Introduction
Congratulations on reaching week 9 of your pregnancy! Pregnancy week 9 is an incredible time filled with marvels as your baby grows and develops.
From tiny fingers forming to your changing body, each day brings new wonders. In this blog, we’ll delve into the magic of week 9, providing insights and tips to support you on this incredible journey.
Let’s celebrate the joys of motherhood and cherish the precious bond you’re creating with your little one. Get ready to be amazed!
Size of the baby at pregnancy week 9
As you enter your ninth week of pregnancy, your baby will be the size of a cherry or grape, measuring 0.9 to 1.2 inches (2.3 to 3.1 centimeters) from crown to rump.
Pregnancy at 9 weeks is how many months?
You are around two months pregnant at 9 weeks. Pregnancy is traditionally measured in weeks, with each month lasting approximately four weeks. So, when you reach 9 weeks, you’ve successfully finished two months and are starting your third month of pregnancy.
Growth and development of the baby at 9 weeks
- Your baby is beginning to take shape and is beginning to resemble a little baby at 9 weeks pregnant! Even the tail, which was evident in previous weeks, has nearly vanished. This week’s further significant developmental changes include the following:
- This week, tiny face features like eyelids and a more pronounced nose continue to emerge.
- Your baby’s head is big in relation to its body up above, and its toes can now be seen below.
- Internal organs are also developing, including the reproductive and digestive systems, which means that the genitalia and intestines are growing.
9th week ultrasound
The first prenatal visit is usually scheduled between weeks 8 and 12. So, you may have visited the obstetrician-gynecologist by now—if not, you will soon! During that initial checkup, you may even be able to see the baby’s little heartbeat on the ultrasound.
Transvaginal ultrasounds are usually performed on pregnant women after nine weeks. Given that your uterus still rests below your pelvic bone, the doctor or ultrasound technician will need to place a probe into your vagina.
It doesn’t hurt, so don’t be alarmed. Your 9-week-old fetus will appear as an image on a screen thanks to the probe’s sound waves.
The 9-week pregnant ultrasound will not only allow you to see the baby, who will resemble a lima bean, but it will also demonstrate that the pregnancy is uterine (i.e., there are no indications of ectopic or tubal pregnancy at this stage). The gestational sac, yolk sac, and fetal pole may be indicated by the clinician.
Many pregnant women are concerned about the chance of miscarriage around nine weeks. You can relax knowing that the risk drops to 2 to 9 percent once you’ve seen or heard a heartbeat and will continue to decline over the next few weeks.
Around week nine of pregnancy, you can expect more prenatal tests, such as blood work to check your blood type, white and red blood cell counts, and STD status.
Additionally, you might undergo a pap smear examination to look for anomalies (which could indicate cervical cancer) and a urine test to look for UTIs and see whether your protein levels appear normal.
When you are holding your newborn child, all of the pushing and prodding will have been entirely worthwhile.
Mother’s symptoms at pregnancy week 9
At pregnancy week 9, many mothers may experience a range of symptoms as their bodies adjust to the changes brought on by pregnancy.
While every woman’s experience is unique, here are some common symptoms that expectant mothers may encounter at this stage:
1. Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting, often referred to as morning sickness, can be prevalent during week 9. Despite the name, it can occur at any time of the day.
2. Fatigue: The increased demands on the body during early pregnancy may lead to feelings of tiredness and fatigue.
Expanding waist: Your pre-pregnancy clothes are probably feeling a little tight due to a combination of an expanding waistline and some bloating brought on by pregnancy hormones, even if your belly at 9 weeks pregnant may not have a noticeable, rounded look.
At pregnancy week 9, hormones may also cause other digestive problems, such as diarrhea or heartburn, in addition to bloating.
3. Breast tenderness: Hormonal changes might result in breast sensitivity, enlargement, or tenderness.
4. Urinating more frequently: The expanding uterus can put a strain on the bladder, increasing toilet visits during pregnancy week 9.
5. Mood swings: Hormonal changes may be a factor in mood swings and other emotional disturbances.
6. Spotting: At pregnancy week 9 and throughout the first trimester, you can notice some spotting or very little bleeding.
At 9 weeks pregnant (or at any time during your pregnancy), if you observe more than a few drops of blood or a discharge that is an unusual color, such as yellow or green, speak with your healthcare provider.
7. Gentle uterine cramps: At nine weeks pregnant, your uterus (and accompanying ligaments) have expanded to their full size, which may cause mild period-like cramps (without bleeding) and lower back pain.
Consult your healthcare professional if the cramping is severe or occurs together with other pain to rule out any medical issues.
8. Becoming more hungrier: Keep some additional snacks on hand in case you start to feel hungry more often than normal.
Fruit, cereal, and yogurt are excellent choices of food. Download our pregnancy nutrition guide to get more insightful advice.
9. Food Cravings and Aversions: You will encounter changes in taste and smell in pregnancy week 9 which may lead to food cravings or aversions to certain foods.
10. Dizziness or Fainting: Changes in blood pressure and increased blood flow may cause dizziness or fainting spells.
11. Being grumpy: You can blame those pregnancy hormonal shifts if you feel great one minute and doomed the next.
If your mood swings are severe, seek support from your healthcare professional and talk to loved ones about how you’re feeling—it might make you feel a bit better.
12. Urinating frequently: As your baby grows and your uterus presses against your bladder, those extra trips to the toilet can still be a part of your day.
The increased blood volume in your body, which forces your kidneys to work harder, may also be the reason why you need to urinate more frequently.
Don’t reduce your water intake because it’s crucial to stay hydrated. Consult a doctor if you have pain or a burning sensation when you pass pee.
13. Acne: Acne may be one of your pregnancy symptoms if you currently have it but didn’t before you became pregnant or if it’s worse now than it was.
Note from Jammi Scans
Now that you’ve entered your pregnancy week 9, you might be feeling more excited and nervous about the whole new thing.
It’s normal to have a mix of emotions like happiness, relief, anxiety, and uncertainty.
Pregnancy is a big change in life. Prepare for your new arrival with obstetricians – gynecologists and fetal medicine experts from Jammi Scans!
Chennai Women’s Clinic is now Jammi Scans
