Couple holding hands in the shape of a heart over a pregnant belly

The Third Month of Pregnancy

The Third Month of Pregnancy

Pregnancy
Article
Apr 24, 2023
3 mins

Your pregnancy: weeks 9-13. Your baby bump may not be showing, but you’ll begin to feel that your baby is there. Around the 12th week many will have their first ultrasound where you can see your little one for the first time.

9 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby’s facial features take shape.

By now, your baby’s heart is beating inside you and your little bundle of joy is now called a foetus. The heart has divided into four chambers and valves have started to form. Your tiny one is 2 cm long and weighs just a few grams and has started looking more and more human. They already have essential body parts, even though they will go through plenty of changes in the coming months. The external sex organs are developing but won’t be noticeable for a few more weeks. Their eyes are fully formed but they won’t open until 28 weeks. Tiny earlobes, a mouth, a nose and nostrils are more distinct now.

Find out more about your ninth week of pregnancy.

10 Weeks Pregnant

The kidneys, intestines, brain and liver are now in place.

Your baby’s kidneys, intestines, brain, liver and other organs start functioning in the coming weeks. Your baby can bend its tiny limbs – their hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over the heart. Their feet may be long enough to meet in front of their body. Your baby will develop tiny teeth buds beneath the gums and the ‘tail’ is completely gone. The spine outline is clearly visible through translucent skin and nerves are beginning to stretch out from the spinal cord.

Find out more about your tenth week of pregnancy.

11 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby is perfectly proportionate and seems to be fully formed now.

Now almost 5cm long, your baby continues to move as it grows. The movements at this stage are quite effortless and smooth. Some bones will now start to harden, and their tiny wrists will soon open and close.

Find out more about your eleventh week of pregnancy.

12 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby’s movements will get more pronounced now.

Their fingers will begin to open and close, toes will curl, eye muscles will clench and the mouth will make sucking movements. Nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and connections are forming in the brain. Your baby’s face looks unquestionably human – their eyes have moved from the sides to the front of the head and the ears are also in position. Your baby is about 6cm long and weighs about 18 grams.

Find out more about your twelfth week of pregnancy.

13 Weeks Pregnant – The start of your second trimester

Your baby has its own distinct fingerprints already!

Fingerprints have started forming on your baby’s tiny fingertips. Your baby is around 8cm long now and veins and organs are clearly visible through their translucent skin. Their body now begins to grow in proportion to the head, which until now was about half their body size.

Find out more about your thirteenth week of pregnancy.

Here's what to expect in the fourth month of pregnancy.

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