Pregnancy Diary

Your Baby During Pregnancy Calendar Week 9

This is your last week of the embryonic period. Your placenta is developing well and your baby looks like a human now – albeit a tiny human – 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 (about the weight of a paperclip).

While the internal reproductive organs have now become either testes for boys or ovaries for girls, there’s nothing yet to tell you whether it’s a boy or girl even if you look closely. 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.

Your Changing Body

By pregnancy calendar week 9, you’ve missed your second period. You may notice a small amount of bloody spotting at this time. Break through bleeding is typically not a cause for concern. However, if the spotting is bright red or accompanied by severe cramps, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Many women in the ninth week of pregnancy experience heartburn and indigestion since their bodies are adjusting to changing hormone levels. Eating smaller meals, eliminating spicy foods in your diet, and avoiding lying down shortly after eating should prevent problems. In moderation, over-the-counter antacids are safe to use during pregnancy. However, drinking a glass of milk can provide natural relief.

Higher levels of progesterone and estrogen cause the mucus membranes to swell in a pregnant woman. This is beneficial for your cervix, but it also means that you may experience nose bleeds or nasal congestion. Using a humidifier or vaporizer should alleviate symptoms.

For most women, morning sickness symptoms peak during the ninth or tenth week of pregnancy. While it’s a major inconvenience for you, morning sickness will not harm your baby. However, you should be gaining weight regularly at this point in your pregnancy. If you’re losing weight as the result of severe morning sickness, speak with your healthcare provider.

During pregnancy calendar week 9, you may notice changes in your sexual desire. If you’re constantly tired and nauseous, you may have no interest in being intimate with your partner. However, your surging hormone levels may have you feeling like a sexual maniac. In either case, there’s no cause for alarm.

Although your body might seem a little boring right now, you can expect the creeping-up-effect of weight gain as you will gain roughly 1-2 lbs gain per week (some more and some less). It’s not a bad idea to chart this to make sure you’re not over or underfeeding both of you. As you’ve entered into the Fetal Period, it might be a good time to evaluate your personal health regimen—that is, if you haven’t already. Are you eating enough protein? Remember, protein can be found in beans, soy products and nuts—it doesn’t have to be a 12 ounce sirloin! Are you sleeping well, exercising right, drinking enough (non-sugary) fluids and getting your vitamin C? Having a baby is the ultimate test for your body—if you take care of your health now you’ll come out of the pregnancy on top of your health and ready to be an energetic mother, if not, well, let’s just say, you’re increasing the chances of suffering from depression, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, and a multitude of little nasty viruses (think colds and flues) that good health could’ve beat before you even noticed they’d invaded.

Staying Healthy

Many first-time mothers don’t realize that pregnancy can have a negative affect on their oral health. Pregnancy gingivitis is an unpleasant condition that affects between 50 and 75 percent of all expectant mothers. Symptoms include inflammation and swelling of the gum tissue.

Pregnancy gingivitis is thought to be caused by an increased concentration of estrogen and progesterone. However, poor oral hygiene can aggravate the condition. Regular flossing and brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste can help reduce the risk of dental problems during your pregnancy.

Treating gum infections during pregnancy is extremely important. Research has suggested gum infections can contribute to an increased possibility of premature and/or underweight births. Most dental treatments can be performed safely during your pregnancy, although you should always let your dentist know you are an expectant mother.

Commonly asked quesitions in week 9:

How do I avoid constipation during pregnancy?
Constipation throughout the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy is a common complaint from pregnant women. Some women, however, do not know that you do NOT have to suffer through it, and that there are things that can be done to prevent it. Read more…

What kind of ultrasounds are there? Are they safe?
But aside from the usual trans-vaginal ultrasounds (done early in the pregnancy to determine if there is a baby growing inside you) and pelvic ultrasounds (performed during the second and third trimester), there are three other specialized ultrasounds you may choose to have or that may be prescribed for you to get in the course of your pregnancy. Read more…

What exercises are safe during pregnancy?
Announcing a pregnancy can be a difficult thing. Once, my daughter stood up in the middle of church and announced to everyone that I needed prayer because I was pregnant. That was probably the easiest pregnancy announcement I’ve had to endure, because I didn’t have to make the announcement myself. Read more…

How & when do I tell my family/younger children I’m pregnant?
Along with proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, one of the most important things you can do to benefit yourself and your baby during pregnancy is exercise. Women who exercise regularly while pregnant have easier labor, deliveries, and recovery time. The majority of pregnant women are able to exercise at a level appropriate to their stage of pregnancy, but you should always check with your doctor to make sure you have no risks or conditions that would prevent you from exercising safely. Read more…

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