Pregnancy is truly a life-changing journey. One of the best things about modern science is that you can keep a tab on what to expect each week throughout your pregnancy, and week 9 is one of the highlights of your pregnancy. This is the period when your baby completes the embryo stage and develops into a fetus. This is also the stage where your baby starts to look more like a person and more like a pea in an apple!
Baby Growth
Your baby should now be the size of a grape or olive, let`s say 2.3 cm in length, but weighs only 2 grams!
However, 9 weeks of pregnancy is a milestone because the baby is no longer an embryo but a fetus. In the embryonic stage, the main organs of the brain and heart are formed. But at the fetal stage, organs are forming and are now developing! Other features that are now starting to form are the eyes (no eyelids), muscles, and nerves.
Baby Size
When you are 9 weeks pregnant, baby height is almost no taller than 2.3 cm. Although important organs and body are starting to form, your baby is still as big as a cherry and still weighs less than two grams.
Common Body Changes
As your baby is graduating from an embryo to a fetus, many things will change during pregnancy for you also.
Some women may now experience a slight thickening of the waist. Your breasts will continue to feel sore and tender. Your weight will not change much, but some women may experience weight loss due to a tendency to nausea/vomiting.
Pregnancy Symptoms
Common symptoms at week 9 of pregnancy include:
- Mood shifts: The rise and fall of hormone levels during pregnancy can often cause unwanted mood swings.
- Nasal congestion: High progesterone levels cause nasal congestion by causing swelling in the nasal passage.
- Mild bloating: Progesterone reduces an individual`s digestive abilities, which can make her feel bloated.
Abdomen
Your abdomen at 9 weeks pregnant probably won`t look much different than when you weren`t pregnant. Unless you gain significant weight, you will not look pregnant. Surely you will notice that your waist may have thickened a bit. In fact, your belly should become tighter as your uterus starts to swell for obvious reasons. Many women may also experience weight loss. This is quite common as you may have the urge to vomit anything that goes into your stomach.
In the 9th week of pregnancy, baby movements begin gradually. Because your baby`s tiny muscles are starting to form. The baby can now move its body, arms and legs.
These movements can be selected in the ultrasound image of the 9-week-old baby. But there`s still time before you can feel its tiny kicks and punches. But this month you can hear your tiny baby`s tiny heartbeat from the Doppler device.
Ultrasound
This phase is probably one of the most rewarding times of your pregnancy. You will be sent for an ultrasound where you can hear your little baby`s heartbeat! This ultrasound also contains important information such as the condition of the fetus, the uterus and most importantly the duration of your pregnancy.
If all goes well, your baby`s heart rate will be around 130-150 beats per minute. Also, the ultrasound will determine your baby`s mobility. However, you probably won`t feel your baby`s movements in your tummy for a long time.
What to Eat?
There are two reactions that 9 weeks pregnant women usually have; extreme nausea or the urge to eat junk food. The latter is generally less common. In fact, some of the expectant mothers can expect some weight loss due to the illness they are currently experiencing.
As long as the ninth week pregnancy meal continues, you should divide your meals into 6 times a day, as eating more at once can make you vomit. Follow a normal diet but include proteins, nutritious vegetables and fruits. Make sure to eat nuts as a snack, as they are a good source of protein.
Choose healthy foods that don`t harm you. It`s best not to eat too many sugary foods or strong-smelling foods as they make you nauseous even more.
Tips and Care
Here are a few tips to keep in mind at this stage:
- Eat nutritious foods at appropriate intervals to maintain a good blood sugar level.
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
- Meditate or do some yoga to counteract the ill effects of excess hormones.
Don’ts
- Do not expose yourself to risky environments such as radiation as it may affect the baby.
- Heavy exercise routines should be stopped as they can cause dehydration or alter blood flow from the uterus.
- Cut down significantly on caffeine as it can cause insomnia.
- Raw dairy products and unpasteurized milk should not be used, as the microbes in milk can cause infections or food poisoning.
Shopping
The first thing you should shop for now is a comfortable bra. Since your breasts are already sensitive and will expand more, a supportive bra will help keep you comfortable.
If you haven`t already, be sure to buy good books on pregnancy and parenting as they will keep you away from nausea and fatigue. For most women, this is also the stage when you start shopping for loose clothing, new pants, or a belt extender.
Make sure you get a comfortable body pillow as you need a lot of rest and your current situation can be uncomfortable at times. Oral care is also important, so get nicer toothbrushes and mouthwashes as your mouth will tend to be drier.
Your skin will definitely feel drier and this is why buying a good moisturizer is a must. If you are already sensitive to scent, try to find products without scent.
The 9th week of pregnancy is a time when you think your baby has a mind of its own. Although it is still not obvious from the outside that you are pregnant, you are likely to experience morning sickness, headaches, and other pregnancy-related symptoms. Know that these happen as your body is pumping hormones to make sure you have a baby friendly environment, peace of mind.