baby feels, receiving blood of a slightly different composition through the uteroplacental blood flow.
Your baby is on ultrasound
Many pregnant women this week are sent for an ultrasound scan, since it is part of the first antenatal screening - a study that is of great importance in assessing the condition and development of the fetus, in predicting possible pathologies. Of course, the volume of what is seen when visiting an ultrasound diagnostics room directly depends on what class of apparatus is at the disposal of doctors. If the scanner belongs to modern expert devices, then you will see much more. If the device is equipped with 3D or 4D functions, unforgettable shots await mom.
The examination procedure itself at this time is carried out either externally - with a sensor through the abdomen, transabdominal, or internally - with a vaginal sensor through the wall of the vagina.
Both methods are quite informative, and the doctor will decide which one to choose, assessing the physique of the expectant mother, the amount of fat on her stomach, because the task is to choose the way that will allow you to see the baby better.
At 12 weeks, it is clearly visible how many fetuses are in the uterine cavity, and their vital activity (heartbeat and movements) is also recorded. The fertilized egg has become large, it no longer makes sense to measure it, now the KTP will tell a lot about the growth rate of the baby. This is a segment that runs from the lower point of the coccyx to the upper point of the crown, therefore the size is called the coccyx-parietal. Its norms at 12 obstetric week are as follows.
CTE at 12 obstetric week of pregnancy:
Among other sizes, which can also speak of the proportionality and growth of the baby, such fetometric data are characteristic for this week of pregnancy:
BPR - (biparietal or transverse head size) - 15-24 mm, on average - 19 mm;
DBK - (length of the femur) - 7-9 mm each;
chest diameter - from 22 to 24 mm;
head circumference - 63-71 mm;
abdominal circumference - 51-61 mm.
The doctor can perfectly consider all the internal organs of the fetus, what he will definitely do in order to assess how correctly the laying and formation have gone. The placenta is also subject to examination. Its normal thickness for this obstetric week is 14.5 - 15.5 mm. Particular attention to this ultrasound is the so-called visual ultrasound signs of possible chromosomal pathologies (Down's syndrome and others).
There are two of these signs, which are simply called markers - the thickness of the collar zone and the length of the nasal bones. An increase in the thickness of the cervical fold, as well as a decrease in the length of the spout or its absence, may be indirect signs of a baby with gross anomalies. Here are the norms for these markers.
The thickness of the collar space and the length of the nasal bones at 12 weeks of gestation:
The doctor will definitely examine the ovaries, cervix, and the state of the cervical canal to make sure that there is no threat of termination of pregnancy due to pathologies of the woman's reproductive system or other reasons.
Well-being of the expectant mother
Most women experience relief this week - toxicosis begins to recede, appetite and normal mood return. The tummy becomes a little noticeable, especially in women carrying twins or triplets. This fact makes women feel proud. She changes her wardrobe to more spacious clothes and smiles meaningfully in response to the curious glances of colleagues and acquaintances. It is during this period that women who were previously afraid to tell friends or colleagues about their "interesting situation" because of bad omens can begin to open the veil of secrecy, because the risks of a possible miscarriage at 12 weeks are significantly reduced.
A rounded belly and hips are not only reasons for pride, but also a reason to change habits. It is already becoming difficult to sleep on your stomach, the growing uterus significantly interferes with doing this.
But the woman has new worries that can be called pleasant - she starts buying the first things for her "pregnant" wardrobe - now she needs new trousers, because the old ones do not converge at the waist and do not fasten, new bras are needed, preferably sewn specifically for pregnant women and nursing women.
In the body of the expectant mother, the hormone progesterone continues to "reign". He is the main protector of the growing fruit from the first hours of its existence. Due to the increased concentration of this substance, a woman at 12 weeks continues to go to the toilet often as well - increased urination is one of the "side" effects of progesterone. Because of him, the appetite rises, the expectant mother wants to eat almost constantly and you need to have a certain willpower so as not to start eating everything and prevent excess weight gain.
Hormones continue to affect mood. Women still experience some psychological and emotional instability, but the situation is already beginning to improve. Many people say that they have begun to sleep better, they are less likely to have nightmares. Almost all pregnant women at this time become forgetful and absent-minded. This is also a "trick" of progesterone, which is trying to protect the child, who has already begun to react to mom's moods, from overly emotional young ladies who, with their emotions, can harm the fetus.
This week, women may feel more anxious than before, because prenatal screening, about which there are many rumors and "horror stories" among pregnant women, is closer than ever.
If you do not have the strength to cope with the anxiety on your own and there is no one with whom to discuss the "terrible and terrible screening", then you can contact the antenatal clinic right now. There, a full-time psychologist works for such a case, who will help to understand the features of this diagnosis, be sure to calm down and tune in to a positive wave.
Many women continue to complain of frequent headaches. This is a consequence of hormonal changes and increased blood volume. Be sure to make sure that there are no drops in blood pressure.Physiological rhinitis, in which mucous membranes swell due to progesterone, as a result of which nasal breathing is disturbed, usually recedes by 12 weeks. But even if the runny nose persists, you should not worry - it will go away very soon. It won't be long to wait.
Among the common complaints this week, minor pains in the lower abdomen, in the back, are most often mentioned. Expectant mothers complain that their lower back hurts. If the pains are not of a strong nature, pass quickly, and are not accompanied by bloody discharge, then you should not be afraid of them. These are signs of uterine growth. The main female reproductive organ grows, and the ligaments holding it are stretched.
If the lower back pulls crampingly, unusual discharge has appeared, the woman cannot wait - you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. Such pains may indicate that there is a threat of miscarriage.
Changes in the body
The main change this week is belly growth. The thinner and slender a woman was before pregnancy, the higher the likelihood that now the tummy will become noticeable. In overweight and magnificent ladies, this undoubted sign of pregnancy becomes apparent a little later.
The size of the uterus has increased in length up to 10 centimeters... The height of its bottom (upper part) is now 10-11 cm. The weight of the organ has exceeded 300 grams, during the second pregnancy the uterus is about twice as heavy. Such a large organ is no longer able to fit into the small pelvis, so the uterus begins to emerge into the abdominal cavity. This week it is at the level of the pubic symphysis and tends upward. This creates the very touching curves that women themselves and most of their spouses now admire.
The placenta now produces hormones that regulate all processes in the body of a pregnant woman. Since she has already fully undertaken all the obligations to protect and nourish the child, taking over from the yolk sac, the amount of blood that circulates in the body of the expectant mother has increased significantly. This puts an increased strain on the kidneys, liver, lungs and heart of the pregnant woman. At this time, a woman may pay attention to the fact that her pulse has become more frequent.
Under the influence of hormones, the peristalsis of the maternal intestine is disturbed. The task of hormonal support: to prevent the uterus from getting toned, respectively, its muscles relax.
Unfortunately, progesterone does not have a selective effect, so the intestines relax at the same time. At 12 weeks, for this reason, women often have stool disorders - diarrhea, constipation, flatulence.
By obstetric week 12, chest pain is reduced, much to the relief of most pregnant women. For almost three months, the breast grew due to the growth of glandular tissue. Now many of the expectant mothers can say with a fair amount of pride that their bust has grown by 2 sizes, and some even more. The nipples are no longer so sensitive, the space around the nipples has darkened. For some, darkening occurs in spots, for others - completely. Almost all women at this time have protruding Montgomery nodules and colostrum.
If childbirth is not the first time, it is very possible that colostrum is not just released when you press on the nipple, but does it spontaneously, stains linen and clothes. In this case, it is worth buying a bra with "pockets" for special pads that will save you from such "troubles".
Weight gain at 12 weeks is felt even by those who, from the first days after the striped test, were plagued by bouts of toxicosis. If the woman ate fully and did not suffer from nausea, then the normal increase for this week is the range from + 2 to + 4 kilograms to the woman's initial body weight.
Hormonal processes this week often cause an increase in the amount of discharge from the genital tract. You should not worry about this - this process is exclusively physiological in nature. Only bloody, bloody, orange or green discharge, brown "daub", blood-streaked discharge, with a bad smell, foaming and excessively thick discharge should be alerted, combined with unpleasant itching in the perineum and external genitalia.
There are so-called "pregnancy hormones", which include chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone, and a number of positive aspects. A woman under their influence becomes more attractive - her skin condition improves, strong nails grow, hair acquires a natural shine, an unusual "sparkle" appears in the eyes of a pregnant woman. Many note that they were not so unusually beautiful, as at the end of the first trimester, either before pregnancy or after childbirth. This moment can and should be enjoyed.
Possible dangers and risks
Although it is believed that the end of the first trimester, which is the 12th obstetric week of pregnancy, the time is almost safe for mom and baby, you should not forget about caution and vigilance. What dangers can lie in wait for a woman and a baby at this time, we will tell in more detail.
Risk of miscarriage
Despite the fact that this pathology is very common among pregnant women in the first trimester, it is much less common at 12 weeks. You don't need to be afraid of anything, the main thing is to regularly monitor your discharge and pay attention to changes in well-being. If you experience pain and unusual discharge from the genitals, you should definitely see a doctor. If a threat arises, a woman definitely needs qualified medical care.
The possibility of spontaneous abortion may be indicated by pain that is pulling in nature, aggravated by movement, walking. The uterus becomes hypertonic, it is difficult not to feel it - the abdomen becomes "stone", the pain begins to "shoot" into the rectum, there is a feeling that you really want to empty the intestines. Allocations can be different in quantity, color. But they will differ from the normal ones - light, odorless and not abundant. Most often, the discharge has blood impurities.
If pure scarlet blood has gone, this may be a symptom of an incipient miscarriage.
The reasons that can now lead to the threat of miscarriage may lie in strong prolonged stress, heavy physical exertion of a woman, bad habits, such as smoking, in her work at night, in a sudden "jump" in the level of hormones, especially progesterone. If at an earlier date, chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus often become the causes of miscarriage, now this probability is small.
Gross genetic abnormalities usually manifest as early miscarriages. Usually healthy babies live up to 12 weeks.
Doctors' predictions regarding the threat that arose at 12 obstetric week are quite favorable - with the timely referral of the expectant mother to the consultation, it is almost always possible to save the pregnancy.
The main thing is the woman's desire to “cooperate” with the doctor, to follow all his recommendations, to take prescribed medications, not to refuse hospitalization if the situation requires it, in the doctor's opinion.
Isthmico-cervical insufficiency
Women usually find out about such a pathology, which threatens miscarriage and premature birth, just at 12 weeks, when they come for an ultrasound scan, and the doctor conducting the diagnosis notes the shortening of the cervix. Normally, the cervix itself smoothes and becomes shorter, but this happens before childbirth: this is how the cervix prepares to open during the birth process. Naturally, her readiness to open up at 12 weeks is a pathology.
There are many reasons why the cervix is weak. These are congenital anomalies in the structure of the internal genital organs, and injuries to which the cervix was previously subjected - difficult childbirth, abortion, cleaning and scraping for diagnostic purposes. The risk group includes women who are overweight, as well as women who have not been treated for inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system for a long time. Quite often, a short cervix is observed after IVF, especially if a woman's ovaries are depleted.
Having heard such a diagnosis, you should not panic. In most cases, the woman can be helped. There are many ways to do this - from suturing the cervix with surgical sutures to an obstetric pessary. The attending physician will choose the method that suits the indications in a particular situation.
Frozen pregnancy
The probability of pregnancy fading always exists before 28 weeks. But week 12 is not one of the dangerous, if we talk about the point of view of doctors about the development of this pathology. The most common non-developing pregnancy occurs at 3-4 weeks, 8-10 weeks, and then at 16-18 weeks. However, this fact is nothing more than the observation of doctors. It cannot be considered the truth, true for everyone. Theoretically and practically frozen pregnancy at 12 weeks is possible.
The reasons for the death of the fetus inside the mother's womb are still being studied, they are not known for certain. The most likely doctors include genetic malformations, irradiation with radioactive rays, taking teratogenic medicines, smoking and systematic use of alcohol and drugs during the first third of the gestation period. Sometimes pathology occurs as a consequence of a viral infection or other infectious disease transferred in the first trimester and causing abnormalities in the development of the baby, for example, chickenpox, rubella, infectious mumps.
Problems with the placenta or a sharp change in the balance of hormones in a woman can cause the death of a child. This pathology has no symptoms. In any case, until a certain time.
Attentive women who have experienced a similar tragedy claim that at some point the chest just stopped hurting, the symptoms of toxicosis, which had been present for a long time and caused a lot of unpleasant sensations, abruptly disappeared. Of course, these signs can only indirectly indicate that something happened to the child. At 12 weeks, the breast may stop hurting simply because the time has come, toxicosis disappears for the same reason, while everything is in order with the baby.
Often, a frozen pregnancy as a fact is first announced this week. The fact is that the baby could have stopped in its development a couple of weeks ago, at the very height of the "dangerous" period, from 8 to 10 weeks. But the absence of symptoms did not inspire any concern. And only now, when the planned ultrasound scan begins, the sad fact will become obvious.
Approximately 3 weeks after the freeze, if no pathology is detected, a brown "daub" may begin, which will intensify, the stomach will ache. The process of rejection of the fetus will begin, which now poses a mortal danger to its parent - inflammation and sepsis can begin at any time.
Intrauterine growth retardation
A variety of reasons can cause a delay in the development of the baby. This fact can also become known only at 12 weeks, when a woman goes for an ultrasound examination. If the fetus lags far behind the normal parameters characteristic of a given period, it is impossible not to pay attention to this. Doctors talk about developmental delay when the lag is significant - the difference is 2 weeks or more. At the same time, the baby is alive, he has a heartbeat and physical activity is recorded.
If the delay is symmetrical, that is, all the sizes of the crumbs are reduced relative to the norm in the same proportions, the forecasts are more favorable. The baby may lack vitamins, there are problems with the placenta, the treatment provided will help the baby quickly "catch up" in size to his peers.
If there is asymmetry (the head "pulls" in size only for 8 weeks, and all other sizes - for 11 weeks), then the doctors will assume that the baby has congenital genetic malformations and will prescribe the woman additional diagnostics.
Chorionic presentation
Like everything obscure, this phrase often scares pregnant women. In fact, there is nothing pathological in this concept. It all depends on how and where the placenta is located. It is her doctors in the first trimester that are often called chorion.
In 5% of expectant mothers, a low location is found, in 95% of cases the chorion itself gradually rises higher as the uterus grows. The overwhelming majority of pregnant women have chorionic presentation along the anterior or posterior wall. This is the absolute norm.
If the doctor, based on the results of an ultrasound, recorded in the exchange card of a pregnant woman that she has a marginal chorionic presentation, this means that the placenta overlaps the cervix by about a third. This condition is quite dangerous and requires more careful monitoring during pregnancy, but in most cases everything ends well again.
The most dangerous is the central presentation. If such a diagnosis is made, it means that the placenta completely blocks the cervix and cervical canal. Most likely, the woman will be hospitalized and prescribed medication and strict bed rest. Delivery in such cases is carried out by cesarean section. If you follow all the doctor's recommendations, then there is approximately a more than 95% probability that the child will be able to deliver before the due date, avoiding the main and most terrible complication of the pathology - massive bleeding and fetal death.
At the 12th week of pregnancy, determining the location of the placenta is a tribute to the obstetric tradition, so far this information has no diagnostic value, except in cases of complete central presentation.
Neither the low nor the lateral position of the "child's place" can now be called final - the placenta tends to "migrate" after the stretching walls of the uterus. This information becomes relevant mainly in the later stages, when it is necessary to plan the method of delivery.
Analyzes and examinations
By the 12th week, usually all pregnant women are registered with the antenatal clinic at their place of residence. If for some reason this has not yet been done, it is this week that you need to take a passport, a medical insurance policy and register for pregnancy. It is important to have time to pass the first prenatal screening.
Also, for an early (up to 12 weeks) registration, a special one-time benefit is assigned. The payout is small - in 2018 it is just over 600 rubles. This amount is paid to the accounting department at the place of work or to the social security authorities (for non-working people) upon presentation of a certificate from the consultation about the timing of the appearance of the expectant mother.
At 12 weeks, a woman takes a general urine test. She will now do this before each scheduled visit to her doctor. On the "special" day for which the screening is scheduled, you should come to the consultation on an empty stomach in the morning. In one day, the woman will have to donate blood from a vein and have an ultrasound scan.
First trimester screening
This English word denotes a set of studies that are carried out for all pregnant women on the recommendation of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. In the first trimester, the most suitable period for this is the period from 10-11 to 13 weeks inclusive. In most cases, doctors try to schedule a diagnosis at 12 weeks or a little later - at 12 weeks and 2 days or at 12 weeks and 3 days. These terms are optimal, because right now the concentration in the blood of a specific hormone - hCG (hcgb), which chorion cells produce from the first weeks of pregnancy, reaches its maximum, peak concentration.
Screening is a way to identify women who are more likely to have babies with genetic abnormalities than others. Risks are higher by default in “mature” mothers aged 35 and over, in women who have already given birth to children with chromosomal abnormalities, women who become pregnant as a result of incest, as well as in couples in whom both or one of the partners have hereditary pathologies or close relatives have such pathologies.
There are many genetic pathologies. Screening is aimed at looking for signs of only a few - Down syndrome, Turner, Edwards and Patau syndrome, Cornelia de Lange syndrome, and non-molar triploidy. In no case should you think that screening helps establish a diagnosis. Accurate diagnoses are the prerogative of other diagnostic methods. What the woman is facing only allows us to find out whether the risks are high that her baby suffers from one of the above diagnoses.
A blood test for hCG and a special plasma protein PAPP-A are evaluated in a complex. With pathologies, hCG values can be overestimated or sharply reduced relative to the norm, the protein level also does not "fit" into normal values. If the conclusion says that both substances are contained in an amount of 0.5 to 2.0 MoM, then everything is fine. Various variants of deviations should be analyzed by a geneticist. On an ultrasound scan, which takes place on the same day, visual risks (TVP and nasal bones) are assessed. We spoke about the norms of these indicators above.
“Bad” screening is not a sentence, but just a basis for additional examination. If necessary, a woman is recommended to have a chorionic biopsy or, a little later, amniocentesis.
For those who do not want to take risks (and invasive research methods, although accurate, but very dangerous for the child), there is a non-invasive prenatal DNA test. It is no less accurate and completely safe, since the genetic material of the fetus (its DNA) is obtained from the mother's venous blood, which already contains the baby's erythrocytes at this time. The downside is that such an analysis costs several tens of thousands of rubles, and it can be done not in every clinic, but only in specialized medical and genetic centers.
Additional examinations
Some of their future parents at this time are not satisfied with the usual ultrasound in consultation and are recorded for a three-dimensional or four-dimensional ultrasound scan, so that the first "meeting" with the baby will forever remain in the annals of family history - a photo and video of the baby, which is only 9 weeks old by the embryonic term, will take a special place of honor in this story.
If a woman was registered a few weeks ago, she will not be prescribed additional tests - the main examination is over, there is still time until the next one. Those who come to the antenatal clinic for the first time this week will be assigned a whole list of tests in addition to screening. It will include blood and urine tests, determination of blood type and Rh factor, HIV status, hepatitis and syphilis, analysis for antibodies to common and latent infections, a smear of vaginal secretions for microflora.
Recommendations for expectant mothers
Sex
Active sex life is allowed, but from this week on, sex should be done with great care, choosing positions in which deep penetration will not occur. The uterus is already large enough for the woman to feel it. She does not interfere with having sex, but somewhat restricts the woman, not allowing her to completely relax physically and emotionally.
The question of whether it is possible to have an active sex life should be addressed to the attending physician. If there are no contraindications, he will give the go-ahead and even inform that sex is very useful for a pregnant woman and her psychological state.
If there are complications of pregnancy, threat, weakness of the cervix, abnormal placenta previa, then a ban may be imposed on sexual relations.
Nutrition
A woman who does not gain weight until 12 weeks is not such a rare occurrence, as are women who already have time to gain extra pounds by this time. Much depends on how the expectant mother organizes her meals. Now it is important to adhere to the principles of a healthy diet, adding to the menu a large amount of fresh vegetables, fruits, lean meat, milk and cottage cheese, as well as herbs. Such a diet will provide the baby with the necessary amount of calcium, right now the baby needs it most of all.
Proper nutrition will eliminate constipation, which now torments every second expectant mother, reduce heartburn and unpleasant accumulation of gas in the intestines. You need to eat at least 5-6 times a day in small portions.
By the end of the first trimester, you should completely eliminate the intake of carbonated drinks, large amounts of salt, sugar, fried and fatty foods.
Shopping
Mom this week should get bras with wide straps. Now her breasts need extra support. You should also pay attention to the choice of panties. They should not be tight and narrow, squeeze the perineum, and also press with an elastic band on the growing belly. A woman should buy clothes for herself from natural fabrics, regardless of what season of the year. Sweating increases during this period, the skin should be able to fully "breathe".
If you managed to determine the gender, you can already start shopping or choosing them for your baby. The future baby can already choose a crib, a stroller, a discharge kit. Many today do not adhere to superstitions and do not believe in bad omens, especially women who are about to give birth to a second or third child. They know exactly how physically difficult and difficult it is to go shopping for a baby just before giving birth.
Medicines
Despite the fact that the embryonic period is in the past, a woman should be careful about medications. If something hurts, before you take a pill, you should check with your doctor, at least by phone, you can or cannot take this or that medicine now. A cold at 12 weeks is no longer as dangerous as it used to be... Even an increase in body temperature will not affect the baby as destructively as a month earlier.
Ideally, you need to take care of yourself, avoid places where you can get infected, make sure that the body has enough vitamins and minerals. But if the disease does happen now, there is no need to panic.
It is better to treat teeth after a couple of weeks, since pain relievers that are used for anesthesia are still contraindicated.
Reviews of expectant mothers
Some expectant mothers this obstetric week are indignant and perplexed - the trimester is over, but toxicosis does not go away! There is no need to worry, for some the symptoms of toxicosis begin to recede only after 13-14 weeks. Screening, which so scares many, causes a lot of discussion, mainly related to the issues of decoding the result. Some women declare their intention not to go to the screening test, because they do not want to be nervous about the result.
Screening is not an obligation, but it is still advisable to go through it. And in order not to get nervous, you just need to treat it like another donation of blood or urine. The perception of this diagnosis as the most common analysis will allow not to dramatize the situation.
For what happens at 12 weeks of gestation, see the next video.
