2 months and 1 week
1st Trimester
31 more weeks to go
Week 9 is a sweet landmark. At the end of this week, you reduce the risks of early miscarriage quite a lot. You’d be feeling and wanting to drop on the bed quite frequently. It is because your body is working hard in the first trimester to develop the placenta. Feeling too emotional? Mood changes are expected, largely caused by estrogen and progesterone fluctuations. These hormonal changes can affect the level of mood-regulating brain chemicals called ‘neurotransmitters’. They could be made worse by your stress and anxieties.
द्वितीय शीतोष्मानिलैरभिप्रपच्यमानानां महाभूतानां संघातो घनः संजायते, यदि पिण्डः पुमान, स्त्री चेत पेशी नपुंसकं चेदर्बुदमिति॥ (सुश्रुत शारीरस्थान)
Ayurveda says the accumulated mahabhutas in 1 st month get processed by the combined effect of sheeta-ushma-anila and become Ghana (solid).
Since little muscles are starting to form, overall, the baby is getting stronger. It is still so tiny to make that increasing strength felt by you, though! Actually, the baby is moving vigorously, even in response to stimuli from outside your body, such as light and noise. But, you won’t feel them for a few weeks.
In both the bands of gums, ten tiny tooth buds are developing. Later, these will become the 20 "baby teeth" that fall in childhood. Soon, the teeth start to harden and attach nicely to your baby’s jaw. Of course, you will get to see them only about 5 months after birth when the first ones erupt.
The four chambers of your baby's heart have formed, though really, really tiny. The sound can be heard on the doppler ultrasound and it is much faster than your own!
Hi, placenta! Yes, that is a new organ that your body is growing. It is attached to your uterus and connected to your baby through the umbilical cord. It has developed quite a bit by this week and has started its job of producing hormones that help your baby grow and develop. By the end of your pregnancy, it will be about 9 inches in diameter and an inch thick.
It looks somewhat like a human face with eyes protected by eyelids, a little mouth and even a tongue with the teeniest taste buds. The hands and feet aren’t there yet but markings on where they will appear can be spotted. The spinal cord "tail" has also almost disappeared.
.png)
.png)
The urge to pee more than before might bother you at night when you are trying to get to sleep. Try to sit for longer on the commode to give the bladder a chance to double-empty itself.
Sometimes you might wonder why you are really going mad craving for carrot halwa, for example! Your hormones are tricking your taste and smell. Sometimes, it could be a nutritional deficiency driving it, though. But if you start to crave nonfood substances, such as laundry starch, dirt, or clay (a condition called pica), let your doctor know.
It could be puzzling for you that certain foods that you liked earlier are now disgusting! This is caused by increasing levels of estrogen in your system. Avoid spicy foods and foods with strong smells.
It’s called Hyperosmia and happens because the rising estrogen has made your nose very sensitive. Try to stay away from strong odors. Keep a hanky with a soothing smell in your purse!
Tiredness is common. Try to take rest every few hours. If in office, put your feet on a stool and try to get a short nap while seated.
Hormones in your body are already preparing your breasts for lactation. The milk ducts are growing and being stretched as they fill with milk early in pregnancy. Your nipples might feel sore, especially after a shower. Switch to comfortable sports bras.
You might feel a burning sensation or pain in the chest, feeling full, heavy or bloated, burping or belching, and a feeling that food is coming back up the food pipe. Give your digestive system a new pattern that is easier for it: 6 small small meals instead of 3 regular ones. Chewing mint leaves will reduce the burning sensation. Add asafoetida (hing) in dals and buttermilk for relief.
It may surprise you if you have never experienced it before, but your bowels may become hard and difficult to pass. Try to have a glass of warm water and lemon first thing in the morning. Citrus fruits like oranges, sweet limes act immediately in constipation. Sweet potato is also beneficial.
If your hormones have made you sensitive to smells and going about a regular day is becoming impossible, here are some handy tips.
For more curated activities for mind-body wellness, download the iMumz App.
Your doctor may discuss with you about the 1st Trimester Screening test that is done between Weeks 9 and 13.
The test combines results from a blood test and an ultrasound to assess the risk of having a baby with Down syndrome. This test can detect some other abnormalities and may also tell if you have a multiple pregnancy, for example twins. The screening test does not usually detect spina bifida.
The first trimester test involves 2 measurements:
A sample of your blood is taken at a pathology collection centre between 9 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days of your pregnancy, but ideally between 9 to 12 weeks. This test is used to check the levels of 2 hormones in your blood that change during pregnancy (free B-hCG and PAPP-A). Changes in these levels can indicate a serious chromosomal condition.
An ultrasound is done between 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days of pregnancy, ideally at 12 to 13 weeks. The ultrasound allows the thickness of fluid in an area behind the baby’s neck to be measured. This area, known as nuchal translucency, is often larger in babies with Down syndrome. The person performing the ultrasound will also take some measurements to calculate your developing baby’s gestational age (age in weeks and days).
A computer program then combines these test results plus your exact age, weight and your baby’s correct gestational age, to identify the risk of your baby having Down syndrome, Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18.
For a happy and healthy pregnancy, download the iMumz App.
We know that our body uses iron to make hemoglobin that transports oxygen throughout our body. During pregnancy, much more is needed. The body supplies blood and oxygen to the baby, so the demand for iron goes up to keep up with the increase in blood supply. You will need twice the amount of iron—27 mg per day—now that you are pregnant! Here is an iron-rich recipe for you!
Bajra-Potato Roti
Ingredients
Method
For more such tips and meal plans, download the iMumz App.
It’s still early days and the baby is tiny. But, you can get into the habit of sleeping on your left side. Side sleeping is the best position during pregnancy, whether it's the first 12 weeks or last 12 days. You might also be surprised to hear that sleeping on your left side is superior to sleeping on the right during pregnancy. If you lie on your right side, you'll put undue pressure on organs like your liver.
This week, the uterus is still small and fits where it belongs: inside your pelvic. You are unlikely to notice your uterus growing or expanding. But by the 12th week, your uterus stretches and grows to about the size of a large orange. At the end of this week, you might experience mild cramps in the uterus: they're often described as a slight tugging sensation. That's your uterus beginning to stretch as it grows.
Pregnant women get flexible.
During pregnancy your body produces a hormone called Relaxin, which loosens ligaments in the pelvis to make delivery easier. But since Relaxin affects all your ligaments, you will have looseness all over. Do not confuse it with flexibility and overwork ligaments. It may cause injuries.
Don’t we all love Shavasana? To lie down peacefully, doing nothing? Well, it has a lot of benefits if you use this time to send loving thoughts to the baby.
Lie down on your left side ( Fold your arm to use as a pillow, put a block between your knees, and find a comfortable position). Take a moment to practice breathing for two. With every exhale, imagine the tension in your muscles floating away. Feel the relaxation with every breath. Then, bring your attention to the little miracle growing within you. With the next couple of exhales, imagine your baby relaxing, muscle tension releasing, soothed by the gentle rise and fall of your breath.
Let your imagination burst like a budding flower, each petal flooding your body with calm and love.
For more baby-bonding activities, download the iMumz App.
The award-winning iMumz App is helping 350,000 + women make their pregnancies healthier and happier.
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!
Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.
