Pregnancy Week 10
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Your Baby's Growth and Development
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Your baby is pretty big by about 10 weeks pregnant. In fact, your baby is probably more than an inch and a half long this week! Your baby is also filling out. You can actually start weighing your baby around pregnancy week 10! By the end of this week your doctor may start referring to your baby as a fetus. The fetal period is marked by rapid growth changes in your baby.
Fortunately most women's risk of miscarriage diminishes significantly during pregnancy week 10, and will decrease even more in the next couple of weeks. By pregnancy week 10 your baby is also past the most important developmental stages, so your risk of fetal defects also drops significantly.
It is still important however, you avoid exposing yourself to potential environmental toxins during pregnancy. Toxins including alcohol and smoke are harmful to your baby regardless of your stage of pregnancy. If you find yourself in a toxic environment, get out!
Your baby's organs are developing quickly during pregnancy week 10. By 10 weeks pregnant your baby's vital organs including liver, kidney and brain are starting to grow and develop further. Little details including your baby's toenails also start appearing. On real close examination you may even notice some peach fuzz on your baby!
Changes In Your Body
Your body is also changing much more rapidly during 10 weeks pregnancy. You are probably more aware than ever you are pregnant, even if no one else is the wiser. Your partner if no one else will start noticing some changes in your shape by about 10 weeks pregnant. I always found right around pregnancy week 10 or 11 side effects of pregnancy including morning sickness tended to get a little better. And what a relief!
If you have been battling morning sickness throughout your pregnancy rest assured that your symptoms will soon abate. In fact, you may feel better already. Right around now you may have your first baby visit with your doctor. I usually scheduled my first doctor's appointments right around 9 or 10 weeks pregnant.
What To Expect At Your First Doctor Visit
What happens during your first doctor visit will depend a lot on the type of health care provider you select to deliver your baby. While I often toyed around with the idea of going to a midwife, and actually had a midwife for a short time while not pregnant, ultimately I decided to have an OB/GYN deliver my baby.
Around the same time I decided to have an OB/GYN deliver my baby, I decided I needed more than one tool to help me sleep better at night throughout my pregnancy. Typically I am the kind of person that likes to have four or more pillows even when I am not pregnant. Fortunately, I found the perfect solution, pregnancy pillows by Snoozer. A pregnancy pillow combines all the comfort and luxury of three pillows into one. Ask your healthcare provider what he or she thinks of using a pregnancy pillow. Chances are he or she will approve of one if not two pregnancy pillows during pregnancy. If you can indulge, you can buy two pregnancy pillows, so you have one for each side of your body. This can help with shifting during the night. Who wants to have to try and lift a full body pillow all the time just because they need to change the side they sleep on? One idea is to have the Snoozer Full Body Pregnancy Pillow listed on your baby shower gift list. If you can’t afford one, the chances are high a good friend, family member or group will pitch in to help provide you with the comfortable support you need to get a good night’s sleep.
Who you decide depends on many things including whether you are at high risk for complications and whether you prefer natural birth or few interventions to a traditional birth environment. I preferred working with my OB as I felt confident I wouldn't have to worry should something unexpected happened during my pregnancy.
During your first doctor visit, you can probably expect some of the same things regardless of the healthcare provider you choose. These may include:
- Medical history and evaluation
- Weight check
- Urinalysis
- PAP culture and screenings for STD's
- Breast examination
Your doctor will also answer any questions you have about your baby, and will help you determine your expected due date. Some offices will also offer you a transvaginal ultrasound. If this is the case, you'll be able to see your baby for the first time!
Read next about your baby's growth and development, as well as the changes in your body during pregnancy week 11.
