Week 9 of Your Pregnancy
Your 'baby bump' probably won’t be visible just yet, but you may start putting on some weight. Remember, you don’t need to ‘eat for two’ so you don’t need any extra calories at this stage of the pregnancy. You just need to make sure you eat the right foods, with enough nutrients for you and your baby.
PREGNANCY WEEK 9
Your Body at Week 9 of Your Pregnancy
Changes in Mood
Some women are glowing and have a lot of energy, but others are feeling tired, emotional and moody. It’s normal to have mood swings when you’re pregnant, but talk to your doctor if you’re feeling very anxious or down.
You may go to the toilet more often than usual
Even though your baby is tiny, by week 8 your womb (uterus) has grown to the size of a tennis ball. It’s putting more pressure on your bladder, so you might need to go to the toilet more often than normal.
Bleeding Gums
At this time, you may start to notice problems with your teeth. Hormones can make your gums bleed more easily and you may also develop lumps on the gums. Vomiting a lot or eating sweet foods can also affect your teeth. Make sure you floss and use a soft toothbrush. It’s a good idea to see a dentist regularly throughout your pregnancy.
You may feel quite tired
During the first trimester, a huge amount of energy goes into building a life-support system for your baby, especially the placenta, which can leave you feeling tired. There are also a lot of hormonal and emotional changes that are happening.
Heartburn and Indigestion
If you’ve got a burning sensation from the depths of your stomach to your mouth after you eat, then you’ve got pregnancy-induced indigestion and heartburn. Avoid heartburn triggers like spicy or fatty foods and caffeinated drinks and ask your doctor about pregnancy-safe heartburn remedies.
White Discharge
You may notice an increase in white creamy discharge early in pregnancy, due to higher levels of estrogen. White vaginal discharge (called leucorrhea) is nothing to worry about: This discharge is normal and can be clear to milky white, thin or thick, and mild-smelling or odorless. But vaginal discharge that's green, smells unpleasant, causes pain or itching, or seems unusual in any other way could be a sign of infection or another problem.
Abdominal Bloating
Hormonal changes in early pregnancy may leave you feeling bloated, similar to the feeling some women have just before their period.
Changes in Breasts
Rising levels of hormones cause your breasts to grow in preparation for making breast milk. Your cup size may increase. Other breast changes you may see include visible veins on your breasts, darker nipples, and more pronounced bumps on your areolas.
Constipation
To avoid even more bloating, try to get those bowels moving at their normal pace. Besides drinking lots of water, have a go at fruit and vegetable juices. Or, try hot water and lemon first thing in the morning or last thing at night.
Your Baby at Week 9 of Your Pregnancy
How big is my baby?
Your baby is growing very quickly. They are now about 2cm long – about the size of a peanut shell – and their tiny muscles have developed enough for them to be able to move around. Their skin is transparent, and their arms and legs are bent so it looks like they are hugging themselves.
The baby's shape is now more recognisable. The head is still large and the features on the face are forming, with closed eyes, a mouth and tongue, including tiny taste buds. The inner ear is forming, but the baby won’t be able to hear until about 24 weeks.
The liver is making blood cells and there are blood vessels underneath the skin. The bones in your baby’s skeleton are forming and there are clear fingers and toes.
Your Baby's Heart
The four chambers of your baby's heart have formed. You can hear "lub-dub" sound of a human heartbeat at your prenatal appointment.
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