The tenth week of pregnancy
Your changing body
At week 10, your pregnancy enters into a more stable state. By now, you must have understood that you need to take in small meals at frequent intervals to overcome the queasiness. With the increase in blood volume, veins in your stomach, legs and breasts might have become particularly apparent.
Some women will be blessed with a healthy glow during this time while others may complaint of skin problems such as Acne and melasma (brownish uneven marks on the forehead, temples, over the nose area also spreading to the cheekbone). Your Uterus also continues to grow. Before pregnancy, your Uterus was the size of a small pear. By week 10, it will be as big as a grapefruit. There is substantial growth in the Placenta both in size and functioning.
Some of you may be experiencing increased salivation along with the typical Morning sickness around this time. Although these symptoms may be commonly observed during the first three months of pregnancy; in some women, they may subside by this period offering some relief.
Your growing baby
Week 10 marks the end of the embryonic period and the beginning of the fetal period where your baby’s organs continue to grow, function and mature. Your baby is now around 3–3.5 cm long, weighs about 4 g and is as big as a lime. Many of his organs have developed, are growing and functioning.
The liver has now taken up the job of the yolk sac, producing red blood Cells. Since your baby has already passed the crucial stages of organ development, by around this week, the risks of birth defects get significantly reduced. Also, minute features like appearance of finger nails and hair on the body become apparent around this time.
Under the translucent skin, the spine of your baby can be observed with the spinal nerves beginning to project outwards from the spinal cord. Your growing baby is active and by now kicking and swallowing the Amniotic Fluid. His head is still oversized.
Tips for the tenth week of pregnancy
Besides eating healthy, you also have to pay attention to lifestyle modifications. Restrict alcohol consumption and refrain from smoking (active as well as passive smoke), as they have detrimental effects on your health and that of your baby.
Plan to shop for some comfortable clothes and shoes that might eventually become a necessity. The best shoes for a pregnant woman are the flat-heeled ones, with grips or straps over the soles, that aid you while walking and prevent you from slipping.
Sleep is also one aspect that most pregnant women often feel that they are constantly being deprived of. The rapidly changing hormones and the expanding Uterus do make it difficult for you to adapt to a consistent sleep pattern. Sometimes you simply can’t get over the scariest dreams.
Look in for a good maternity pillow that offers the much needed support to your growing tummy. Stimulants such as tea, coffee and chocolate late in the evening should be avoided as they can disrupt your sleep.
Opt for a light reading session, meditation or other relaxation exercises before bed time as these help in inducing sleep.
Activities for the tenth week of pregnancy
Take up swimming or walking. Buy a pair of comfortable shoes and clothes.
Supplements to be taken during the tenth week of pregnancy
Folic acid together with calcium and iron supplement.
Common problems in the tenth week of pregnancy
Heart burn, sudden twinges and bloating in the abdomen, gingivitis, excessive vomiting, excessive salivation.
Common tests in the tenth week of pregnancy
A Prenatal test e.g. chorionic villus sampling (removal of a small amount of chorionic villus tissue from the implantation site) to detect genetic defects like Down syndrome may be scheduled anytime between the 10th and 12th weeks.
Blood test to detect the levels of hemoglobin in the blood can be useful to see if you are Anemic. Abnormalities in the red blood Cells can also be detected through certain tests. This would prove useful to identify sickle cell disease and Thalassemia that can be easily passed on to your baby.
Blood tests can also help know about your blood group and presence of other viruses in your blood such as hepatitis B and HIV virus. Apart from these tests and a few more, your antenatal visit will also include ultrasonography to track the progress of your growing Fetus.
By the end of this week or the next, you will be able to hear your baby’s heart beat by a Doppler stethoscope applied by your doctor on your belly. Be sure to call in your partner as this is one of the most amazing experiences of your pregnancy!
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