Baby’s 10st week of pregnancy
Our baby measures about 6 to 7 centimeters from head to tailbone, and weighs between 20 grams and 50 grams (roughly the size of a lemon).
His development
In just three weeks, our baby’s size has doubled. His head still represents a large proportion of the body. Her face continues to change. The fingernails are finishing their formation. The fetus is already endowed with muscles which allow it to perform some movements, which are still involuntary. The genitals have also started to differentiate, but at this stage the sex is not yet detectable with certainty.
The 10st week of pregnancy on our side
The uterus is now too large to stay pelvic level. It will therefore “push” upwards. This significantly relieves the strain on the bladder. Our heart rate increases a little to adapt to the mass of blood carried by our body. This increased blood volume (20% more in the second trimester!) Often gives us a beautiful complexion and our face looks more radiant. But some side effects can be quite painful, such as our gums which become more sensitive (watch out for our teeth!) Or the appearance, without reason, of nosebleeds. This week, the level of HCG drops, which explains the decrease in nausea. In some women, they will persist for up to about 20 weeks.
Our advice
If we are expecting our first baby, we may not have gained much weight because the uterus is still well contained in the abdomen by our abdominal belt. On the other hand, if it is a second or third pregnancy, our belly will very quickly come out forwards. Now is the time to start brushing with oil or very moisturizing cream to improve the suppleness and elasticity of the skin and thus, if possible, avoid stretch marks. Nevertheless, there is no miracle cure (ouuuiiiinnnnnn)
Our exams
This week is the perfect time to have our first ultrasound. It will provide a lot of useful information for the proper monitoring of the pregnancy. The sonographer will in particular check the number of fetuses and the vitality of the fetus (s). He will also listen to the heart and measure the nuchal translucency. This measurement, coupled with serum markers and the age of the mother-to-be, gives a “risk factor” for Down’s syndrome.