Welcome to the 3rd month of your pregnancy. In the 9th week of pregnancy, all organs of the small fetus have formed completely. It is already moving its arms and legs. Incredible, isn’t it? Find out what you can expect in the first major ultrasound examination.
Are you wondering what symptoms you will experience during the 9th week of pregnancy? We will tell you in this article.
Table of contents
Important facts about the 9th week: What you should know
How exciting, in the 9th week of pregnancy you will see the little fetus for the first time. The first of 3 ultrasound examinations usually takes place between the 9th and 12th week of pregnancy – in the first trimester.
Your doctor will check whether the baby is lying correctly in your uterus, whether its heart is beating regularly and whether it is big enough for the expected week of pregnancy.
Continue to pay attention to a healthy diet, sufficient folic acid and strictly avoid the consumption of alcohol and nicotine. Already in the 9th week of pregnancy you could cause great harm to the little fetus.
Tip for fathers-to-be
Even if your wife is pregnant – give her enough space. In the 9th week of pregnancy, it is good for the mother-to-be to have some distraction. Support your wife as much as possible, but do not treat her like a raw egg.
Pregnancy symptoms in the 9th week of pregnancy and what you can do about them
Most women have to fight in the 9th week of pregnancy with known pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea and Co. We tell you what you can do about it.
Bigger belly
Externally, the body of most women still remains unchanged. Even the baby bump is usually still a little while in coming.
But every woman’s belly grows differently: in the 9th week of gestation, some women still have their “normal” belly, while others can’t get their pants to close properly. This is completely normal. Therefore, you don’t need to worry when you can’t see much yet.
Nausea
Hardly any woman does not suffer from nausea during her pregnancy. Between 50-80% complain of a sinking feeling in the stomach.
Nausea during pregnancy occurs most frequently between the 6th and 20th week of pregnancy. Usually, the discomfort subsides in the 2nd half of pregnancy. These tips will help you:
- Avoid highly spiced foods, greasy foods, or certain foods.
- Eat several small meals throughout the day rather than a few large meals.
- Eat tasteless and odorless cookies after getting up or before going to bed
- Ginger, chamomile or peppermint work wonders
Nosebleeds
Occasional bleeding from the nose is not uncommon during pregnancy. If the bleeding is minor and sporadic, there is no need to worry. If the bleeding becomes more severe, a visit to the doctor is recommended.
Constipation
To avoid constipation during pregnancy, you should drink enough water, herbal tea or diluted juices.
High fiber foods such as whole grains and fruits are great. Avoid hard-to-digest and flatulent foods such as legumes, cabbage and onions.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea during pregnancy usually occurs as a result of physical changes during this time. But what really helps?
- Avoid milk and coffee
- Avoid eggs, meat, butter, fatty foods and flatulent vegetables (cabbage, legumes)
- Fennel tea soothes the intestines
- Chamomile tea has a soothing effect on the stomach and intestines
Sensitive nose
Your sense of smell and taste are heightened from the 9th week. This means that you could become very sensitive to smells.
This even has a benefit: Nature has arranged it this way to protect the small fetus – as the embryo is called in the 9th week – in your belly from danger.
Dizziness
Your body is working at full speed during the 9th week. This can sometimes make itself felt with circulatory problems. Give your body enough rest during this time. Relax with yoga or a quiet walk.
Sensitive teeth
Teeth and gums can also become more sensitive and feel funny during pregnancy. The same applies to saliva: saliva is more aggressive than before pregnancy and attacks tooth enamel. Ensure sufficient dental hygiene by brushing your teeth 2 to 3 times a day.
Change of skin and hair
The hormones are upsetting the whole body, which is why the mother’s skin and hair are not spared.
Sensitive skin
It is very likely that your skin is more sensitive to touch, heat and cold, but especially to sunlight. Protect it and prevent sunburns that disturb your well-being. In general, you should avoid extensive sunbathing during pregnancy.
Do not dye your hair anymore
In most cases, the dyes are of chemical origin, which is why you should limit yourself to cutting and blow-drying your hair. In this way, it can be avoided that the baby is influenced in its development by the coloring of the hair.
What can be seen on the ultrasound in the 9th WOP?
You are full of anticipation and wonder what can be seen on the ultrasound? In the 9th WOP you can already see quite a bit on the ultrasound image. The beginnings of little fingers and toes are clearly visible.
From the 6th week, your gynecologist can also determine whether you are expecting twins or multiples.
The first picture of the baby and the 2nd checkup
The first look into the belly
In the third month of pregnancy, the first major ultrasound examination is due. This is also the first time you see a “real” picture of your child. The proportions are already clearly visible, even if the child is only the size of a cherry.
Second screening
Don’t forget your maternity passport! In addition to the ultrasound examination, your weight and other vital signs will be checked in order to record the development of your pregnancy in the best possible way
Through the documentation, conclusions can be drawn in the further course of the pregnancy or after the birth, in case of complications.
Nothing to see in the ultrasound
If an empty amniotic cavity is visible during the ultrasound examination, this can have two reasons:
First, a so-called “corner stool” can cause an empty amniotic cavity, which is located at the outer end of the uterus and is therefore not visible on an ultrasound. However, this is not a cause for concern – at the latest during further growth, the embryo moves more centrally into the amniotic sac and becomes visible.
On the other hand, an empty amniotic sac can also be due to arrested development of the pregnancy. In this case, the cells stop doubling after a certain point, so that no embryo can develop from the morula. In this case, we also speak of a “wind egg” .
What is the risk of miscarriage in the 9th week of pregnancy?
The more advanced the pregnancy, the lower the risk of miscarriage. Unfortunately, the first 12 weeks of pregnancy are particularly risky.
So that you can recognize alarming symptoms of a miscarriage at first glance, we have summarized them for you:
- Bleeding
- Cramping pain in the lower abdomen
- Pulling in the lower abdomen
- Pain in the lower back
- Fever and purulent discharge
- In advanced pregnancy: leakage of amniotic fluid
Risk factors
- Smoking
- Very high consumption of caffeine (more than three cups of coffee per day)
- Alcohol consumption
- Uterine malformations
- Autoimmune disease of the mother
- Untreated chronic diseases (kidney, thyroid)
- Infections of the mother at the beginning of pregnancy
- Advanced age of the mother
Suffering a miscarriage is a tragic loss. Talk about it with your partner, family or friends. Professional help can also be very helpful in this situation.
What happens to the baby
In the 9th week of gestation, the small fetus is about 2-2.5 cm in
size. This is about the size of a cherry. It’s hard to believe that fingers are already visible now, isn’t it?How your baby develops in the 9th week of gestation
The 9th week of pregnancy marks the beginning of the fetal period. Your baby is officially a fetus and no longer an embryo. The upper body is now straighter and longer and the tail process is no longer present.
This period is important for the development of arms and legs. The legs have become longer and in the 9th WOP toes can now be seen on the ultrasound image.
The arms have also grown significantly and are already bending at the elbows. The little fetus is already moving vigorously in your uterus and even reacts to stimuli coming from outside.
However, you still have to be patient: You will not be able to feel these movements until the 2nd trimester.
This is important now
This is how you can support your body in the 9th week of pregnancy
A healthy diet and folic acid are important for the development of the fetus in the 9th week. This is found in foods such as carrots, beans, fish and tomatoes.
However, these foods can hardly meet the need for folic acid. During pregnancy, you should take about 0.4 mg daily.
Folic acid provides for the development of the nerves of the fetus. Make sure you lead a healthy lifestyle, avoiding nicotine, alcohol and medications. Take enough vitamins to strengthen your immune system.
The right diet
Make sure you eat these foods regularly:
- Vegetables
- Fruit
- Whole grain products
- Milk
- Dairy products
- Low fat meat
- Fish
Sports
Typical pregnancy complaints, such as back pain, do not yet occur in the 9th week of pregnancy. However, you can already prevent them now.
Light sports – such as yoga, swimming or cycling are completely harmless.
Caution: In the first 3 months of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage is relatively high. Talk to your doctor about which sports you can do without any worries. Not all sports are safe.
Midwife tip
In the 9th week of pregnancy, you may have heard the term “high-risk pregnancy” before. You do not need to let this worry you. It does not mean that there will necessarily be complications, but only that you fall into a certain “classification grid”. This applies to women of older age, for example. Talk to your doctor or midwife about what you can do best for your pregnancy.
FAQ
In the 9th week of gestation, the foetus is about 2-2.5 cm tall.
In the 9th week of pregnancy, the little foetus is doing somersaults in your womb. However, you will not feel any of the movements at this time.
Your doctor can already calculate the due date during the ultrasound in the 9th week of pregnancy.
The baby is between 2 and 2.5 cm tall, which is about the size of a cherry.
Arms, legs, the head and the upper body are already visible. Fingers and toes are also already visible, even though the embryo is only the size of a cherry.
Video about the 9th WOP
Nikki takes you through her 9th week of pregnancy.