10 weeks of pregnancy - what happens to the mother, fetal development, sensations, what the belly looks like

The baby continues to grow, and the expectant mother has almost gotten used to her new role. Uncertainty is a thing of the past, and concerns about the baby’s health come to the fore. Is everything okay with the baby? How can you make sure your pregnancy is going well?

A doctor will be the best friend and advisor for an expectant mother. At 10 weeks of pregnancy, it is already important to register with the antenatal clinic and meet with a specialist who will monitor the woman until the birth.

What else should an expectant mother know? What examinations need to be completed? And what signals from the body should you definitely listen to? Obstetrician-gynecologist, candidate of medical sciences Yana Sulina these questions to the FAN .

photo from the personal archive of Yana Sulina /

What's happening

At the stage of 9–10 weeks of pregnancy, the process of formation of the baby’s organs (organogenesis) is completed, and now they will actively progress almost until birth.

Now the length of the fetus from crown to tailbone is from 3.1 to 4.2 cm, and its weight is on average 5 g. There is approximately 20 ml of amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac. The child already knows how to swallow and spit it out, which contributes to the development of his chewing muscles and digestive system. The brain, liver, kidneys and intestines have taken shape and are beginning to start working, but they are still imperfect and will continue to develop for the rest of the period.

By the 9th – 10th week of pregnancy, marigolds have appeared on your baby’s fingers and toes, and thin transparent skin is covered with fluff. The upper lip and ears are already formed, the high forehead stands out against the background of the face. An important event of this period is brain impulses, which can now be recorded by a special device. Your child also has an individual blood type and Rh factor. The external genitalia are not yet clearly defined, but the male hormone testosterone has begun to be produced in the boys’ testicles.

At the 10th week of pregnancy, differentiation of the brain and spinal cord continues, the peripheral and central parts of the nervous system are separated, so the baby’s movements become more orderly. He can suck his thumb, make grimaces, bend and straighten his fists, cover his face with his hands and push away from the walls of the uterus. But so far you don’t feel his movements.

Sleep disturbances in the 10th week of pregnancy

Sleep disturbances in the 10th week of pregnancy are common. During the day, the expectant mother is overcome by drowsiness, and at night she suffers from insomnia. Hormonal changes are to blame for everything. Insufficient or restless sleep can lead to weakness, fatigue, irritability and headaches. The best way out of this situation is emotional release and additional rest during the day. And in the evenings, try to free yourself from anxious thoughts that keep you awake. If your head hurts too often, consult a doctor at the antenatal clinic.

Beauty and accessories

In the body of the expectant mother, the production of melanin increases, so pigment spots often appear on a woman’s face. Don't be discouraged - they will definitely pass over time! But what can you do now to prevent age spots from appearing so noticeable? A pregnant woman should avoid the scorching sun, eat right and take vitamin and mineral complexes prescribed by the doctor. Masks made from strawberries, kefir, and yogurt will also help her in the fight against unwanted stains. Cucumber juice also has whitening properties.

And don’t forget to purchase special creams against stretch marks for the abdomen and chest - otherwise, no less unpleasant skin problems will be added to the dark spots!

Risk factors

At 10 weeks of pregnancy, there is a high risk of developing genital infections. Most often, expectant mothers are diagnosed with candidiasis (thrush), but infection with chlamydia, gonococci, trichomonas and other pathogenic microorganisms is possible. Regardless of the nature of the disease, it must be treated, otherwise intrauterine infection of the fetus may occur, and this can lead to disruption of its development or even death. Observe vaginal discharge. Normally, they should be transparent or light milky, of uniform consistency, with only a slight sour odor or no odor at all. If the discharge turns green-gray or yellow, if bubbles or flakes appear in it, if it resembles curdled mass and acquires a strong unpleasant odor, go to the doctor immediately.

You should also be wary of brown or bloody discharge at 10 weeks of pregnancy. A small amount of blood may appear after an examination by a gynecologist or after sexual intercourse. Most often this is explained by erosion of the cervix, the loose tissue of which is damaged by external intervention. But when the discharge is accompanied by cramping pain in the abdomen, this may be a sign of spontaneous abortion. Therefore, if you discover such symptoms, immediately seek qualified help: a timely response is a chance to save the child.

Lifestyle of an expectant mother

A woman feels drastic changes in her own body. It is logical to assume that her lifestyle is undergoing dramatic changes. First of all, a woman should try to avoid stress and contact with chemicals and toxic substances. At the same time, the expectant father also needs to be careful about pregnancy, for example, to stop smoking in the presence of the mother, since passive smoke inhalation can have an extremely negative impact on both the woman’s health and the development of the fetus [1].

Change of diet. In order for pregnancy to proceed without disturbances, it is worth reviewing your diet. So, the expectant mother’s menu should include more fruits and vegetables, slow carbohydrates, and animal protein. This diet allows you to saturate the body with essential nutrients and reduce the additional need for vitamins. Of course, a number of vitamin and mineral supplements must be included in the daily menu. Their choice depends on the region of residence of the expectant mother, the state of her body and many other factors.

Choice of vitamins. To prevent anemia, low birth weight babies and premature births, as well as a number of other disorders, WHO recommends including folic acid, calcium and iron in the mandatory diet of a pregnant woman [2]. The dosage of drugs is selected individually, based on tests obtained during screening in the first week of pregnancy.

Intimate life. By the tenth week of pregnancy, a woman feels an increase in libido. Doctors do not prohibit having sex if there are no direct contraindications. In addition, it is believed that intimate life helps maintain optimal uterine tone [3]. Direct contraindications to sexual intercourse are the following pathologies:

risk of miscarriage;
shortening of the cervix;
incorrect position of the placenta;
regular bleeding;
multiple pregnancy;
presence of an STI or sexually transmitted disease in a partner.

If there are certain problems, the gynecologist will definitely inform you about all contraindications and tell you whether a woman can have sex during pregnancy.

Exercise stress. Moderate physical activity is recommended for all pregnant women: this is an excellent practice for lordosis, blood stagnation, and edema. Exercises are selected individually, depending on the condition of the female body and level of training. Professional athletes can continue their normal training under regular supervision of a coach and doctor. Women who have never played sports are recommended to walk at a calm pace, as well as special gymnastics. The leading doctor will tell you about all the details of regular physical activity.

Medical observation

Usually, a routine ultrasound examination is not done at the 10th week of pregnancy. At this time, the doctor will only determine the date of the new ultrasound session and refer you for blood and urine tests.

Also, starting from the 10th week, it is very important to control your blood sugar levels. This is especially true for overweight expectant mothers and those who have a hereditary predisposition to diabetes. Increased blood sugar levels may be associated with emotional distress or overeating. The norm varies from 4 – 5.2 mmol/l (on an empty stomach) to 6.7 mmol/l (a couple of hours after eating). If the values are too high, you should consult an endocrinologist.

Good to know

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Pregnancy quirks that men don't understand

How to avoid dizziness and fainting during pregnancy?

How to cope with anxiety during pregnancy

Why do you need a neurologist during pregnancy?

Pain in pregnant women: what to do if your back or tooth hurts

Secrets to restful sleep during pregnancy

Sleep problems during pregnancy

How to relieve stress during pregnancy: 2 exercises for relaxation

All texts for pages about mother and baby were kindly provided by RAMA Publishing - these are chapters from the book by Svetlana Klaas “Your Favorite Little Man from Conception to Birth”, reviewer Irina Nikolaevna Kononova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Ural State Medical Academy (Ekaterinburg).

Recommendations

During the 10th week of pregnancy, your baby's baby teeth begin to form. This means that in the diet you need to focus on foods containing calcium (legumes, almonds, sesame and poppy seeds, wholemeal bread, leaf and watercress, rose hips, broccoli, asparagus, carrots, radishes, sardines, salmon, milk and dairy products). Enrich your diet with them, because your teeth can also suffer from a lack of calcium. The body also needs iodine - now it begins to accumulate in the baby’s thyroid gland.

Continue to monitor your health as you enter the 10th week of pregnancy.

Take care of proper nutrition. Reduce the amount of fatty and fried foods and smoked foods in your diet. It is better if you stew, bake or steam dishes. Limit your salt and sugar intake;
Be physically active. Overload should not be allowed, but as long as the tummy does not interfere, you can do swimming, yoga, gymnastics for pregnant women, and take daily walks in the fresh air. This will improve metabolism and enrich the blood with oxygen;
To prevent dehydration, consume enough fluids during the 10th week of pregnancy. Drink water, freshly squeezed juices, do not neglect first courses, eat more seasonal berries and fruits, which contain a lot of vitamins and water (watermelons, melons, pears, oranges, grapes, etc.). Additional fluid will help maintain skin elasticity, increase blood volume, maintain normal amniotic fluid volume, reduce the risk of genital infections and relieve constipation;
Learn to relax, recharge yourself with positive emotions: meet with friends, think about your hobby or discover some new interesting hobby.

How does stress affect a pregnant woman?

Stress stalks mothers during the waiting period, most often unexpectedly and untimely. To “escape” from stress, the adrenal glands produce the hormones glucocorticoids and catecholamines, however, with the protracted nature of emotional disorders, this process leads to impaired blood circulation in the placenta and, in general, to a deterioration in the health of the unborn child.

Short-term stress and minor experiences are training for the Baby’s protective mental mechanisms, which he will fully need after birth. If you learn to quickly cope with stress in the period before birth, you will lay the foundation for the formation in your Baby of such a valuable quality as stress resistance (inherent in most successful and influential people).

To protect yourself and your Baby, try to avoid unpleasant experiences and especially stress, and if this turns out to be impossible, try to overcome stress, that is, get out of it as quickly as possible. Stressful experiences have begun - take immediate action, remembering that otherwise the Baby will also suffer:

A good release is intense movement (taking into account your position, of course): this could be regular walking at a slightly faster pace, or some kind of active housework, or physical exercise.
Speaking out to someone who will understand and support you is another way to overcome a stressful state.
Games like darts, folding origami, Rubik's cube, embroidery and knitting, the notorious “Spiders” and “Solitaires”, that is, playing solitaire on the computer, and other games that require concentration and/or coordination of movements are good ways to relieve stress - it’s worth getting carried away, and peace of mind will be restored by itself.