Week 12 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside

British Columbia Specific Information

If you have any questions or concerns about pregnancy, labour and baby care speak with your health care provider or contact HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse anytime of the day or night, any day of the year, or a pharmacist from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

You can also read Baby's Best Chance (PDF 14.88 MB), a parent’s handbook on pregnancy and baby care.

You can also access SmartParent, a Canadian prenatal education program that provides trustworthy educational text messages to help guide you through the weeks of your pregnancy.

On this page:

Overview

By week 12, you can now hear your baby's heartbeat with a Doppler heart monitor.

Wondering what your baby looks like at 12 weeks? Your baby is now about the size of a lime. Average baby length is 6 cm (2.4 in.).

How your baby is changing

Here are some important changes that happen around this time.

  • By 10 weeks of pregnancy, fetuses have nearly all of the body structures that adults have. Their brain is now more complex.
  • During this month, the fetus's limbs, hands, and head start to move. Eyelids cover their eyes, and their fingernails are starting to grow.
  • At the end of this month, fetuses start a big weight gain.

Credits

Adaptation Date: 9/12/2023

Adapted By: HealthLink BC

Adaptation Reviewed By: HealthLink BC