What’s happening to the mother in week 9 to 12?
Your hormones are changing, and both thoughts and feelings can fluctuate greatly. You may feel anything from great joy to worry and grief. It is not uncommon to worry about having a miscarriage, your relationship with your partner, changes to your body, or your work and life situation.
The mucous membranes are also more fragile than usual. This may result in some bleeding from the gums when you brush your teeth, nosebleeds or minor bleeding from your vagina during sexual intercourse. This isn’t dangerous.
Your womb is continuing to grow, but it is still positioned safely down in the pelvis. Your pregnancy will therefore not necessarily be apparent to anyone else. If you have been pregnant before, your stomach may become visible earlier.
If you have experienced gestational nausea, you might find that this issue gradually disappears during this period. A few women are still nauseous after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Development of the fetus
By this stage, the foetus is usually about 5 cm long and weighs around 16 grams.
The foetus is now beginning to look more like a human being. Structures are in place for all the organs and these will continue to grow and mature for many weeks to come. The brain is clearly visible and the structure of the heart, with its four chambers, has largely been formed. However, both the brain and the heart will continue to develop.
The foetus can move around inside the uterus, but it will still be a while before you can feel it moving.