Health Information and Tools >  Week 12 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside

Main Content

Week 12 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside

Overview

By week 12, you can now hear a fetus's heartbeat with a Doppler heart monitor.

Wondering what a fetus looks like at 12 weeks? It is now about the size of a lime.

How a fetus is changing

Here are some important changes that happen around this time.

  • By 10 weeks of pregnancy, an embryo has nearly all of the body structures that adults have. Its brain is now more complex. After this point, we call it a fetus.
  • During this month, the fetus's limbs, hands, and head start to move. Eyelids cover their eyes, and their fingernails are starting to grow.
  • At the end of this month, fetuses start a big weight gain.

Credits

Current as of: November 9, 2022

Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board:
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
William Gilbert MD - Maternal and Fetal Medicine

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.