This is an automatically translated article.
The article is professionally consulted by Doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
When the 12-week fetus is the first trimester of pregnancy is completed, preparation for a new cycle of pregnancy begins. At this time, there are many issues that pregnant women need to pay attention to.
1. Some changes in the mother's body at 12 weeks pregnant
1.1. How does 12 weeks pregnant develop? A 12-week-old fetus is usually about 5.3cm long and weighs about 28 grams. The baby has a full range of parts and organ systems and will continue to develop rapidly in the coming time.
At this time, the baby's body is gradually more complete, the bones develop strong, the nervous system develops significantly inside the fetal brain. The fetal heart rate is fast, possibly twice the mother's heart rate. Fingers and toes separate, fingerprints appear. The baby's digestive system is relatively complete, and the kidneys have begun to work. More specifically, the 12-week-old fetus has formed activities such as pinching fingers and toes. The mouth has a sucking reflex even though the eyes are not open yet.
Trắc nghiệm: Bạn có hiểu đúng về dấu hiệu mang thai sớm?
Các dấu hiệu mang thai sớm không phải chỉ mỗi trễ kinh mà còn có rất nhiều dấu hiệu khác như xuất huyết âm đạo, ngực căng tức,… Điểm xem bạn biết được bao nhiêu dấu hiệu mang thai sớm thông qua bài trắc nghiệm này nhé!
1.2. Changes in the mother's body at 12 weeks of pregnancy During this time, the hormones in the mother's body have begun to stabilize, so there are no more morning sickness symptoms, so it will be more comfortable than before, making the mother happy.
The appearance of the pregnant mother also becomes balanced, full and the belly is bigger when the fetus is 12 weeks old. Especially in mothers with multiple pregnancies, the belly will be many times bigger than the average person. Vaginal area is always wet due to vaginal discharge, this is a normal physiological condition in pregnant mothers.
Mothers will also experience heartburn during pregnancy because the endocrine system secretes the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the septum between the stomach and esophagus, causing acid in the stomach to back up, causing an uncomfortable feeling of heat.
This is also the time when the pregnant mother's body has started to produce colostrum.
1.3. Changes in mother's psychology at 12 weeks pregnant When you are 12 weeks pregnant, you will feel stress when your body changes, especially when your belly is gradually growing. Feelings of bewilderment and anxiety appear with questions such as what my body looks like, is it any different from before pregnancy, will it be possible to get back in shape after giving birth?...
However, the mother can still feel much more comfortable because during this stage the risk of miscarriage is not as high as before. For those who are pregnant for the first time, the mother will feel nervous and anxious before the pregnancy is still quite long. Mother's psychology will be more comfortable when there is sharing from the family, especially the husband. When emotions are balanced, pregnant women will feel excited with their motherly instincts.
2. Some notes when 12 weeks pregnant
Although the fetus has finished the first trimester, there is still a risk of miscarriage, although at a low rate. Therefore, mothers need to pay attention to some of the following signs:
Back pain with increasing severity from mild to severe. If pain occurs on either side of the pelvis, this is a sign of concern because an ectopic pregnancy is possible. Persistent abnormal bleeding occurs. Especially if there are uterine contractions occurring with a frequency of about every 5 to 20 minutes, pregnant women need to immediately visit a specialist or medical facility as soon as possible. The fetus is 12 weeks old and then is the most important period for the fetus to develop and complete. This is also the period when the mother needs to be supplemented with nutrients to help the comprehensive development of mother and baby.
3. What does the 12th week antenatal checkup include?
3.1. Fetal ultrasound Week 12 is the golden time to conduct an ultrasound to measure the nuchal translucency of the baby. Nuchal translucency measurement is performing an examination of the nape of the fetus by fetal ultrasound at 11-14 weeks of pregnancy to help diagnose the earliest risk of Down syndrome. Based on the fetal structure, there is a layer of fluid under the skin on the back of the neck. For babies at risk for Down's Syndrome, this fluid intake will be much higher. If the amount of this fluid is within normal limits, pregnant women do not need to be too worried. However, if the threshold is exceeded, your doctor will order you to do a few more tests to get more accurate results.
Therefore, the 12th week ultrasound is one of the three important landmarks that experts recommend to perform. At this time, your baby is still quite small, so a high-end 4D ultrasound system such as the GE Voluson E10 will play an extremely important role in helping doctors at Vinmec detect more than 95% of anomalies during pregnancy. this paragraph. Packed with the latest technologies, the GE Voluson E10 enables enhanced image quality and penetration for outstanding high-resolution images and easy operation.
3.2. Mother's blood group test and complete blood count This method helps to determine the mother's blood group and related Rh factor to detect blood group incompatibility early (if any). Maternal incompatibility is a condition when a mother has Rh negative blood type but carries a child with Rh positive blood group leading to hemolysis in the newborn baby (Rhesus disease). The mother's body then produces anti-D antibodies to fight the baby's Rh-positive red blood cells from entering her body's systems. When the next baby is Rh positive, pre-existing anti-D antibodies cross the placenta and attack the baby's red blood cells, causing hemolytic disease. Newborn babies with hemolytic disease, if not diagnosed and treated promptly, will be life-threatening.
3.3. Diagnostic tests for diseases such as hepatitis B, HIV These are diseases that are transmitted through mother-to-child transmission, early testing to detect and take reasonable restrictive measures. Especially in the process of labor, it is necessary to continue to cooperate well between the doctors to make the delivery convenient and safe.
3.4. Blood sugar test A blood sugar test, also known as a gestational glucose test, helps to check the mother's blood sugar. If you have diabetes, you can experience many complications during pregnancy and delivery.
3.5. Urine test Urine test at 12 weeks pregnant to detect common complications in pregnancy such as urinary tract infection, risk of pre-eclampsia, kidney risks or carbohydrate deficiency..
3.6. Double Test or Triple Test When pregnant women are not screened in the early stages, they will do Triple test, based on Gamma technology to calculate the risk of Down syndrome combining test values with maternal age, gestational age, weight heavy mother. This test shows that the fetus is at risk for a genetic chromosomal disorder and may require additional testing such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. Triple test does not evaluate all types of malformations but only some defects (such as split spine, Down and anencephaly).
These are basic tests done at 12 weeks of pregnancy. There are also a number of other tests such as blood sugar, liver enzymes, kidney function tests, etc. At Vinmec International General Hospitals, there is a 12-week maternity package across the country. and your baby from 12 weeks until the baby is born healthy. With this service package, mothers will be examined and taken care of before, during and after birth. With a team of highly qualified obstetricians and gynecologists, modern medical techniques, and maternity packages at Vinmec can detect maternity problems in time, help mothers take care of their health and protect their health. protect baby.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
