10 Weeks Pregnant

When you are 10 weeks pregnant, your uterus is the size of a grapefruit.

You may be feeling a bit unglamorous just now. It may not be obvious just yet that you are pregnant, but you probably feel like you’re carrying some extra weight. Don’t deny yourself simple pleasures which make you feel good.

No big news on the nausea front, as it is still a common 10th week pregnancy symptom. Stick with bland, easy-to-digest foods.

It might be hard to see the end of your 1st trimester in sight. The first trimester is seen by many women as the hardest, simply because the symptoms of early pregnancy can be so draining. Some women feel they can relax a little at week 10, as the likelihood of miscarrying decreases and excitement starts to build. Is it too early to start buying baby things? Should we tell other people now? Will baby be ok? These and a million other questions are completely normal at 10 weeks pregnant.

You might need to excuse yourself from polite company around this time in your pregnancy. Flatus, wind, gas, whatever you like to call it, will creep up on you at the least convenient times. Having more gas is a common but little-discussed symptom of pregnancy. Some foods can increase the likelihood of this symptom; beans, green leafy vegetables, bran, and high fiber cereals can all be main offenders.

You might find yourself becoming more superstitious than usual. Try to balance reality and science with a bit of healthy fun. Most women have their own favorite stories when it comes to sharing their pregnancy and childbirth experiences. Learn to filter what you don’t want to hear.

Dream on. Pregnancy is a time when dreams take on a whole new dimension. Dreams are just one way of filtering our subconscious thoughts and getting rid of unnecessary information gathered throughout the day.

You could start mentally organizing your work commitments about this time. Your maternity leave, how long you want to take off work, and the financial practicalities of doing so will occupy some of your thoughts.

Time for the usual size comparison with fruit; this week your baby is the size of a prune.

Your baby’s fingers and toes are clearly formed by week 10 and they are developing fingernails and toenails. Your baby can bend its elbows and flex its wrists.

Your baby’s kidneys are filtering their blood and producing urine this week. They are also secreting digestive juices in the stomach, getting ready for dealing with the amniotic fluid they’ll be swallowing soon.

If your baby is a boy, his testicles are already producing testosterone, the all-important male sex hormone.

Your baby’s head is still large in proportion to the rest of its body, but from 10 weeks baby has a neck and all of the bones in its face are formed. This means that you would be able to see the features much more clearly with an ultrasound at this stage.

A layer of fine hair called lanugo is now covering your baby’s body. Their inner and outer ear, tooth buds, and eyes are all fully developed.

Do experiment with herbal teas in place of your usual caffeinated tea and coffee. They are generally healthier and a pleasant alternative.

Try to increase your milk and calcium intake this week. Your baby’s tooth buds are forming now, so any foods high in this important nutrient will have a positive effect on your baby’s teeth.

Keep a supply of snacks on hand for those moments when you’re feeling dizzy. Because of the challenges in eating properly, your blood sugar could be low at times.