Pregnancy Week 9

Your Baby's Growth and Development

During pregnancy week 9 your baby may be as long as 30 mm, or roughly one inch. While that doesn't seem big now, it is a lot bigger than your baby was just 9 short weeks ago! Your baby also weighs in at roughly one ounce. During pregnancy 9 weeks your baby's physical body including her arms, legs and head have taken shape. Your baby starts looking more like a little person with a big head. You will notice your baby no longer has a small tail at or around this time if you were to peer in at your baby.

During 9 weeks pregnant your baby's eyelids fuse closed. They will remain this way until you approach the end of your second trimester. Each day that passes your baby's face will gather more detail. You may notice that your baby's mouth, nose and eyes become more distinct in the weeks to come. Pregnancy week 9 also marks more heart development. Most days your baby spends her time swimming happily about your warm, cozy uterus.

Changes In Your Body

During 9 weeks pregnant you are still growing. Your uterus resembles a small melon now. It is amazing how large your uterus grows and expands during pregnancy. It never ceases to amaze me how large my stomach would ultimately become at the end of pregnancy.

You probably feel a bit bloated by now. One common misconception women have is that the size of their abdomen equates to the size of their uterus. This is simply not the case. Even though your uterus is about the size of a melon, you probably still don't look hardly pregnant at all during 9 weeks pregnancy.

You should also know that women all carry their babies differently. I even found I carried differently from baby to baby. Some women think because their abdomens look large they may be carrying twins. If your uterus is measuring large, there may be a possibility you are carrying twins. But this doesn't always correspond to the size of your abdomen. Keep this in mind. Some of us just look more pregnant than others during pregnancy.

I always found I looked larger than most women during pregnancy, even without excessive weight gain. Typically around 7 months pregnant people start asking me if I am due any minute. I have to laugh at that. I had a friend during pregnancy that was so small you couldn't even tell she was pregnant until she was about 9 months.

Don't fret over the size of your abdomen or other people's comments. You'll find throughout your pregnancy people take time to comment on you, your baby and anything else they can. Most people are well meaning. If someone says something offensive, try not to take it personally. We are all a little more sensitive during pregnancy.

One step you can take to make a positive change in your attitude is to invest in a tool that will help you feel your best throughout your pregnancy. One example is a pregnancy pillow, preferably a full body Snoozer pregnancy pillow. When you rest your abdomen, legs, head, neck and arms on a full body pregnancy pillow, you will forget about the side effects of pregnancy. Bloating will seem like a non-issue. Using a pregnancy pillow throughout your pregnancy may even help reduce bloating, especially if you tuck pregnancy pillows under your legs while resting. You can do this while reclining in a chair or while in bed. When you elevate your feet, they are less likely to fill with water causing discomfort and puffiness.

According to Snoozer, the company that manufactures some of the best pregnancy pillows available, use of a pregnancy pillow throughout pregnancy and after promotes upper spinal alignment and provides the comfort of three pillows in one. So if you find you have to gather three or more pillows just to find a comfortable spot to rest in, why not give a Snoozer Full Body Pregnancy Pillow a try? They come in three different models, so just about anyone can enjoy one. You may also notice your circulation improves with regular use of pregnancy pillows, and this too can cut down on swelling.

Where Does All The Weight Go?

Not all of the weight we gain during pregnancy is stored as fat. In fact, relatively little of the weight you gain if you gain the recommended amount, is stored as fat. Roughly 6 to 8 pounds of weight during pregnancy goes to our fat stores. The rest is divided between the uterus, placenta, breast tissue, blood volume, amniotic fluid and baby.

Some women will also retain large amounts of fluid during pregnancy. This can pack on the pounds, adding as many as 4-8 pounds in some women. You can help reduce water retention by drinking lots of extra water during the day and avoiding salty foods. Don't forget all fast and processed foods contain loads of sodium. If you step on the scale and notice you gained 5 pounds in one day, chances are that is related more to your sodium intake or fluid retention during pregnancy than actual fat stores.

That said, it does seem easier than normal to pack on pounds during pregnancy. Be sure you are eating healthily, exercising when you can, and adding the recommended 300 extra calories each day during your second and third trimester. If you are, don't sweat the extra weight!