# 12 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Size, Symptoms &amp; What to Expect | Clever Mum

> 12 weeks pregnant — your baby is the size of a plum. What's developing, what you might feel, and what to focus on this week.

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First trimester

 
#  12 weeks pregnant

 

Your baby is about the size of a plum 

   [ CP ](/authors/parenting-desk/)  
 By [ Clever Mum Parenting ](/authors/parenting-desk/) · Parenting guides 

 
 Published 11 July 2026   ·   Updated 9 September 2026   

      
 
Quick answer — What happens at 12 weeks pregnant? 

 
At 12 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a plum, roughly 5.4cm and around 14g. Reflexes are developing — the baby will move if your bump is prodded, though you won't feel it.

    
Who should skip this

 
Skip this page if you need personal medical advice — it is general NHS-aligned information, not a substitute for your midwife. If your baby's movements slow or change, call your maternity unit, not a website.

  
## What should you ask at the dating scan?

Check the appointment letter for preparation instructions and write down your questions beforehand. Useful topics include your estimated due date, what the scan can assess and which screening choices are being offered. A dating scan is not a guarantee that every condition can be detected.

The NHS week-12 guide describes a baby roughly 5.4cm from head to bottom. This is an approximate description, not a target measurement for judging your own scan. Symptoms may be easing, persisting or changing; compare concerns with your maternity team rather than another person’s timeline.

After the appointment, keep any dates and contact details together. Decide who you want to tell about the pregnancy in your own time. If an explanation is unclear, ask the team to go through it again before making a screening decision.

### Evidence and scope

Published sources consulted on 9 September 2026. [NHS: week 12](https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/pregnancy/week-by-week-guide-to-pregnancy/1st-trimester/week-12/).

  
## How big is the baby at 12 weeks pregnant?

 
At 12 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a plum, roughly 5.4cm and around 14g. Reflexes are developing — the baby will move if your bump is prodded, though you won't feel it. The digestive system is starting to practise contractions, and the kidneys produce urine. These are typical averages — your midwife's measurements are the ones that matter for your pregnancy.

 
## What might you feel at 12 weeks?

 
Most people at 12 weeks notice some mix of the symptoms below — and plenty notice none of them. You are nearing the end of the first trimester. Symptoms may begin easing, although this varies and tiredness or nausea can continue. None of this is a diagnosis; contact your midwife if something worries you.

  
### Common symptoms this week

 
 * Energy beginning to return
* Nausea easing
* A hint of a bump for some
 
 

Symptom lists are typical, never exhaustive — and having none of them is normal too.

  
## What should you do at 12 weeks pregnant?

 
The useful job this week is practical, not medical. Many people choose to share their news after the 12-week scan — but there's no right time. Do what feels right for you. Pair it with the NHS week-by-week guide if you want a second description of the same stage.

    
### Week 12 checklist

 
 * Attend your dating scan — your due date is set from the baby's measurements
* Decide who to tell and when — after the scan is common but there's no rule
* Photograph your scan picture rather than laminating it (heat fades them)
 
   
## What else is useful at 12 weeks?

 

Use the week page for size and symptoms; use the guides below for the decisions that
                actually sit in this window — pay, packing, car seats, labour signs.

 
 *  [Due date calculator](/tools/due-date-calculator/) 
*  [Trimester to-do list](/pregnancy/pregnancy-to-do-list-by-trimester/) 
*  [Maternity leave and pay](/pregnancy/maternity-leave-and-pay-uk/) 
 
    
## 12 weeks pregnant: common questions

    Is the 12-week scan the one that dates the pregnancy?   
 Yes — the dating scan (11–14 weeks) measures the baby crown to rump and sets your official due date, which usually replaces the date calculated from your last period. It also checks the heartbeat, detects twins and includes optional combined screening. 

   How big is my baby at 12 weeks pregnant?   
 At 12 weeks, your baby is approximately the size of a plum, about 5.4cm and around 14g. These are approximate averages — every baby grows at its own pace. 

   What's happening at 12 weeks pregnant?   
 Reflexes are developing — the baby will move if your bump is prodded, though you won't feel it. The digestive system is starting to practise contractions, and the kidneys produce urine. For you: you are nearing the end of the first trimester. symptoms may begin easing, although this varies and tiredness or nausea can continue. 

   Which trimester is 12 weeks?   
 12 weeks pregnant is in the first trimester. The first trimester runs to the end of week 12, the second from weeks 13 to 26, and the third from week 27 to birth. 

     
## 
Sources & further reading

 
 *  [ You and your baby at 4 to 40 weeks pregnant ](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/)  — NHS 
*  [ Your baby's movements ](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/your-babys-movements/)  — NHS 
 
   [← 11 weeks](/pregnancy/week/11/) [All weeks](/pregnancy/week/) [13 weeks →](/pregnancy/week/13/)  

This is general information, not medical advice — every pregnancy is different. For
          anything that worries you, and for all your antenatal care, speak to your midwife or GP.
          If your baby's movements ever slow down or change, contact your maternity unit
          immediately, day or night. Reviewed August 2026.

    
## Week 12 at a glance

   Trimester First trimester  Baby size plum  Approx length ~5.4cm  Approx weight ~14g  Weeks to go 28 (to 40)     
Work out your dates

 

Not sure how many weeks you are? Our
[due date calculator](/tools/due-date-calculator/)
maps your weeks and trimester dates from your last period.