9th Week Pregnancy - Symptoms, Baby Development,

Tips And Body Changes

FARIDA RIZWAN ON MARCH 29, 2016

Image: Shutterstock

In the Article
How Big Is Your Baby At Week 9
Baby Development At Week 9 Pregnancy
Changes Occurring Within Your Body At Week 9 Pregnancy
Emotional Changes During 9th Week Of Pregnancy
Your First Ob-Gyn Visit
Tips For A Better 9th Week Pregnancy
Nutrition At 9th Week Pregnancy
Tips For Dad-To-Be

You may have successfully made it to your eighth week of pregnancy, and you are in
the last month of the first trimester. You and your baby will be going through a lot
many changes during this phase. You may also be preparing for the first visit to your
health care provider to seek advice on your eating, sleeping and fitness habits.
In this post, we give you all the information about baby development at 9th week
pregnancy, the physical and emotional changes your body undergoes and tips for the
new moms.

How Big Is Your Baby At Week 9?

Your baby is about the size of a grape that measures 1 inch (2.3 cms) and weighs less
than 2 grams.
[ Read: 10th Week Pregnancy ]

Baby Development At Week 9 Pregnancy:

When you are in your 9th week of pregnancy, your developing babys body parts and
proportions continue to develop and change quickly. Your growing baby is now out of
the embryonic phase and enters into fetal phase. It means your little embryo is now a
fetus. The tail that was with the embryo disappears and looks like a small human
being. Your babys essential body parts undergo critical developmental transformation
in the months to come.

Eyes The eyelids completely cover the eyes, they are fused and dont open till
26th week pregnancy.
Ears The earlobes are tiny and visible.
Other facial features The nose, nostrils and mouth become more distinct.
The mouth appears as a flat line on the surface, and the tongue starts forming.
Limbs Fingers and toes are visible, wrists and ankles begin to develop. Arms
are growing and bend near the elbows.
Neck region Neck region becomes more defined. It also undergoes lifting
and turning movements.
Joints All the joints, including the babys elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles
and wrist joints start working and allow her to move freely in the amniotic fluid.
Digestive system The digestive system and diaphragm begin to develop that
allows her to breathe and hiccup.
Skeleton and bone At 9th week of pregnancy, your babys skeleton start to
harden. Cartilage forms all through the body.
Common integument Nipples and hair follicles slowly form.

Intestinal System Babys pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and anus form.
Also, the intestines elongate.

Reproductive organs Your babys reproductive organs develop internally

when you are in your 9th week of pregnancy. Her ovaries (if a boy, they are
testes) grow, but the girl and boy fetus look the same from outside.

Movements Your baby makes squirmy movements; she also starts kicking at
a later stage.

Heart and blood flow Your babys heart begins to beat around 24th day. But
in the 9th week, it divides into four chambers and valves start to form. The blood
starts pumping in and out rapidly. It thus provides oxygen and nutrients to the
babys growing body and likewise removes wastes from the body.
The developed placenta now takes up the final task of producing hormones. The
development of essential body parts is complete in this week of pregnancy. In the
coming weeks, these body parts are better defined structurally.
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Changes Occurring Within Your Body At Week 9

Pregnancy:
You may feel the pregnancy, but you may not look pregnant. Though there may not be
any noticeable physical changes, you will begin to observe the changes in your body.

Waistbands Go Uncomfortable Even if you dont have a proper bump, you

may still find your waistbands uncomfortable. You may have frequent episodes
of nausea. Restrictive clothing around your waist can further irritate you. Choose
breathable and stretchy fabrics.

Breast Size Increases Your breasts increase in size because of the ducts and
glands that begin developing at the early stage of pregnancy. You may also notice
tiny blue veins that usually supply blood across the region. You should wear a
maternity bra for a comfortable experience.
[ Read: Breast Changes During Pregnancy ]

Uterus Size Uterus increases double fold and will be now in the size of a
small melon. The area under the navel region becomes firm.

Pain In The Abdomen With increasing uterus, you will also experience
cramping and pain in the lower abdominal region. The uterus grows and
contracts throughout the pregnancy, and the tightening is known as Braxton
Hicks contractions. If you notice vaginal bleeding along with pain, you should
immediately see your doctor.

Gas It is normal to pass gas during pregnancy. To help relieve yourself, you
should avoid eating gas producing foods like cabbage or beans. You should not
take any OTC anti-gas medications. Do not worry or feel embarrassed since
anyone can understand what you might be going through.
Sense Of Taste And Smell Changes Though all women in their pregnancy
may not experience this, few do sense these changes. The food you may have
loved earlier can now completely put you off. One puff of your favorite perfume
can make you gag. Try avoiding the things that irritate you and do not worry
since your senses return to normalcy after delivery.
Heartburn Hormones like progesterone help in expanding your body with
the growing baby. But, hormones also slow down the food movement along the
digestive system. It can, therefore, result in heartburn. You can prevent heartburn
by taking smaller meals at frequent intervals than larger meals at three intervals.
Also, avoiding spicy foods and lying down after the meals prevent heartburn.
[ Read: Heartburn During Pregnancy ]
Urge To Pee More The expanding uterus presses on your bladder since more
blood is filtering through the kidneys. This means you will pass more urine
frequently. If passing urine more often hurts you, you should better check with
your health care provider. You can avoid drinking water two hours before bed,
cut caffeine intake and empty bladder as these help to improve the condition.
Blood Circulation Increases It is normal to carry five liters of blood in your
body. But, it increases to seven or eight liters to support your growing baby. The
major part of the increased blood is liquid plasma. The red blood cells usually
increase in the second-trimester pregnancy. The metabolic rate increases to 25%
and, therefore, your heart sends nearly 40% extra blood to your body. The blood
circulation increases in the breasts, uterus and kidneys until delivery. You may
also feel dizzy as your blood volume increases.
Veins Bulge You will find bulging veins on your hands and legs. It is because
of the extra blood that flows. They protect your baby while you stand or lie
down. They also safeguard against the loss of blood you experience during labor.
Nipples Change Your nipples will become larger and turn darker. Small
pimples around the areola appear, known as Montgomerys Tubercles. They help
the nipples to prepare for milk. Do not try to harm them since they have a
purpose for your baby.
Vaginal Discharge Increases Vaginal discharge increases by now. It is
normal during pregnancy and usage of panty liners will be helpful.
[ Read: Discharge During Pregnancy ]
Gain In Body Weight You will gain weight that is more likely due to water
retention in the body than the baby. However, gaining too much weight or losing
too little weight can be harmful. Too much weight can give a big baby, which

might be difficult to deliver and too little weight can give a small baby. Too much
weight can increase the risk of high blood pressure, gestational diabetes,
complications during labor and prolonged labor. Also, the more weight you gain,
the more you have to lose after your baby is born.

Libido Some women show disinterest in sex, while some report of showing
more interest. If you experience any bleeding, you should check with your health
care provider. Your baby inside is separated completely from whats happening in
your vagina. Though the contractions may not bother your baby, she may kick
when bigger.

Changes In Hair Your hair may turn lustrous and thick or thin, lump and
greasy.

Other Symptoms Backaches and headaches are common in your 9th week
pregnancy. You will be also likely to experience gum bleeds and nose bleeds.
Dehydration, feeling of bloating, lethargy are all the other signs you experience.
Though you may not feel like doing any physical activity, you can take small walks.
This helps in proper digestion of food.
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Emotional Changes During 9th Week Of Pregnancy:

Feeling Of Weakness You will feel a bit weak during this period. You can
still have the feeling of fatigue and nausea, but you will feel better by the
trimester end.
Your Partner May Not Be Into Pregnancy You may not find your partner
as involved as you are. He could only experience your pregnancy through
hearing your symptoms rather than himself observing. It is the only reality that is
just some weeks away from him. Try not to interpret his lack of eagerness.
Sense Of Guilt Some women in their 9th week pregnancy may feel guilty
that they are not able to overcome the maternal love. They may even worry that
their negative feelings may have an effect on their growing baby. Do not fret
since your baby will not gain cognitive ability at this phase to know your
feelings.
Exhaustion Tiredness and exhaustion may have a toll on the growing baby.
Always aim for an easy life and do not do things for which you dont have the
energy.
Anxiety It is obvious that you might feel anxious about your pregnancy. You
may also worry about how others may react to the announcement of your
pregnancy. Do not fret since workplaces now have everything in place to help
you with maternity leave free for you.
[ Read: Anxiety During Pregnancy ]

Stress Do not try to take any form of stress. If you had an argument with
anyone, or if you are tired and fed up, chill out by listening to some music, take a
warm bath, try to relax by closing your eyes.
Making some time exclusively for yourself is important for your emotional health
during pregnancy.
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Your First Ob-Gyn Visit:

The following is what you can expect from the very first visit to your obstetrician. The
first examination will typically happen around 9th or 10th week.

Medical History Your doctor will find out regarding your health, details of
your earlier pregnancies, the health of your partner and family.
Physical Examination Your blood pressure, weight and height are measured.
She may discuss any chronic issues you have and how they can affect your
pregnancy. Physical exam also includes checking thyroid, breasts, lungs and
heart. She will perform an internal examination of the vagina, uterus, ovaries and
cervix.
Due Date Calculation It is calculated based on the first day of your last
menstrual period. A normal pregnancy lasts from 37 to 42 weeks, and an average
pregnancy is for 40 weeks, i.e., 280 days. If your menstrual cycle is irregular,
then your due date is based on your first ultrasound.
[ Check Momjunctions: Due Date Calculator ]
Lab Tests Your doctor may perform some common prenatal tests by taking
urine and blood samples.
Genetic Testing Your doctor may ask you to take tests for Tay-Sachs disease,
Canavan disease, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia.
Future Appointments Find out with your doctor about the upcoming tests
and when you can schedule your appointments.
Prenatal Vitamins You may get a prescription for prenatal vitamins that you
need to take during the pregnancy period.
Healthy Info Your health care provider may offer you advice on diet, weight,
exercise, and OTC medications include during pregnancy.
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Tips For A Better 9th Week Pregnancy:

Now is the time to receive prenatal care and here is how you need to go about it:

Join a support group If you are not able to cope with the stress and anxiety,
you should join a support group. You can also get to talk with other pregnant
women that help you cope with the feelings you are undergoing. There will be
professionals who specifically deal with moms-to-be to calm their emotions.
Beat stress Whenever you feel overexcited or over stressed, you can get
along with deep breathing exercises or go for a short walk. Doing so can reduce
the anxiety and stress levels. Physical activities can release endorphins in the
brain, which help increase overall happiness by reducing stress levels.
Communication with partner You should always feel free to express your
feelings with your partner. It helps him understand what is going on with you.
Connect with your growing baby Diane Sanford, the clinical psychologist,
highly recommends to at least set 10 minutes aside every day to connect with
your baby. You can start by relaxing in a calm area by taking deep breaths. Think
about the dreams and hopes you have for your baby. You can also think about
what kind of parenting style you can adopt for your child. It is a healthy way to
get rid of stress and allows you to connect with your child in a better way.
[ Read: How To Bond With Your Unborn Baby ]
Learn about the tests It is a good time to find about the diagnostic tests
when you are at 9 weeks of pregnancy. If you do not understand about any test,
talk to your doctor to learn about what is that specific test all about.
Safe workplace It is important to make sure about your workplaces safety
policies and ensure whether it is safe for your baby. If you are working in a
chemical based environment, bring the concerns to your doctor.
Comfortable sleep During this week of pregnancy, you may feel more tired
because of the hormonal changes, morning sickness and trouble sleeping. You
may not get a proper sleep because of the frequent visits to the bathroom. You
should change your sleeping positions if you are facing difficulty in sleeping.
Yoga Enroll in a yoga or ante-natal exercise class after checking with your
health care provider. It helps you meet other moms-to-be and build up a network
of supportive friends. If you are a jogger, try to get into any other form of
exercise. It is because jarring is not ideal and can have an impact on your baby.
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Nutrition At 9th Week Pregnancy:

It is very important to maintain a healthy and nutritious diet during pregnancy.

1. Eat Properly To Avoid Morning Sickness:

If you experience morning sickness, keep crackers or biscuits near your bed.
Eat one before you get off the bed as it can keep away morning sickness.

Ginger tea or ginger ale can reduce the effects of morning sickness.
You can include healthy snacks in between your meals.
Avoid smelling foods and you can add a dash of lemon to your tea or water.
Mints can also have an effect on reducing nausea and morning sickness.
[ Read: Morning Sickness During Pregnancy ]

2. Vitamin B6:

Vitamin B6 is important during pregnancy.

It helps in the production of red blood cells.
Your doctor may prescribe you vitamin B6 supplements to add to your diet

3. Magnesium:

Magnesium is important for both mom-to-be and baby.

The main sources include rice, beans and bananas. Some other potential
sources include soybeans, nuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.

You can also find magnesium in whole grains. Small traces are also found in
non-refined cereals, leafy greens and dairy products.

Add these foods in your everyday diet.

4. Nutritious Snacks:

You should include healthy snacks during pregnancy so that your body gets all
the nutritional requirements.
Whole grain bread, whole grain crackers and tomato soup are great options that
ease morning sickness as well.
Rusks, lemonade and ginger tea are also healthy choices.
You can also include bananas, nuts and cucumbers.
All these items are great for both you and your babys health.
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Tips For Dad-To-Be:

Create a quiet and tranquil environment in your bedroom. You can place
dimmer bulbs in place of brighter bulbs.

She may have mood swings that can annoy you. Try to deal with the situation
calmly so that neither of you ends up in a bad mood.

Show your love for her during her most wonderful phase, so as to win her love
for a lifetime.
Remember to follow the above-mentioned care and tips when you are 9 weeks
pregnant and avoid any further complications.