Week 9
Q: Wondering what’s up with your body, your baby and your life this week? …
A: Making a baby is hard work!
Providing a place for a baby to grow is hard and you could find yourself even more tired now then before. Your breasts may feel fuller or heavier now and may even be a bit sensitive. Continue with the supportive bra (such as a jogging bra) to help alleviate the discomfort. While the headaches may subside a bit, you may find yourself dizzy at times. If you do, be sure to walk close to a railing, sit up slowly, and don’t go from one position to another quickly (such as sitting to standing, lying down to sitting, etc.) to reduce the chance of dizziness. In addition, you may find yourself with a stuffy nose or spontaneous nosebleeds. Don’t worry or be alarmed. Nasal congestion and nosebleeds are fairly common during pregnancy. One thing you may try is using a vaporizer or humidifier to help reduce these symptoms.
How your life’s changing:
-You still may not look pregnant even if your waist is thickening a bit. You probably feel pregnant, though.
-Don’t worry if you cry at commercial or seemingly for no reason. These are simply hormones. The good news is that as the placenta matures and begins to take over production of some of these hormones, you’ll feel better.
-You may be surprised-and concerned-if your doctor prescribes antibiotics to treat a condition such as a simple gum or bladder infection. But infection anywhere in the body may lead to preterm labor.
Q: What’s the best time for you to announce?
A: Deciding when and with whom to share your news is a very personal decision, but there are a few things to consider. Keeping your pregnancy a secret for a while will give you and your partner some time to absorb the idea privately. While some women wait until the risk of miscarriage drops markedly (at 14 weeks), others spill the beans right away because they’d tell their friends anyway if they miscarried. Telling co-workers is trickier. You may find that your employer expects the news to be followed by the details of your maternity leave, but you may not have decided yet when to return to work—if ever.
Your Baby
This week marks the end of the embryonic and the placenta is developing as well. Your baby looks like a tiny human now and is approximately 13 - 17 mm or about 0.51 - 0.66 inches in length (about the size of a raspberry). At this point, he weighs approximately 1 - 1.5 grams.
Toe rays are present as the toes begin to form. Gonads have become testes (for boys) or ovaries (for girls). Baby will move away if touched through the uterine wall, and can spontaneously move as well. Ossification (hardening) of the bones may begin. S/he have elbows! Yes ! The skeleton has begun to form as cartilage and bones take shape. The baby’s intestine has begun to move out of the umbilical cord into the baby’s abdomen and your baby is now taking his first few drinks - he’s drinking amniotic fluid. Remember, a little of what you eat and drink ends up in the amniotic fluid so, it can end up in him. Reflex muscle movements continue and now your baby will move away if touched through the uterine wall. Other changes in your baby are the heart valve formation, the retina formation, and the tip of the nose becoming visible.
Week 10
There’s some good news this week - your morning sickness may begin to ease and give you some relief. You are still tired, moody and nauseated and, much to your dislike, you may start seeing some blotchiness on your face. Skin problems can be attributed to the changes in your body’s level of hormones. As your blood volume increases by 40-50 percent, you will begin to notice veins on your breasts, legs and tummy more easily. Don’t worry. These usually subside shortly after delivery.
How your life’s changing:
-This is the week where you may begin to show ever so slightly. Your abdomen may begin to stick out, but it will be more from bowel distension than the uterus. Ready or not, your waistline is slowly disappearing. Remember to measure your waist and belly now! Comparing later can be a lot of fun!
-The roller coaster of emotions (happy, sad, crying, mad; and that’s all in the last 30 seconds) is just revving up. No one will understand why Friends reruns are making you cry, so don’t bother trying to explain it.
-While some women feel sexy when they’re pregnant and enjoy not having to fuss with birth control, others don’t want to do anything in bed but sleep. If you’ve lost your libido, don’t fret; you’ll probably find it in the second trimester, which many women call the honeymoon period of pregnancy.
Your Baby
This week marks the beginning of the fetal period, which lasts until birth. Your baby’s body systems, such as circulatory, nervous, reproductive and digestive, are fully formed during this time. His heart is beating approximately 160-170 beats per minute. Your baby is 27 - 35 mm or 1.06 - 1.38 inches with 1/2 the length being attributed to the head. He weighs between 3 - 4 grams (or less then 1/2 ounce)
You may be able to hear the heartbeat this week with the help of a Doppler, an ultrasound device that captures the chug-a-chug sound of baby’s heart. The first time you hear baby’s heart, your own heart may skip a beat—it’s the first real evidence that there’s someone growing inside you! If you can’t hear the heartbeat, no worries, your doc will just check again in a few weeks. Other amazing developments this week; your baby will become much more active then before, but unfortunately, his movements are still too small for you to notice. He will be moving his arms and legs, which can be seen on an ultrasound. Your baby’s joints are fully formed, as are his tiny hands, feet, fingers and toes. At this age, he would be able to grab an object, if it were placed in his hand, as he grows more and more sensitive to touch. Your baby’s eyes are open most of the time but the eyelids are beginning to fuse - they will stay that way until you reach approximately 25 to 27 weeks. The external genitalia are beginning to be able to show your baby’s gender and both the external ears and upper lip are completely formed now. Your baby’s biggest accomplishment this week is the disappearance of the tail!
What Moms should do for themselves and their baby?
This is an excellent time to schedule a dental appointment. Proper cleaning — along with an adequate intake of calcium, protein and vitamins B, C and D — will help keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Moms-to-be should pay special attention to their oral health. The American Academy of Periodontology advises that pregnant women with periodontal disease may be up to seven times more likely to deliver a preterm low birth weight baby. Furthermore, when the disease affects at least 30 percent of the mouth, the risk is even greater.
Hormonal changes occur during pregnancy that can affect the gums. The gums may become swollen and inflamed in response to bacteria along the gum line. This is called “pregnancy gingivitis.” It usually appears during the third to ninth month of pregnancy.
Tips for good dental health during pregnancy:
1. Be sure to tell your dentist that you are pregnant as it may affect the type of care you need and receive.
2. Routine dental X-rays can be postponed until after delivery. If disease is suspected, or an emergency arises, dental X-rays are considered safe. You should be shielded with a lead apron.
3. Hormonal changes can contribute to inflammation of the gums if your oral hygiene is not good. Seek dental care right away if your gums are swollen or bleed when you clean your teeth.
4. Familiarize yourself with the dental care your dentist advises for your new baby. Ask your dentist for advice.
5. Stop smoking. Smoking can lead to increased risk for periodontal disease and of course will lead to health problems for you and the baby.
6. Brush teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and use dental floss.
7. Maintain excellent nutrition and avoid sweet between-meal snacks as they lead to acid which attacks tooth enamel and causes tooth decay.