Week 12: The second trimester is in sight

Your baby is about the size of a kiwifruit now, and wonderfully active: fingers will curl if touched, the kidneys are producing urine, the intestines have tucked neatly into the abdomen, and tiny vocal cords are forming.

This is a milestone week for many. The uterus is rising up out of the pelvis, so you might notice the very first hint of a lower-belly roundness, and your energy may be lifting as you head toward the second trimester. The risk of miscarriage also drops significantly from around now — which is why a lot of people choose this point to share their news more widely. There’s no rule about when, though; do what feels right for you.

There’s a lot going on developmentally. Your baby’s face is looking more recognisably human, with eyes and ears moving into position, and they can already make tiny movements — opening and closing their fists, curling their toes, even sucking and swallowing — though you won’t feel any of it yet. Many of their organs are now formed and simply growing and maturing from here.

For you, the end of the first trimester is a relief for many: the worst of the nausea and exhaustion often starts to ease over the next week or two — though not for everyone, and that’s okay too.

A couple of practical things. If you’re having the first-trimester screen, the nuchal translucency scan must be done by 13 weeks 6 days, so don’t leave it much longer. If you’re weighing up screening more broadly, it’s worth knowing your options — the combined first trimester screening (that scan plus a blood test) or a non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT), a blood test that can be done from around 10 weeks. Both are optional, and your GP or midwife can explain what each does and doesn’t tell you. It’s also a good moment to lock in your care for the months ahead — public or private, hospital or birth centre — and, if you’re going public, to get your referral in and register with the antenatal clinic.

Reaching the second trimester is a real milestone, and for many people it brings a welcome lift in energy and mood — a good window to do the things that have felt impossible, from cooking properly again to gentle exercise. It’s also a natural time to start sharing the news more widely if you’d like, and to bring your partner deeper into the journey: coming to appointments, feeling part of the decisions, and looking ahead together. As always, there’s no rule about timing — only what feels right for you.

Keep up the gentle food-safety habits you’ve started, too. Bloom’s Food Safety section is there whenever you want to quickly check whether something’s okay.