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9 Weeks Pregnant
Changes in Your Baby at 9 Weeks Pregnant
At 9 weeks pregnant your baby is like a sprinter in the starting block ready for the race to start. No larger than a big grape at nine weeks pregnant and between 22 and 30 mm long (about an inch), the baby weighs less than one ounce. Although in the weeks ahead that will change at a phenomenal rate.
At 9 weeks pregnant your baby’s physical structure has developed to the point it resembles a tiny human being. With the head, arms, legs, and torso in place, the baby is developing at a break neck speed. With the development of the organs and limbs the baby will be putting on weight and should have totally dropped its tail by now. You would be amazed, with the development of the organs and muscles, how something so small can function so perfectly.
During pregnancy week 9 your baby will develop its sex organs although your healthcare provider won’t be able to determine the sex through the use of ultrasound until between 18 and 20 weeks. The ninth week pregnant is also the time the baby’s eyelids fuse shut to remain closed until about 25 weeks. The baby’s face is becoming more clear with the little nose, mouth, and nostrils more distinctive. Also the baby’s heart should have divided into four chambers by your ninth week of pregnancy.
Changes in Your Body at 9 Weeks Pregnant
Your uterus at 9 weeks pregnant is now closer to the size of a small cantaloupe instead of a grapefruit. You may feel more bloated and more lethargic than ever before by nine weeks pregnant. Weight gain is probably more noticeable with the retention of fluids taking place. This is something that may apply throughout your pregnancy. It is recommended to check your weight during prenatal visits instead of weighing yourself every day. The reason is your weight can fluctuate as much as five pounds in a single day based on fluid retention. Seeing these fluctuations on a daily basis can be a source of discouragement. However, if you are determined to weigh yourself, try once a week and set a specific time of day. A good time would be after getting out of bed in the morning. This will give you more consistent results and help eliminate those worries about daily weight changes. Also a new pair of maternity jeans will help with any anxiety brought on by weight and size changes.
It should be noted that all weight gain is not as stored fat. Your baby will probably weigh between 6 and 8 pounds at birth and your expanding uterus will likely weigh several pounds. Add to that the 1.5 pounds for the placenta and the 1.5 to 2 pounds of breast tissue that grows during pregnancy. Also consider the increased blood volume that accounts for up to 4 pounds along with the 4 pounds of fluid retained by the body during the pregnancy. Wait, there’s more. There’s about 2 pounds of amniotic fluid and then about 7 pounds of maternal fat to be added to the total. Then the total sum of weight gain during pregnancy would be about 18 to 35 pounds.
Forgive the pun, but here is the skinny on losing pregnancy weight after you deliver. The majority of women take about three months after delivery to lose the bulk of their pregnancy weight. You will lose 10 to 13 pounds when the baby is born. During the first postpartum week you should also lose between 7 to 11 pounds. So, after the first week it will be up to you. That means you will have to employ good eating habits and have a regular exercise program. Then before you know it, you will be back to your normal weight and fitting into your pre-pregnancy wardrobe in a manner of a few short months.
Pregnancy at 9 weeks is a time when many women start having anxiety and experiencing pregnancy related mood swings. It is not uncommon to go from a feeling of extreme joy to dark despair in the blink of an eye. Crying over the message in a commercial is not an uncommon thing for a lot of women. As a matter of fact, this is quite normal and can be attributed to the increased number of hormones in your body. With progesterone at a higher than normal level this can lead to more fatigue creating the opportunity for a shift in your moods with the right stimulus.
Other changes that occur in pregnancy at 9 weeks pregnant are related to you actually showing instead of just looking like you are a little rounder. If this isn’t your first pregnancy, you will probably notice your belly has blossomed out just a little bit.
There are some unpleasant pregnancy symptoms at 9 weeks pregnant like bloating and gassiness that pop up in this week. You may find that you are more prone to flatulence and burping along with a highly abnormal guttural sound. Relax because these are normal embarrassments during pregnancy.
Read next about your baby's growth, as well as the changes in your body at 10 weeks pregnant.