All about baby
At this stage all the major body organs have formed and the most critical stage of development has passed. The immature lungs are beginning to function on their own, as are the liver, intestines and brain. It’s not yet possible to tell the gender of your baby from a scan, as the sex organs aren't clearly visible externally.
Your baby is starting to develop hair, irises, fingernails and toenails. Although its head is still nearly the same size as its body, head growth begins to slow. Its transparent skin is covered with a layer of fine hairs.
Movements are now getting more sophisticated – your baby can kick, punch and arch its body, flex its fingers, form a fist and wrinkle its forehead (aw!). It can also suck and swallow and is able to move freely in the surrounding liquid. The intestines are already able to process the liquid that the baby is swallowing.
- Measures about 5cm crown to rump
- Weighs in at around 8 grams
Over to you
Are you loving your new cleavage? Bigger boobs can be one of the more welcome signs of pregnancy - enjoy before your tummy starts vying for most of the attention! If you were amply endowed to begin with though, your ever-expanding bustline might not be such a cause for celebration.
In the first trimester of your pregnancy, your breasts may tingle, ache or feel full. This is because hormones are making your breasts change to prepare them for nursing. You may discover it's no longer comfortable to sleep on your stomach.
As your pregnancy progresses, your breasts will continue to get bigger and your nipples will enlarge and become more erect when touched or chilled. Your ribcage will also grow wider to make room for your growing baby and to help your lungs breathe for two.
The nipples and the areola (the coloured area of skin around them) will expand and darken in colour as your pregnancy progresses. If your nipples were pink to begin with, they may become purple, and if they were beige they'll darken to a deep coffee brown. The Montgomery's glands - the sweat glands on the areola - may become more obvious and you may notice more pronounced veins.
As early as 12-14 weeks of pregnancy your nipples may leak a creamy fluid when you squeeze them. It can be white or slightly yellowish-orange. This is colostrum - a protein-rich form of pre-milk that will give your baby valuable nourishment after birth.
In the know
Sagging boobs are a fact of life for most women sooner or later - even if they've never been pregnant. If you're medium to large-sized, your breasts will probably travel further south as your pregnancy progresses. There's no good solution for making them perky again, but a well-designed (and comfortable) bra can help to protect supportive ligaments inside your chest from getting over-stretched. Sleeping in a sports bra may also help.
You'll probably find that you need to graduate to roomier bras more than once during pregnancy. Qualities to look for in a good bra are stretchy, absorbent fabric, comfortable straps that don't dig into your shoulders and a panel in the back that can be let out so the bra can grow with you. If possible, avoid underwiring that puts pressure on tender breast tissue, or, for that matter, any bra that causes discomfort.
Fortunately, most maternity stores and on-line bra companies now cater for wider back measurements and larger cup sizes. Do some shopping around to find the style that really works for you.
Many creams on the market claim to minimise sagging and help prevent stretch marks. Whether or not this is true, moisturising will make your skin feel softer and relieve the itchiness caused by stretching.
Go to next week's article: Pregnancy Week 12
Please note that the contents of this section are for information only and are not intended as medical advice or as a substitute to your doctor's advice. For medical care and advice, you should consult your doctor on a regular basis. If you have any problem which concerns you, consult your doctor immediately.
