The 9th week of pregnancy means that already for two whole months the “interesting situation” is behind. The baby continues to develop intensively, and the expectant mother successfully masters a new role. These days it is very important to monitor your condition and follow many recommendations.
Deadline Reminder
The 9th obstetric week is equal to the 7th week from conception. Any doctor will use the obstetric method of calculating the term. More on methods read here.
What happens to the baby and mom
Tight jeans and dresses no longer fit? It should be so. The expectant mother, most likely, continues to slowly gain hundreds of grams. It happens and vice versa - the weight may decrease slightly. You should not be afraid of this if there is no severe toxicosis, and you feel good.
The basis of the baby’s body is almost completely laid.
Fetal development
Almost all organs and systems are formed, but many still do not function in full force. For the second week already, the little “puzozhitel” is precisely the fetus, not the embryo.
This is what the fetus looks like (clickable)
- At the 9th obstetric week, the fetus acquires a cerebellum. This section of the brain is responsible for coordination of movements.
- The tail is gradually disappearing, it will soon become the tailbone.
- On the handles, the membranes between the fingers gradually disappear, the formation of the palms is in progress.
- The legs are less developed so far, they are stretched forward, the feet are barely outlined, and the fingers are not separated.
- The eyelids are fully formed and now close their eyes.
- The whole fetus is slightly straightened.
- A neck is marked at the base of the head.
- Some reflexes are formed, for example, swallowing.
- The adrenal glands produce adrenaline.
- The kidneys are already occupied with something like a process of water metabolism. If the unborn baby swallows amniotic fluid, they will stand out in the form of a prototype of urine.
- There is a bookmark of lymph and nerve nodes.
- On the tiny face, both sponges are clearly distinguishable.
The whole baby is like a cherry. The size of the fetus varies between 22 and 30 mm, and the weight is about 4 g. At a period of 9 weeks, a complete transition to placental nutrition occurs.
What does the fetus look like if you do an ultrasound?
In this case, a lot depends on the equipment. And also - from the position of the fetal body at the time of the study. A future baby can only look like an oblong light spot against the background of a dark uterus. But you can see the slightly blurry contours of the tiny body - the head and body.
Feelings of a future mother
If a woman has not had toxicosis of pregnantthen it can start. If toxicosis already exists, then it is unlikely to stop. However, here everything is very individual. Some expectant mothers will not recognize nausea and vomiting.But food preferences are familiar to almost all pregnant women.
What else can expecting mother:
- drowsiness, lethargy, depression;
- the nose is always blocked up (this physiological condition is called a runny nose of pregnant women);
- fatigue “above average”;
- it is difficult to concentrate;
- emotions (both bright and negative) sometimes just roll over;
- increased sensitivity of the nipples appears or persists;
- constant feeling of stuffiness.
A special topic now is smells. Sensitivity to them increases markedly. Sometimes a pregnant woman is just a phenomenon. For example, she smells different varieties of apples. Or, in a crowd, it accurately recognizes several perfume compositions at once. True, more and more increasingly sad. Any strong odors begin to annoy, some to nausea.
External signs
Only a very attentive person “from the outside” can distinguish the expectant mother among other women. Sometimes in the 9th week the gait changes a little and the figure is a little more noticeable. Despite the fact that the uterus reaches the size of a grapefruit, a woman’s slightly grown belly is almost invisible under clothes. But the woman herself sees a lot.
Chest
A very vivid manifestation of pregnancy is breast swelling. It may begin now or may continue from the past weeks. Perhaps a set of bras will have to be updated. If the breast and before pregnancy was rather big, the supporting function of underwear is very important. And one more thing: a bra should in no case interfere with free breathing with a full chest. Expectant mothers are sometimes stuffy, and if you still tighten your chest, not far from a swoon.
Leather
The tummy is growing a little. But if the expectant mother is already getting fat, and her breasts have grown, the appearance of the first stretch marks is not ruled out.
The general condition of the skin at week 9 may be different. Some mothers still spot pimples in one place or another. And others already feel how soft and smooth the skin becomes throughout the body. In addition, changes in metabolism can lead to some dry hair and skin.
Discharge
If a small amount of white or yellowish mucus is secreted from the vagina, this is normal. Brown discharge requires attention, you must tell your doctor about them. Such smears may appear due to cervical erosion. It is safe for the baby, but harmful to his mother. Treatment is usually carried out after childbirth.
Bleeding is one of the first signs of a miscarriage. For any spotting, you should immediately consult a doctor.
In rare cases, transparent, yellowish discharge from the chest may appear. It is colostrum. It usually appears at a later date. If the discharge leaves spots on the clothes, it's time to buy pads for the bra. They need to be changed regularly. Otherwise, unpleasant bacterial infections of the skin of the breast may develop.
Body temperature
Expectant mother can pass more than one week with a temperature of about 37.0-37.4 ° C. So the hormone progesterone acts on the woman’s body. If there are no other signs of colds and / or infectious diseases, this body temperature is quite normal. But if the thermometer showed 38 ° C and above, this is definitely a symptom of any disease.
And if the baby is not alone?
Pregnancy of twins (or triples) does not mean more severe toxicosis. Other symptoms also do not multiply by two or three. As a rule, with multiple pregnancy, future babies have less height and weight. A more significant increase in the weight of the expectant mother, as well as increased medical supervision, are all in the future.
Pregnancy complications
Severe toxicosis shows that not everything in the body of the expectant mother is good. How to understand that nausea and other signs threaten the normal well-being of a woman? Here are the alarms:
- nausea is felt almost constantly;
- frequent vomiting, more than twice a day (if more than five - urgently to a doctor);
- the body responds with a “storm” to any food;
- weight loss causes weakness and a strong decrease in hemoglobin in the blood (anemia).
All these signs require medical attention.
Constipation
Many pregnant women have bowel problems. The most unpleasant thing is constipation. Stress in the toilet, of course, absolutely not! Firstly, this is bad for the future baby. Secondly, hemorrhoids can be triggered. There is only one way out - to establish nutrition so that the intestines work correctly and fully. In acute cases, the doctor may prescribe a local laxative. It is not recommended to choose such medicines to the expectant mother, even if the drug is advised by the pharmacists in the pharmacy.
Stomach ache
Expectant mother needs to be careful if her stomach hurts every now and then. This may be flatulence, and the threat of miscarriage. In the first case, pain can occur in any part of the abdomen, they are combined with bloating and the release of gases from the intestines. In the second case, the pain seems to be enough from the inside (doctors call this cramping) and gives it to the lower back. Often there is a feeling that the stomach is pulling. If spotting appears, the risk of miscarriage is more pronounced.
Frozen pregnancy
An equally alarming sign is the abrupt cessation of all manifestations of pregnancy. The sudden disappearance of toxicosis and other “pregnant” sensations may be a sign of fetal development stopping. Frozen pregnancy at the 9th obstetric week is a serious complication. It requires a thorough examination and a number of medical measures.
Spontaneous abortion (fading or miscarriage) can occur for various reasons:
- genetic abnormalities;
- malnutrition;
- bad habits;
- Unhealthy Lifestyle;
- injuries, falls.
Abortion
However, pregnancy can be interrupted at the request of the woman herself. Until the 12th week, every expectant mother has the right to make a decision and refuse to continue bearing the fetus. It is important to remember: negative emotions, parting with the father of the future baby, or the desire to “live for yourself” are bad advice in this matter. The decision regarding abortion must be responsible. The termination of pregnancy itself is carried out in medical facilities under the strict supervision of medical specialists.
Tips & Tricks
In the life of a future mother, there is a lot of “impossible”, “possible” and “necessary”. Literally everything now depends on attention to oneself and the unborn baby.
Nutrition
The diet of a pregnant woman for all nine months remains approximately the same. Correction of nutrition is carried out according to circumstances. For example, if the expectant mother suffers from constipation, you need to exclude:
- rice
- tea, jelly, cocoa;
- fresh pastries and bread.
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And in order to further stimulate intestinal activity, food must necessarily include:
- grapes;
- carrot;
- fresh cucumbers;
- figs.
The list of exceptions is, alas, mandatory. But from the products to stimulate the intestines, you can choose only those that you like.
General nutrition rules:
- lean meats;
- fatty fish (they contain important food acids);
- dairy and dairy products to choose from;
- porridge;
- sweets - only natural (not cakes and not sweets);
- as prescribed by the doctor - vitamins, folic acid and / or iron preparations.
Health and Beauty Care
Now the expectant mother must definitely visit the antenatal clinic (if this has not already been done). The doctor will officially confirm the pregnancy and prescribe blood, urine and vaginal smear tests. They will be checked:
- general condition of the body;
- sugar level;
- the presence / absence of various infections, including genital;
- blood type (if necessary).
In addition, the doctor will send the expectant mother to the local therapist and several narrow specialists. Each will inspect a pregnant woman in accordance with their specialty and give recommendations.
The 9th obstetric week may be overshadowed by the first signs of stretch marks on the skin of the abdomen and chest. In this case, the expectant mother needs a special cream for stretch marks. Another way to help your skin is to rub olive oil into it.
Photo of the tummies:
Other tips
- Smoking and alcohol should be a thing of the past. At least - from the moment of the first suspicion of a pregnancy.
- Forget about the burdens. If you still have to raise something, you need to do this in a special way. Do not bend over, but squat down, take the load with both hands, and then stand up. Nevertheless, it is better if such a situation does not arise at all.
- Hot beaches, a sauna and hot tubs are contraindicated for pregnant women.
- The same can be said about a sharp change in climate. It's not just about temperature differences. Everything is decisive for the baby: air, water, weather and so on.
- It’s time for sports mom to change the type of outdoor activities. And unsportsmanlike is the time to think about future birth and recovery. The best activities for expectant mothers are yoga and swimming.
- It is advisable to abandon heavy summer work. You can pick berries (if you don’t need to stand on a stepladder), cut flowers and greens. And no struggle for the crop.
- If you want to watch a movie, give up “horror”, thrillers, bloody detectives and mysticism. The same recommendation - when reading books.
- Do not give vent to negativity. The best mood is calm, bright emotions.
- Sexual life must take into account the situation. Sexual intercourse should not be rude or too violent. In some cases, this can lead to uterine contractions and the risk of miscarriage. For multiple pregnancies, the doctor may recommend limiting sex life. In addition, due to hormonal changes, the expectant mother may stop enjoying sex. This must be told to the future father. Domestic omissions are the worst option when waiting for a baby.
If the expectant mother is attentive to her condition, the ninth week of pregnancy will certainly pass safely.
It was at 9 weeks that I registered with a doctor. Before that I thought that the delay was due to nerves. But she began to notice an increase in appetite and a new preference for food, and clothes became a bit cramped. For me - this is a pleasant time - I found out that I will be a mother.
When I was pregnant, on the contrary, I was drawn to horror films, although my husband forbade me to watch them - I watched. My child is already 5 years old, and he grows up as a very kind boy. So not all book tips need to be followed!) You need to listen to your desires.
By the second month comes the full realization that you are a future mother) It begins to seem that the tummy is growing and you feel with your whole body that a new life is developing in you. I didn’t have any addictions in food, but as for intestinal upset, drowsiness and mood swings - YES! Thanks to my husband for his patience, understanding and the opportunity to do what he loves (embroidery, walking, reading, completing hairdresser courses). And also during this period I had a terrible desire to make repairs, to change something.
I watched the movie “Jaws”, although I do not like horror stories, and during pregnancy I was drawn to such films. Now my son is 23 years old, in his childhood, he watched horrors, he liked it, of course, I forbade it, it didn’t affect my psyche, then he began to watch how I make such films, began to read comics, then he began to read books. All this is individual, I ate the whole pregnancy sour, green apples and oatmeal, my son is loving it now.