You might be wondering what your fetus looks like at 9 weeks of pregnancy. When your fetus is entering 9 weeks, it means that your pregnancy is at the end of the first trimester. At this moment, your body’s working overtime to develop the placenta—the lifeline between your baby and your own body supply.
To know your 9-week pregnancy, your fetus’ development, what you may feel, and what you should do at 9 weeks of your pregnancy, you can dive into our post since we’ll show them for you below. Let’s check them out!
Fetal Development at Weeks 9 of Pregnancy
At week 9 of pregnancy, you may undergo an ultrasound to see how your baby looks, right? In addition, ultrasound itself is very necessary to determine whether or not there is a gestational sac. At weeks 8 and 9, the contents of the embryo can already be seen.
The fetal development at 9 weeks of pregnancy includes the following:
1. Your fetus has the size of a cherry
At 9 weeks of your pregnancy, your fetus is as big as a cherry. A healthy fetus, of course, will continue to develop every week. The size of the 9-week fetus is roughly 2.5–3 cm long. At this moment, all parts of the fetus’ body will continue to develop.
If you undergo an ultrasound, you may see his or her tiny face on the monitor. You can also see the nose, lips, and eyelids, as well as fingers, knees, and elbows.
Read also: How Many Times Do Pregnant Women Have to Do Ultrasound?
2. The brain starts to develop
Your baby’s head and ears are more fully developed, making your baby look more human. Some vital organs also develop, such as the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and livers. Even though you may not feel your baby’s tiny movements for at least another month or two, his arms and legs are also spontaneously moving now that his minuscule muscles are beginning to develop.
3. Baby’s heart begins to develop
At 9 weeks of pregnancy, your baby’s heart will have four chambers. The heart and arterial system will continue to develop, while the ribs and sternum are also forming. At this moment, the pancreas, bile ducts, and the liver will also be developing.
Generally, a baby’s heartbeat can be detected this week, but it’s still too weak to detect. Of course, your baby’s heartbeat is the first indication that your baby is developing well in the womb.
4. Your baby starts to actively move
Your baby has started to actively move at 9 weeks of pregnancy. You can detect your baby’s movement through an ultrasound. If you do not yet feel your baby’s movement, you shouldn’t worry since your fetus is still very small, so its movements sometimes cannot be felt. Generally, fetal movement can be felt starting at 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Okay, those are the characteristics of the developing fetus that you should be aware of at 9 weeks of pregnancy.
How Does a Mother Feel 9 Weeks Pregnant?
Some pregnant women may not have experienced such a clear enlargement of their stomach at 9 weeks of pregnancy. Instead, the lower abdomen will feel tighter than before. You may feel cramped when wearing the old clothes or pants you have. This week, your waistline may thicken and your stomach may feel more bloated because of hormones.
Here are some symptoms you may feel at 9 weeks of your pregnancy:
1. Cravings
Some pregnant women may feel cravings at 9 weeks pregnant. That said, cravings are caused by extreme hormonal changes during pregnancy. As long as it does not harm your pregnancy, you can do what you want during pregnancy. If it endangers your pregnancy, you should avoid it very much.
2. Decreased appetite
You shouldn’t be concerned if you have a lower appetite than usual because this is common in pregnant women. It is known that the decreased appetite is a side effect of the rapid rise in estrogen levels during pregnancy. If necessary, you can discuss healthy food intake with your obstetrician.
3. Breast changes
At 9 weeks of pregnancy, you may have fuller breasts and darker nipples. You may also experience breast pain similar to period symptoms. Itchy breasts can also be experienced by pregnant women.
4. enhanced sense of smell
This week, you may have an increased sense of smell. Certain odors may even trigger the urge to vomit. An enhanced sense of smell is often considered a common side effect of the rapid rise in pregnancy hormone levels. So, make sure to avoid triggering smells during pregnancy.
5. Nausea and vomiting
Week 9 of pregnancy is often considered the peak of morning sickness—the way your body protects the baby from toxins in early pregnancy. In the first trimester, your baby will enter an important period of development where all vital organs and the body’s structures will be formed.
It is known that morning sickness can strike at any time. Of course, you can try to avoid things that make you want to vomit during pregnancy. So, make sure to drink a lot of water and get enough rest. Never consume nausea medicine during pregnancy without consulting your obstetrician first.
6. Gastric pain
Some pregnant women, particularly those with a history of gastric pain, may experience stomach pain at 9 weeks of their pregnancy. Gastric pain during pregnancy is often considered due to hormonal and physical changes in your body.
If you have gastric pain during pregnancy, make sure to avoid foods with a sour or spicy taste. If necessary, you can see an obstetrician to discuss how you feel.
7. Constipation
At 9 weeks of pregnancy, you may experience constipation. To overcome it, you need to stay active, eat high-fiber foods, and drink a lot of water. Prenatal exercise can also help you deal with constipation. Make sure to choose exercises that are safe for your pregnancy.
Those are some of the symptoms you might experience at 9 weeks of pregnancy.
Tips to Keep Your 9 Weeks Pregnancy
Keeping your pregnancy healthy is what you should do. Of course, you should follow some tips and tricks to maintain your nine-week pregnancy well. What are they? Let’s see some tips and tricks to keep your nine-week pregnancy healthy!
1. Keep your mental health good
There is no doubt that stress can really affect the development of your fetus in the womb. To prevent it, you need to take good care of your mental health. Make sure to do things that make you happy, as long as they do not endanger your pregnancy.
Of course, the role of a husband will be needed to keep your mental health good. You can do the following things to keep your mood up during pregnancy:
- Get enough sleep
- Eat healthy food in sufficient portions
- Limit your sugar consumption
- Light exercise, such as walking around your home environment
- Spend quality time with your partner, family, and friends
- Meditation
2. Take an appropriate way to overcome itchy and pain in your breasts
If you experience itching and pain in your breasts, you shouldn’t carelessly treat them. You definitely need to consult with an obstetrician regarding the best treatment to overcome it.
For at-home remedies, take a shower with room-temperature water and apply a pregnancy-safe moisturizer. Make sure to wear loose clothes that can absorb sweat.
Make sure to avoid bathing in warm water or using soap that can make your skin dry. You also have to avoid wearing tight or rough clothes since these can irritate your skin.
3. Treat your gastric pain
Experiencing gastric pain during pregnancy is very painful. If you experience gastric pain at 9 weeks of your pregnancy, you definitely have to treat it by taking some appropriate steps, as follows:
- Make sure to eat small portions, but more often
- Eat slowly and chew your food well
- Make sure to avoid lying down or sleeping immediately after eating.
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Try to take acupuncture treatment during pregnancy; it may help treat your gastric pain, but you need to consult with your obstetrician first.
4. Having sex is allowed
During pregnancy, you’re allowed to have sex to reduce stress, as long as your sex position will not endanger your pregnancy. The woman on top is the recommended sex position during pregnancy since it cannot press on your stomach.
If necessary, you can first consult with your obstetrician to get the best advice regarding sex position. However, there are some conditions that can harm your pregnancy, such as cervical insufficiency, unexpected vaginal bleeding, and a history of preterm labor.
Never hesitate to talk about painless sex with your husband since some symptoms, such as nausea and sore breasts, can make you feel uncomfortable with sexual activity.
Read next: Fetal Development Week 10
Well, that’s information about the development of your fetus at 9 weeks pregnant, how you feel this week, and some tips and tricks to keep your pregnancy healthy.
