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10 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Development, Size, And Self-Care Tips

10 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Development, Size, And Self-Care Tips

23 Sep 2022 | 7 min Read

Sudeshna Chakravarti

Author | 799 Articles

The 10th week of pregnancy bears special significance. This is the time when the embryo develops into a fetus and prepares for the outside world. At 10 weeks pregnant, you may also start to show a bit, and notice visible veins and increased vaginal discharge. You will also be able to feel your baby’s presence more and see their progress in your first prenatal visit this week.

Read on to know more about your baby’s development and growth progress during this week. We have also included a list of care tips that will help enhance your overall well-being and keep you comfortable and happy.

How Big Is Your Baby At 10 Weeks Pregnant?

At 10 weeks pregnant, your baby will attain the size of a strawberry, and measure 3.048 cm from crown to rump and weigh around 3.96 gm.

During this week, your baby will move from the embryonic stage to the fetal stage. Let’s take a look at some of your baby’s major developments that will occur at this stage.

Your Baby’s Development At 10 Weeks

We have created a detailed table to help you get a better idea of your baby’s growth and development at 10 weeks pregnant. You will also be able to see their developmental progress during your routine OB/GYN check-up.

Body Parts	Baby Development At 10 Weeks Pregnant
Mouth	Your baby’s tooth buds and tongue will start developing. They will also start swallowing amniotic fluid.
Facial features	Their facial features will become more distinct
Neck	Your baby’s neck will start taking shape by this week
Muscles	Their muscles are mostly developed
Brain	Their head will look bigger than their body. Neurons, which are your baby’s first brain cells are produced every minute.
Heart	Your baby’s heart will be fully developed with four chambers
Fingers and toes	They will no longer remain webbed
Movements	Your baby’s small movements will be detected through ultrasound
Internal organs	Brain, kidney, intestines, and liver start functioning
Bones	By this week, cartilage will be replaced by bones
Elbows and knees	They will start to bend, and their arms will be longer than their legs.
Umbilical cord	The umbilical cord will carry blood between the placenta and the fetus
Hair	Your baby will now start growing fuzzy hair on their body, which will help protect their skin
Eyelids	The eyelids will begin to close to protect your baby’s eyes
Gentilia	The genitals will be fully formed by this week

10 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

As your baby continues to develop in the womb, you may experience multiple pregnancy symptoms due to hormonal changes. The most common ones include:

Fatigue: During pregnancy, your body is working overtime to meet the demands of your developing baby. Hence, it’s normal to feel fatigued during this time.
Round ligament pain: You may experience pain in your abdomen due to the stretching of your ligament to support your growing uterus. In a twin pregnancy, the pain is generally more intense.
Weight gain: You may gain additional weight to support your baby’s growth. Make sure your weight gain is healthy to prevent the risk of complications.
Visible veins: You may notice that the blue veins have become more prominent in different parts of your body, such as your breasts. This occurs to prepare for the growing needs of your baby.
Changes in your vision: Increased fluid retention or blood circulation can lead to blurred vision in some women.
Increase in vaginal discharge: High oestrogen production and blood flow to your vagina lead to increased discharge. This process prevents bacteria from entering your uterus and protects you from infections.
Headaches: Hormonal fluctuations can lead to headaches during pregnancy. Adequate intake of nutritional foods, and fluids, and taking proper rest can offer relief.

Physical Changes At 10 Weeks Pregnant

Growing breasts: Your breasts may grow bigger in size as they start preparing for breastfeeding. Also, your areola becomes larger and darker.
Acne: The production of active androgen hormones can cause acne during pregnancy. If you’ve had a history of acne before pregnancy, then the risk of having this skin condition during this time increases.
Pregnancy glow: Due to hormonal changes, your body secretes more oil during this time. This causes your skin to look more healthy, shiny, and plump.

Emotional Changes At 10 Weeks Pregnant

Anxiety: You may get anxious about your pregnancy and the health of your baby without a particular reason. You may also start having nightmares due to your subconscious worries.
Lack of interest: You may find it difficult to focus on your work and experience lethargy. You may also just want to sleep to get relief from the uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms.

Ultrasound At 10 Weeks Pregnant

You are likely to have your first ultrasound scan this week to check the growth of your baby. The scan will help detect:

Your baby’s head
Your baby’s heartbeat
Functions of your baby’s internal organs through their translucent skin

Other Tests That You Might Have At 10 Weeks Pregnant

Non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT): This test is carried out in the 10th week or later to detect any signs of chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome, Edward syndrome, and Patau syndrome.
Chorionic villus sampling: This test is performed between 10 and 12 weeks to identify fetal disorders. Your doctor may recommend it if you have a family history of genetic disorders or if you are above the age of 35 years.
NT scan: Your doctor may suggest an NT scan to rule out any chromosomal problems in your baby. This test is usually performed between 10 and 14 weeks of pregnancy.

When To Call Your Doctor?

In case you experience any of these symptoms, you must immediately seek medical care and contact your doctor.

Bleeding or cramping
Abnormal vaginal discharge accompanied by a foul odour
Fever and chills
Nausea with severe vomiting
Pain while urinating

Self-Care Tips For Mums-To-Be

The first trimester is the most difficult phase of every pregnancy. You can try following these tips to ease your discomfort during this week.

Avoid taking any medications without your doctor’s approval.
Consuming vitamin B and magnesium-rich foods.
Following oral hygiene to prevent gingivitis and going for regular dental check-ups.
Avoid wearing tight clothes to prevent overheating and sweating.
Joining other forums and groups where you can share your experiences with other expecting mummas.
Taking adequate rest to help cope with fatigue and rejuvenate your body.
Keeping yourself informed by reading pregnancy books and watching informative videos keeps anxiety at bay.
Indulging in moderate exercises such as yoga, pilates, and walking, after your doctor’s go-ahead.

Conclusion

At 10 weeks pregnant, your baby undergoes exponential growth, and you experience several bodily and emotional changes. During this time, you should take plenty of rest to help cope with morning sickness and fatigue, and indulge in light exercises to maintain your strength and agility.

If you experience any weird symptoms, such as sudden pain in your abdomen or vaginal discharge, consult your healthcare provider immediately as that could be an indication of an underlying pregnancy complication.