Your Baby During the First Trimester

How long is the first trimester?

The first trimester begins on the first day of your last period and lasts for 12 weeks. During this time your baby is working very hard and grows from the size of a poppy seed to as big a lime by week 12!

Here are a few of the amazing highlights happening in your body

· Baby’s bones 

At 6 weeks, your baby’s bones grow and arms, legs, hands, and feet begin to form. By the end of this week, your baby will have tripled in size. Your baby’s heart finds its rhythm. At this point if you choose to have an early pregnancy scan, you would be able to see your baby’s fluttering heartbeat.

· Baby’s organs

At week 8, your baby’s intestines begin to form. At week 10, your baby’s kidneys start to produce urine! By the end of week 12 most organs such as kidneys, genitals, heart and lungs have formed.

· Baby’s facial features

At 8 weeks, your baby's ears and eyes begin to develop. The upper lip and nose have formed. By week 12 your baby’s face is distinct and their eyelids and ears are fully formed. At this stage you can see tiny details on your scan such as baby’s nose!

· Baby’s movement

Although you won’t be able to feel it just yet, at 8 weeks your baby’s brain can make their limbs wiggle. By week 10 your baby’s teeny toes and fingers become visible (they will appear webbed). At 12 weeks your baby is stretching, kicking, and wiggling.

 · Baby’s gender

At around 9 weeks, your baby’s reproductive organs have formed which means you can now wonder whether there’s a little baby boy or a tiny baby girl growing inside you! Although it is too soon to visually confirm the sex of the baby, it is possible to learn this information via a blood test!