Baby
This week your baby is now almost the size of a lime, weighing almost an ounce and measuring almost 2.5 inches!
Her eyes are now positioned in the front of her face and her ears
are in position on the sides of her head. Most notably, reflexes have
begun! Your little one's mouth is making sucking movements, her eye
muscles clench, her toes curl, fingers and hands open and close, and
she may even begin to suck her thumb. Though she is still too little
for you to feel, she can feel you. If you were to apply pressure to
your abdomen, your baby would squirm in response!
Her brain has been developing rapidly too. Nerve cells are
multiplying, and synapses, or the small junctions across which nerve
impulses pass from one nerve cell to another, are forming at an
impressive speed. A little lower, her intestines are developing and
will soon be moving into her stomach cavity. It's incredible to think
how far she has come in just a few short months!
Mom
You may begin to notice
some skin changes by week 12, like darker freckles, more freckles, or
even a dark line about a centimeter across, that runs vertical down
your stomach. This line is called the Linea Nigra (Latin for "black
line").
These changes in pigmentation are caused by pregnancy hormones,
which increase the production of the pigment melanin. Women with darker
pigmentation are more likely than women with fair skin to develop this
line. Among women who do develop it, it's reported that it usually
disappears within just a few months after birth.
Many women at this stage in their
pregnancy report experiencing heartburn. If you have experienced it
before pregnancy, it may be even worse now. Again, hormones are the
culprit. Increases in the hormone progesterone, produced by the
placenta, relax the valves that separate the esophagus from the
stomach, allowing gastric acid to sneak back up the pipe, which
ultimately causes that uncomfortable burning sensation.
Some tips to manage heartburn...
- Stay upright: Be sure to sit up for at least 30 minutes
before bed. At bedtime, try placing a bed sheet or extra pillow under
your mattress to elevate your head above your stomach while you sleep.
- Sip drinks slowly: Don't gulp, no matter how thirsty you are and avoid drinking with meals, this increases the volume of your stomach.
- Avoid big meals before bedtime. In fact, try grazing, or
eating smaller meals throughout the day. You should also avoid
problematic foods, like carbonated beverages and greasy meals.
Have a linea nigra? Here's a fun old-wives tale associated with
the linea negra...
If the linea negra runs to the navel, it's a girl, but if it goes all
the way up to the bottom of your sternum, you will have a boy!
