9 weeks Pregnant: What to Expect?

Baby’s Growth During Pregnancy – Week 9

In your 9th week of pregnancy, your developing baby’s body parts and proportions continue to develop and change quite rapidly. Your growing baby is now out of the embryonic phase and then enters into fetal phase. It means your little embryo is now a foetus. The tail that was with the embryo disappears and looks like a small human being now. Your baby’s essential body parts will undergo critical developmental transformation in the months to come.

When you’re 9 weeks pregnant, your baby’s body parts and proportions continue to develop and change quickly. Some of these developments are listed below:

• During the 9th week of your pregnancy, your baby grows to about one inch, or about the length of a cherry.
• By your 9th week of pregnancy, your baby’s skeletonbegins to harden. (Hardening of the bones (ossification) begins with the formation of cartilage)
• The fingers, toes, knees, and elbows
• Nipples and hair follicles
• The intestinal system, i.e. — pancreas, bile ducts, gallbladder, and anus— forms.  Also, the intestines
• Your baby’s reproductive organsbegin to develop internally when you’re 9 weeks pregnant.
• Muscles developand your baby may start to move — you may feel their movements in several more weeks.

What is the Baby’s Size?

Baby is the size of a cherry at 9 weeks pregnant. Your 9-week foetus measures around 0.9 inches and weighs about 0.07 ounces, and their growth is picking uo rapidly.

9-week Symptoms of Pregnancy

It is normal that 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.

• 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.)
• Waistbands Go Uncomfortable– Even if you don’t 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. Try to choose breathable and stretchy fabrics.
• Uterus Size– Uterus increases double fold and will now be in the size of a small melon. The area under the navel region also becomes firm.
• Sense of taste and smell changes– Not all women may experience this but few do. The food you may have loved earlier may now completely put you off. Even one sniff 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.
• Pain in the abdomen– With increasing size of the uterus, you may 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. In case you notice some vaginal bleeding along with this pain, you must immediately see your doctor.
• Gas– It is normal to have more than normal gas formation during pregnancy. To help relieve yourself, you should avoid eating gas producing foods like cabbage or beans. You must not take any OTC anti-gas medications. Do not worry about this or feel embarrassed since its understandable as your body goes through changes.
• 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. This can, therefore, result in heartburn. To prevent this, you can take smaller meals at frequent intervals than larger meals at three intervals. Also, avoiding spicy foods and lying down after the meals tend to prevent heartburn.
• Urge to pee more– The expanding uterus presses on your bladder since more blood is filtering through the kidneys. This results in multiple trips to the bathroom. If you fee discomfort while peeing, you must better check with your doctor.
• Nipples Change– Your nipples may increase in size and turn darker. Small pimples around the areola start to appear and are known as Montgomery’s Tubercles. They help the nipples to prepare for milk. (Do not try things that may harm them).
• Vaginal Discharge Increases– Vaginal discharge increases by now. It is very normal during pregnancy. You can also use panty liners during this time to be more comfortable.
• Gain in body weight– It is a known fact that you will gain weight during pregnancy. It 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. Keep your doctor notified of your weight changes and plan your meals accordingly.
• Libido– Some women experience a higher sex drive and some may experience a lower one. Your baby inside is separated completely from your vagina, hence there is nothing to worry about. Though the contractions may not bother your baby, they may kick when bigger. If you experience any bleeding, you should bring it to your doctor’s notice as soon as possible. It is always a good idea to consult with your doctor before.

• Other common 9 weeks pregnancy symptoms

– Backaches and headaches

– Likely to experience gum bleeding and nose bleeding

– Dehydration

– Bloating

If you don’t feel like doing any physical activities, try to take small walks during ninth week of pregnancy. This helps in proper digestion of food.

9 weeks pregnant belly                              

When you touch your 9 weeks pregnant belly, you’ll probably find that your lower abdomen feels a bit firmer—that’s the uterus. Your uterus is expanding to accommodate your growing foetus. Your uterus will begin to grow out of your pelvis in coming weeks.

How much weight your doctor recommends you to put on during pregnancy will depend on your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI).

9 Weeks Ultrasound

A typical scan would take about 20 to 30 minutes to perform. However, if the doctor has a hard time to get clear pictures, it will take a little longer.

Here is what to expect in a 9-week ultrasound scan:

• Your baby measures about 2.3 cm and weighs close to 2 grams.
• The head, body, and limbs can be seen.
• By now, your baby will no more be an embryo and will be a foetus.
• The heartbeat of a foetus can also be picked up in a 9-week ultrasound scan.
• Heartbeat is usually around 130 to 150 beats per second.
• Doctors carefully examine the region around the gestational sac for any bleeding; a condition called sub chorionic hematoma.

 

The yolk sac envelops the developing foetus and the amniotic fluid. The yolk sac is contained within the gestational sac and is a source of nutrition for the developing foetus in early pregnancy. It is not visible until about 5 to 6 weeks into the gestation; hence it is a marker of the age of the foetus. When no yolk sac is noticed around 6 weeks, it might as well mean that there has been an error in remembering the dates of your last period. The doctor will then schedule another scan in a week or two to confirm the presence of a yolk sac. If it is still not seen around 9 week of your pregnancy, then it is probably a sign of miscarriage. Sometimes there is no need to wait until the follow-up scan, if the 9-week ultrasound pictures show the gestational sac is about 25 mm or more and there’s no yolk sac or embryo, the doctor will diagnose a miscarriage immediately.

 

First-trimester ultrasound scans are extremely important to rule out problems and confirm a healthy pregnancy.

 

PREGNANCY CHECKLIST AT 9 WEEKS PREGNANT

• It’s always a good idea to start bonding with your baby as early as possible.
• Start by setting aside some time each day to connect with your little one.
• During these times, try to sit quietly and gently rest your hands on your belly.
• Focus more on your breathing and start thinking about your baby – everything you dream for them.
• It will unconsciously plan the kind of parent you will be and will give you positive vibes all along.
• If you haven’t already broken the good news to your close ones, you can now think of ways to break the news in some creative way.

Keep getting trusted answers to early pregnancy questions to keep you well informed and prepared.

Also read: 8 Weeks Pregnant: What to Expect?