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week 12 of pregnancy: what's going on inside

overview

by week 12, you can now hear a fetus's heartbeat with a doppler heart monitor.

wondering what a fetus looks like at 12 weeks? it is now about the size of a lime.

how a fetus is changing

here are some important changes that happen around this time.

  • by 10 weeks of pregnancy, an embryo has nearly all of the body structures that adults have. its brain is now more complex. after this point, we call it a fetus.
  • 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

current as of: july 10, 2023

author: healthwise staff
clinical review board
all healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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