Yay, 10 Weeks Pregnant! Belly, Symptoms, Fetal Development

At ten weeks pregnant, my morning sickness was gone (I was lucky!). An ultrasound had shown that my baby’s heart was beating, and through all the reading I’d done, I knew my little one was busy moving around in my belly.

If you want to know what it can be like to be a 10-week pregnant mom and you are curious about your baby’s development, you need to read this article. 

Pin
Below, I share my own pregnancy journal at ten weeks so you can compare. You will also find detailed, well-researched information about baby development, pregnancy symptoms, things to do, and what to expect. 

How Many Months are 10 Weeks?

At 10 weeks pregnant, you are still in your first trimester. However, you are getting closer to your second trimester.

You are now pregnant for two full months but are in your third month of pregnancy. This fact is confusing for many. What is the difference between how many months pregnant you are and what month of pregnancy you are in? We explain it all in this article on counting pregnancy weeks and months.

You will also find out the explanation behind why a typical pregnancy is considered to be nine months by everyone but is actually 40 weeks long, as well as how the actual due date is calculated.

Pin

Your Baby’s Development

How Big Is My Baby at 10 Weeks?

Pin
The fetal age of your baby is now 8 weeks.

By now, your baby is no longer considered an embryo and is now officially a fetus.

The approximate size of your baby right now is 1.2 inches (or 3-3.5 cm) from crown to rump. The weight is less than a sixth of an ounce, around 8 grams.

The size can be compared to a relatively large strawberry or a small lime. :-) You’ll find a handy (and cute!) chart for baby size by pregnancy week here, with more detailed measures and fruit comparisons.

What Does My Like Baby Look Like at 10 Weeks?

Pin

Even though your baby is still tiny, they already look like a baby in many ways and act like a baby, too!

Your uterus has now become a playground. Your baby has begun to move, kicking and waving more than you can imagine. Here are some amazing videos showing fetal development.

Although you cannot feel the movements yet, you will, in time, be able to recognize each time your little one rolls over or kicks around.

PinAnd if you do an ultrasound this week, the heart will be easily seen beating quickly, as well as the umbilical cord. You could now possibly even hear the baby’s heartbeat with the help of an ultrasound, although it may be hard to hear a constant flow of the heartbeat since the fetus is still too small. It might also be possible to see the baby’s spine.

Your baby’s little nose now has two nostrils, and the upper lip is forming.

The jaw is forming, too, and tiny tooth buds are forming beneath the gums along the jaw bone.

Fetal development

Your baby now has a lot of developed organs. The vital organs are now fully formed. Some are even starting to function, like the liver and kidneys.

The head is still large in proportion to the rest of the baby’s body, growing to accommodate the developing brain, but rest assured that everything will settle into place as the weeks go by. Since your baby can now do random, jerky movements, they could bend their head and neck – or at least move it.

Swallowing fluid is something your baby practices now while swimming around. This is related to your baby’s kidneys, which are now working, producing urine.

Tiny fingernails, facial features, and even limbs that can now bend at the wrist and ankle joints help give your little one a more human appearance.

This week, bones and cartilage are still soft but are continuously forming, and knees and ankles are taking shape.

The spine may be visible if you could see your little one now. Nerves start to form and spread out, branching throughout the body.

At this stage, baby boys produce more of the hormone testosterone, which helps the body develop the male organs and body parts.

Pin

Mom’s Body When 10 Weeks Pregnant

The Belly

PinYou probably still don’t have a baby bump, but of course, your belly is slowly growing, and you are likely to be gaining weight too. Some of your clothes may feel fit or tight at this point.

So, for this week, some moms actually do start showing, even if it is their first pregnancy. Second-time moms and those carrying twins may definitely show a small baby bump when ten weeks pregnant. However, it’s worth mentioning that not all moms have the same experiences during pregnancy – so don’t worry too much if your belly isn’t as big as other moms’.

Your uterus is approximately the size of an orange. As it gets bigger, it slowly rises upwards from your pelvis. Pretty soon, it will become easier for your medical provider to feel it during an external examination.

You can read about pregnancy weight gain here.

Pregnancy Symptoms

Some women find those annoying pregnancy symptoms are starting to ease up now.

Energy levels can be notably higher, and you may get your appetite back, so don’t be surprised if you start having those weird pregnancy cravings!

Certain smells may still bother you, and those carrying twins may still be waiting for the day that their extreme nausea subsides.

You may notice some skin changes around this week as well.

Linea Nigra is a dark vertical line of pigmentation that may appear on your abdomen. This is a very common thing, affecting about 80% of pregnant women, and will subside after pregnancy. An old wives’ tale is that a short linea nigra, only to the navel, means you are carrying a girl, and a long one means you are carrying a boy.

You might notice that your veins are more visible on your breasts and the rest of your body due to the increased blood volume and blood flow during pregnancy.

Feeling bloated and experiencing gassiness is completely normal because the pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes the muscles in both your uterus and your digestive tract. The esophagus is a muscular tube where food from the mouth travels to get to the stomach. It contains a muscular valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus; pregnancy hormones can cause this valve to relax, leading to heartburn.

Constipation is a common discomfort in women during this early time in pregnancy. As much as 38% of women experience constipation during pregnancy. Sometimes, it can be due to the prenatal vitamins you are taking, or it can be caused by the changes in hormones that are slowing digestion.

Either way, eating a balanced diet and getting enough fluids can help ease these symptoms. You’ll find more information about healthy eating during pregnancy here.

An increased vaginal discharge is completely normal during pregnancy. Harmless vaginal discharge is usually odorless, thin, and clear to white.

Don’t worry if you experience aches and pain in your back and pelvis. Your body is making room for your baby. The aches you feel are usually due to round ligament pain. It develops because the ligaments supporting the uterus soften as your belly grows, so as your belly weight increases, its weight pulls on the ligaments, causing pain. However, if you are worried about the pain you feel or if it is intense, talk to your doctor.

Pin

Things to do and buy this week

If you are now less nauseated and tired, consider starting to exercise. An excellent prenatal yoga course is this class by Jane Austin. It is the perfect course to start prenatal yoga.

In pregnancy week 10, you are not yet really the target group, but it is not like it will be of any harm! If you are still a bit tired and nauseated but want to do something for yourself and your body, yoga is a great way!

You can read about the benefits of pregnancy yoga and good yoga positions during each trimester here.

Prenatal testing can be part of your routine visit to your doctor if you are over 35 years of age or considered high risk for having a child with a chromosomal (genetic) abnormality.

Other women may opt for prenatal testing just for their peace of mind. In some places, you can choose not to participate in prenatal testing.

Remember to go with what you are personally comfortable with. It is your body and your baby, and you should do what you feel is right, even now, before birth.

Maybe you are still anxious about miscarriage – I know I was! But even so, or at least very soon, reading a pregnancy book is a great way to learn what is happening with your baby and eventually prepare for giving birth. The book What to Expect When You’re Expecting is a great read throughout your pregnancy.

Is your waist expanding? It might be time for your first maternity pants. Check out these maternity fold-over pants. They are soft and work well already in the first and second trimesters.

Pin

Week 10 Pregnancy Video

Pin

Diary of a Daughter

What’s it really like being ten weeks pregnant…? Here’s a true diary from a 10 weeks pregnant mom (Me..!)

No miscarriage, nausea, less tiredness, and my baby bump is growing. I feel great!

Are you also ten weeks pregnant? Please share your experiences and thoughts by leaving a comment below!

More about the 1st trimester

• Poll: Is your sex drive higher or lower?
• Effective remedies for morning sickness and not
• Miscarriage statistics week by week

Pin

References:

Paula Dennholt

Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.

Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.