9 Weeks Pregnant

9 Weeks Pregnant

Revathi V Gopal
By Revathi V Gopal
Yes, you have stepped into the third month of pregnancy, and your baby has now become a fetus. Your little one is growing stronger with every passing day, and you can soon meet your bundle of joy in a few months. Though you might feel anxious and doubtful of different things because of the changes, remember that everything would be fine.
As you approach the second trimester, your baby would start looking like a child. Besides that, your little one would have developed all the necessary vital organs by this time. Even though there may or may not be a baby bump, your child undergoes many transformations and forms most of its facial features.
Here, we will take a deeper dive into the different changes happening in your baby and yourself. We will also examine the various ways by which you can take care of yourself.

What Happens During the Ninth Week of Pregnancy?

Hormonal and bodily changes continue to happen during the ninth week of pregnancy as well. Your little one would also be undergoing developments.. Here are some of the main changes taking place during the ninth week of pregnancy.

Hormonal Changes

As part of the hormonal changes, the increase in HCG would pave the way for early pregnancy symptoms. It will lead to a rise in the blood flow to the uterus and pelvic region, resulting in frequent urination. The developments taking place in the uterus would also increase the pressure on your urinary bladder.

Other than that, you might feel a lack of energy because your body is working on building the placenta. Similar to the previous weeks, your breasts would be tender, and their size would increase. Due to this, you might feel uncomfortable, and they would become ultrasensitive. It happens because of the rise in progesterone and estrogen, leading to an increase in milk glands. You might also have a painful sensation in your nipples.

Heartburn and indigestion are other issues you would face as you step toward the third month of pregnancy. It would be present up to the ninth month of pregnancy because of relaxin and progesterone. As there is an increase in the progesterone level, it would lead to bloating and gas. These conditions happen because of the relaxing of the muscles in the gastrointestinal tracts.

It would cause constipation, as the food would be present in the digestive system for a longer duration. Hence, it is best to keep track of your food intake and avoid having processed food items acting as triggers.

Bodily Changes

Since hormones are at their peak, your body would be undergoing several changes. Due to these changes, you might feel unwell and sick. However, these hormones play a vital role in helping your baby be in its correct position. It is closely attached to the lining of your uterus. These hormonal alterations would bring in a lot of metabolic changes in you, which would result in lowering your blood sugar and pressure.

Other than these changes, you would see that you have acquired a pregnancy glow or radiance. However, everyone might not have it. It depends on different factors, including your lifestyle and other habits. During the ninth week of pregnancy, you might notice that you have acquired some more weight.

In some cases, there would be a slight baby bump that is noticeable. However, it might take some for you to notice any such changes. There could be some changes in the lower belly of most women during their ninth week of pregnancy. Apart from these, you would see acne breakouts happen on your face because of hormonal increases.

Fetal Development

As you step into the ninth week of pregnancy, your fetus would be 22 mm long from its head to bottom. At this time, your baby would be weighing between 17 to 30 lbs. Other developments are happening to your baby, which include the formation of eyelids and ears.

Eyelids would act as protection for your little one's eyes. Your baby would start forming tiny taste buds. When it comes to your baby's hands and feet, there won't be fingers or toes. But, they would develop soon within a few weeks. Apart from the external changes happening, your baby would also form its genitalia. However, even then, it won't be possible to determine your child's sex if you have an ultrasound.

If you have an ultrasound at this time, you can listen to the rhythmic beating of your child's heart. Your little one would start moving around but won't be feeling any sensations during this phase. In the first trimester, your doctor would suggest an ultrasound and ask you to undergo blood tests. It is a method to ensure that your baby doesn't have any genetic abnormalities.

These are the changes happening during the ninth week of pregnancy, and your little one has officially become a fetus. You have to take care of yourself and your little one to ensure that your baby stays healthy.

Tips to Take Care of Yourself in the Ninth Week

From adopting a healthy diet to practicing antenatal yoga, there are different ways by which you can take care of yourself. You have to bring in some lifestyle changes as they can help you stay healthy and overcome challenges that you may have. Some of the lifestyle changes you can incorporate are practicing pregnancy-friendly exercises, staying hydrated, resting, wearing comfortable clothes. Let's have a look at the ways by which you can enhance your health and well-being during the ninth week of pregnancy.

Maintaining a Healthy Diet

During this time of pregnancy, you have to ensure that you have 400 mg of folic acid every day. You have to continue it till your twelfth week and then, according to your doctor's recommendation. Other than that, you need to have prenatal vitamins and consider having Vitamin D supplements in your diet. It would help you to gain the required nourishment for you and your baby.

Here, you have to focus on your eating habits as well. It is best to have mini-meals, where you divide your meals into six smaller units. It is highly beneficial for your stomach as it would be undergoing numerous changes. It would reduce the chances of facing gastric issues. Since your cravings and aversions would continue during the ninth week, you must consider what you have. Here, it is best to include healthy carbohydrates in your diet and avoid having unhealthy meals.

Focusing on fresh fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, and whole grain food items can be helpful. As part of snacks, you can have roasted nuts or seeds. They can be tasty and, at the same time, nourishing. However, you have to avoid having salty and processed food items in your diet. It would help reduce the chances of having nausea, vomiting, and other morning sickness-related concerns.

Exercising Regularly

When you exercise regularly, it will help in shortening the intensity of your labor. When we consider the recommended duration for exercising during pregnancy, it is 150 minutes per week. Since each person is unique, you have to start working out based on your health conditions. It is best to speak with your doctor to gain clarity on the same. Your doctor might suggest some exercises that you can include in your workout routine.

Another excellent option would be joining a pregnancy-based class, such as antenatal yoga sessions. If you are new to exercising, brisk walking can be an option to start your workouts. Apart from walking, swimming and jogging are other exercises that you can consider. As discussed, yoga can be helpful for you when you are pregnant. However, some yoga poses might not be suitable during pregnancy.

Hence, you have to speak with an instructor or perform extensive research before practicing any workouts. Most of the exercises would be safe, but having an awareness of the same would be helpful.

Emotional and Mental Health

Similar to physical health, you have to take care of your emotional and mental well-being as well. Incorporating mindful practices and relaxational techniques can be beneficial. Journalling is yet another practice that can help focus on your psychological wellness.

You can communicate with your loved ones and seek professional assistance if necessary. You can watch movies, spend quality time with your partner, friends, and family, pamper yourself and also go on walks. They could assist in taking care of your emotional and mental health.

Speaking with Your Doctor

It is time for you to book an appointment with your doctor and get the tests done. These tests and examinations can help your doctor to understand more about your condition. In some cases, your doctor might suggest an ultrasound. However, it might vary depending on various factors.

If you have any underlying health conditions, you have to inform your OB-GYN or midwife. Similarly, you need to mention if you are under any medications or not. Your doctor would ensure that they are safe to have while you are pregnant.

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