Your baby’s development
Your baby now measures 4cm and will grow as much in the coming week as they did in the previous eleven! The placenta compensates for this rapid growth by developing more blood vessels to provide the baby with even more nourishment.
Your baby’s head is now half their body length which shows how much brain growth is going on. The brain, lungs, liver and kidneys, although minute, have all formed. They can suck, swallow and even yawn! Your baby can also swallow amniotic fluid and urinate (which isn’t a problem in the womb as your baby’s urine adds to this vital fluid). Now that their fingers have separated, they will soon be able to open and close their fists and grasp things in the womb. All their organ systems are functioning but will keep developing and maturing in preparation for birth.
You & your body
A highly important vitamin supplement in pregnancy is folate, otherwise known as folic acid, which has a very important role in your baby’s growth, so do continue taking this up to at least week 12.