10 Weeks Pregnant: Understanding Your Baby’s Growth

Welcome to week ten of your pregnancy! The end of your 1st trimester is on the horizon, and you are inching closer and closer to it each day as you get through 10 weeks pregnant.

The good news is that the trimester in front of you, which is the second one, is the most beloved one by many pregnant women since they report having more energy and all those uncomfortable early pregnancy symptoms fading away.

10 weeks pregnant is the point in your pregnancy where the baby bump becomes more noticeable to you and the people around you! The baby bump will be even more visible if you are expecting multiples or if this is not your first pregnancy rodeo.

However, still not showing at 10 weeks pregnant is also completely normal too; women are different, and so are the babies inside them.

Physical pregnancy symptoms during the tenth pregnancy week

Pregnancy week ten will bring some new pregnancy symptoms and physical changes, while some old ones decide to stick around for a little while longer.

Some of the symptoms that are going to mark your tenth week during the first trimester are going to include:

Visible veins

Your chest, breasts, and belly might be accessorized with blue, prominent veins at 10 weeks pregnant.

This symptom happens during the first trimester because you produce more blood to support the pregnancy and the baby inside you; the veins on your entire body get larger and more visible due to increased blood flow and increased blood supply.

As your uterus and baby grow, you can also develop varicose veins in your legs and lower body. These pronounced veins often disappear or improve in appearance after you give birth.

Bodily changes

At 10 weeks pregnant, many moms to be notice that they are getting a bit wider in their midsection due to slight weight gain and bloating.

To avoid discomfort during the first trimester, your best bet are maternity clothes, stretchy pants and leggings, and skirts with flexible waistbands. Avoid keeping your midsection constrained in tight clothing that makes you uncomfortable. As the baby grows, do not be afraid to go up in size, to accommodate yourself and the baby’s growth.

Excessive saliva production

At 10 weeks pregnant, you might notice a weird symptom of salivating more than usual, especially when you feel sick or nauseated.

It is pretty common for moms to be to produce extra saliva during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester.

Some things that can help you swallow excess saliva more easily include drinking more water, sucking on hard unsweetened candy, and chewing gum.

Vaginal discharge

You might have noticed that you are producing a lot more vaginal discharge during pregnancy than you did before—higher levels of estrogen and other hormonal changes cause this symptom at 10 weeks pregnant.

If your discharge is odorless or mild-smelling and milky white, it is completely normal and healthy, and there is no need to do anything about it.

However, if your discharge smells strong or unpleasant, or if it is gray, yellow, or green, make sure to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider, as all infections should be addressed and resolved as soon as possible.

Morning sickness

At 10 weeks pregnant, pesky nausea and vomiting might be worse than before, as morning sickness tends to peak around 10 weeks pregnant, thanks to hCG levels being at their highest.

The good news is that it has to get worse before it gets better, and the morning sickness is very likely to start fading soon.

What happens to the baby during week ten of pregnancy?

At 10 weeks pregnant, your baby is going through many changes, even though they are not visible on the outside. At 10 weeks pregnant, the baby inside of you is about the size of a strawberry, which is about the size of 1.2 inches long!

The cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and retina are now fully formed, which is very important as these are the main parts of the eye that enable the baby’s vision. However, the eyelids that cover your baby’s eyes are going to stay closed until you are 27 weeks pregnant.

At 10 weeks pregnant, the baby’s toes and fingers are getting longer and taking shape, and the webs between each finger and toe are starting to disappear. At 10 weeks pregnant, the baby’s head is also starting to look like a head now, as it is taking on a more human shape, and all the internal organs are in place and starting to work together.

The expectant parents will also be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat during the screening tests. At this point of your pregnancy, it is too early to find out the baby’s sex; that will have to wait for a few more weeks.

Pregnancy Checklist

Here are some things you should get done at 10 weeks pregnant, to make sure you are staying on track and staying healthy:

• Review your finances
  Having a new addition to the family will require an expenditure in your existing budget, as well as making some changes to your usual spending habits to accommodate the new needs. In addition, the baby will bring more expenses, and you might also have to lose an income if you or your partner decides to stay home with your baby. Around 10 weeks pregnant, make sure to sit down with your partner or maybe even an accountant for extra help to look into your budget, insurance, taxes, etc.
• Watch out for UTIs
  Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more common in pregnant women. If you notice that you are experiencing pain during sex or urination, pelvic discomfort, lower abdominal pain, or foul-smelling or cloudy urine, make sure to share this with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear up the UTI.
• Think about announcing your pregnancy
  Make a decision with your partner about when you will share the news of your pregnancy with your family and friends if you have not already done so. There is no correct answer; the time is entirely up to you and your personal preference. Around 10 weeks pregnant is the perfect time to discuss this decision.

What to avoid or begin to avoid?

There are some things that you should avoid during your tenth week of pregnancy to make sure both you and your growing baby are healthy and safe, and to take care of your baby’s development.

Make sure to avoid:

• Smoking, drinking, drugs
• Heavy lifting or carrying and extreme workouts
• Wearing constricting and tight clothing. As the weeks go by, your belly is becoming bigger, and rounder as your uterus expands to make room for your baby, and you should do everything you can to make yourself more comfortable in your clothing.
• Touching kitty litter or cat feces, as they can cause an infection that could harm the fetus.
• Exposing yourself to having a high body temperature, such as going to a sauna or being in a hot tub.
• Drinking excessive caffeine. Limit your caffeine intake to 300 mg or about 2 cups of coffee or tea each day during your pregnancy journey.
• Being exposed to toxic substances
• Eating deli meats, raw or undercooked meat, fish, chicken, eggs, cheeses made from unpasteurized milk, unpasteurized dairy foods, high mercury fish such as swordfish, shark, and king mackerel.
• Unwashed fruits and vegetables.