Weeks 8 – 12
Wednesday, September 15th, 2010Babies
By week 8 each baby is about 2cm long (crown to rump) and weighs approximately 2 grams but by week 12 each baby will be about 7cm long and weigh up to 20 grams . During this time the babies begin to make tiny movements and the fingers and toes form on their hands and feet, with finger and toe nails beginning to form by week 12. They start to look more human-like although their heads are still grossly out of proportion to their bodies, accounting for half their body length. Their eyes move towards the centre of their faces and their ears gradually move up from the neck to the sides of their heads.
Week 12 marks the end of the embryonic period and from now on each baby is called a foetus.
Mum
During this time of your pregnancy you will probably continue to notice changes within your appetite. You may be noticing more cravings or aversions to certain types of foods or smells. Some researchers believe that a craving is the body’s way of trying to obtain something that you are lacking. Mild anaemia is not uncommon during pregnancy, especially when carrying twins. This is because your body’s blood supply has increased dramatically to support the growing babies and your red-cell production has decreased. Many women report a change in sexual desire, usually a decrease, during the first trimester. You may also notice some changes in your complexion. Some women may experience the pregnancy “glow” whilst others suffer from spots and increased oiliness during this stage of pregnancy. Bleeding gums and nosebleeds are other common complaints throughout pregnancy and may start during the first trimester. These should not be a cause for concern.