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Week 9
How Big is the Baby at
Nine Weeks Pregnant?
By pregnancy week 9 your baby is between 22
and 30 mm long, (that's about an inch) or about the size of a large grape. Your
baby weighs less than one ounce at 9 weeks pregnant, but will soon start putting
on weight dramatically as you continue your pregnancy week by week.
Your Baby's Growth and
Development
Your baby is growing like crazy during pregnancy week
9. Most of the aspects of your baby's physical structure such as head, arms,
legs and torso are in place. If you were to peek in on your little one you'd
find they resemble a miniature human being (one with a very large head!).
Because your baby's organs and limbs are forming, in the next few weeks your
baby will be putting on weight. Your baby's tail should have disappeared by now,
and your baby's organs and muscles should be functioning on their own.
It's hard to believe that something so small can function so completely
isn't it!
During pregnancy 9 weeks your baby's eyelids will fuse shut
and won't open up again until your baby is about 27 weeks along. Your baby's
face is becoming more distinct every day, with the mouth, nose and nostrils
becoming clearly visible. By nine weeks your little one will even have developed
sex organs, however your healthcare provider won't be able to discern them quite
yet.
Typically the sex of your baby can be determined by ultrasound
between 18 and 20 weeks gestation.
Your baby's heart should have divided
into four separate chambers by pregnancy week 9, as your baby swims about
gleefully in her warm and cozy home.
Your Growth and Development
Your uterus
is still growing at 9 weeks pregnant, now closer to a small cantaloupe than a
grapefruit. By pregnancy week 9 you may notice that you feel more bloated and
lethargic than ever before. You may notice an increase in weight gain, which may
be more associated with fluid retention than actual weight. This may apply
throughout your pregnancy week by week. One thing you should avoid doing while
pregnant is weighing yourself every day. Weight gain can fluctuate as much as
1-5 pounds in the course of a single day, and such fluctuations can be
discouraging. If you can hold off until your prenatal visits, you might avoid
the pain of constant weight fluctuations. If however you are determined to weigh
yourself frequently during pregnancy, consider weighing once a week, at the same
time of day right after you get up in the morning and void your
bladder.
Doing so will provide the most consistent results and will help
eliminate excessive worries about daily weight changes. A new pair of maternity
jeans will relieve the anxiety related to weight fluctuations.
Not all
the weight you gain is stored as fat. At birth your baby may weigh between 6 to
8 pounds. The uterus expands during pregnancy and may weigh about 2 pounds. The
afterbirth or placenta generally weighs 1.5 pounds. Your breast tissue will grow
during pregnancy and may weigh up to 1.5 to 2 pounds. Your blood volume will
increase and add up to 4 pounds of weight. The fluid retained by your body
during pregnancy can weigh as much as 4 pounds. The amniotic fluid surrounding
your baby will weigh approximately 2 pounds. The maternal fat stores will add
about 7 pounds of weight to your total weight gain. By the end of pregnancy you
will gain approximately 18 to 35 pounds.
Here's the skinny on losing
pregnancy weight after you deliver your baby... most women will lose the bulk of
their pregnancy weight in the first three months after delivery.
Changes in You
Many women start
experiencing pregnancy related mood swings and anxiety during pregnancy at 9
weeks. You may alternate feelings of elation with feelings of trepidation. Many
women find themselves crying over small things like commercials when pregnant.
Remember that this is perfectly normal, and largely the result of the increased
number of hormones floating through your system. Higher than normal levels of
progesterone can also lead to more fatigue which can influence your moods.
If this isn't your first pregnancy, by 9 weeks pregnant you may have
noticed that your belly has 'popped' just a bit. This is an exciting time,
though many women look forward to the months where they are actually showing and
not simply looking a little rounder than usual.
Some unpleasant
pregnancy symptoms that might pop up during this pregnancy at 9 weeks are
bloating and gassiness. Many women find they are more prone to flatulence and
burping, as well as highly abnormal guttural sounds during pregnancy. Relax, and
know that these too are normal and simply the result of increasing hormone
levels, particularly progesterone in your body.
You will lose 10-13
pounds during the birthing process from the weight of the infant and placenta.
An additional 7-11 pounds will be lost after the first postpartum week. The
remaining extra pounds will be shed with good eating habits and a regular
exercise program. You will be back to your normal weight and fitting into your
pre-pregnancy clothes in just a short few months as long as you take care to
exercise and eat healthily in the weeks following pregnancy.
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