10th Week of Pregnancy – The start of the fetal stage

During the 10^th week of pregnancy, the embryonic period ends and the fetal stage begin. By this time, you’ll notice that the bumps become more visible. Perhaps, you’ll think about shopping for looser clothes and maternity wear. But, you should be smart in picking only those essentials because you’ll experience many changes in your body. Remember, you still have seven more months to go.

Baby’s development

At week 10, the baby is about the size of a strawberry that weighs .14 ounces and 1.2 inches long. In the next couple of weeks, the length of the baby will double. The baby look more like a human, but the bulge on the forehead is still apparent that supports the brain development.

The cartilage and bones are forming, thus the ankles and knees start to develop. Likewise, the arms flex and ready to punch in the coming days.

The teeth appear when the baby is nearly six months old, but start to form on the 10^th week of pregnancy. The kidneys are functioning such as producing urine and a baby boy starts to produce testosterone.

How the body works on the 10^th week of pregnancy?

The hormonal changes affect the body particularly the bowel movement. Thus, constipation becomes common during pregnancy. This makes sense consuming foods that are rich in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Drinking plenty of water and regular exercise can also help.

Other changes in your body include the following:

• Rounder tummy – If you will look in the mirror you’ll notice that the lower abdomen is slightly round. But, it may vary from one person to another. You may also start to feel some pains and aches in your abdomen as it stretches known as round ligament pain.
• Visible veins – You may also notice the appearance of blue lines on your skin, specifically on the abdomen and breasts. The visible veins are more obvious for those who are fair-skinned, but may also appear to those with darker complexions. The veins are responsible for carrying the blood supply necessary to nourish the fetus. It may also become more prominent as the blood volume increases. There’s nothing to worry about because the blue lines will disappear after the birth of your baby.
• Increased vaginal discharge – Due to the pregnancy hormones, you should expect increase of vaginal discharge because more blood flows toward the pelvic area.
• Heartburn – This is a common symptom during pregnancy, but can be prevented by not lying too soon after eating.
• Fatigue – It is important to do exercise at this stage of pregnancy, but resting is also essential. To avoid fatigue, you should listen to your body and take a rest as needed.
• Food cravings and aversion – As the pregnancy advances, you may experience food cravings and it is okay to indulge in a bite-size chocolate, but not too much. You should also consult your doctor to avoid weight loss.

What you should do?

As you experience various body changes and symptoms of pregnancy, you should do the right things at the 10^th week of pregnancy.

• Take more vitamin D – The teeth of the baby start to form on the 10^th week that’s why you should take more vitamin D. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement.
• Keep calm – As you’re coping with all the discomforts of pregnancy, you should give yourself time to relax. You should keep calm and exercising is the best way to release endorphins that would make you feel good.

Pregnant women should avoid eating while watching TV. Research showed that it is not the proper way of feeding the baby. Mood swings may also attack and you should be ready to deal with the roller coaster ride of emotions.