Pregnancy 10 weeks - fetal development and woman’s sensations

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Published: 04/13/2020

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If you are 10 weeks pregnant and you are wondering what is happening with the baby and mother. And also how your baby will develop by day of the week and what sensations the expectant mother will experience, then this article with a pregnancy calendar is for you.

Many people are familiar with the feeling of anxiety that appears at this time. Only three months have passed since conception - it would seem that everything is still ahead, but anxiety is growing. There are a number of reasons for this: dramatic changes occur in the body and well-being.

So, week 10 is the time of liberation from all manifestations of toxicosis. Vomiting, finally, practically does not bother me, and slight nausea occurs occasionally - only in the morning. But you start to want to eat, and in large quantities - warn your family about this: you can go through the contents of the refrigerator, like the Mongols in Rus'.

Some changes also occur in the appearance of the pregnant woman: she has a cute belly, which, however, should not be considered a manifestation of the fetus having grown in size. What happens to the mother is a consequence of the effect of progesterone on the body. This hormone encourages the female body to accumulate fat for a better pregnancy, as well as subsequent childbirth.

• Fetal development at 10 weeks of gestation and the appearance of the embryo
• Feelings and symptoms of the expectant mother
• Tests at 10 weeks of pregnancy
• Belly at 10 weeks of pregnancy - how the body changes
• Advice for expectant mothers
• Instead of a conclusion

Body changes and new sensations for women

Attacks of nausea in the 10th week of pregnancy occur less and less often.
True, they are replaced by heartburn. Hormonal changes, as well as internal organs “compressed” by the growing uterus, can provoke the release of stomach acid, which begins to irritate the sensitive mucous membrane of the digestive canal. Unfortunately, heartburn may not go away until labor begins. Among the new changes is the appearance of a brown stripe on the stomach. Doctors cannot say exactly why it appears in some women and not in others. Most likely, hormones are to blame for this, as always. It has been noticed that blondes have such a stripe much less often than brunettes. There are also signs associated with the dark stripe: if there is one on the stomach, wait for the appearance of a son; if it is not there, a daughter will be born.

Frequently asked questions on the forums

1:

V.: Strange sensations in the stomach at 10 weeks, like tingling. What could it be?

A: Such sensations may be a sign of an enlarged uterus. The uterus grows, the abdominal muscles stretch. This can all be felt as tingling or barely noticeable pulling sensations.

2:

V.: 10th week of pregnancy, I don’t feel pregnant at all. Is this normal? My friends say that they were going crazy from toxicosis, their stomach was pulling, they constantly wanted to sleep, but I didn’t have that.

A: Yes, that's normal. There are cases when pregnancy is not felt for the first 3 or even 4 months. If the tests are normal and doctors diagnose a progressive intrauterine pregnancy, then there is no need to worry.

3:

Q: Is it possible to feel movement at week 10?

A: At week 10, the baby is already moving and moving his legs and arms, but he is still so small that it is not yet possible to feel his movements. If you feel something resembling movements, then most likely it is gas or indigestion, since digestive problems become more frequent at this stage.

Mom's belly

At the 10th week of pregnancy, the uterus becomes the size of a small pineapple. It no longer fits in the pelvic cavity and begins to gradually rise above the symphysis pubis. The tummy is already rounded! Of course, it is not yet visible under clothes, but you and your husband have probably noticed the changes taking place.

Does your stomach hurt during pregnancy? This is absolutely natural, since in the body of the expectant mother the ligaments that hold the uterus continue to stretch and soften. Be sure to tell your doctor about severe pain that is accompanied by brown discharge.

Fetal development at 10 weeks

The tenth week is the final embryonic stage of development. At the end of the process, the baby is officially considered a fetus. If during this period no anomalies in its development are found, then we can safely say that the child is not in danger of congenital defects. Soon he will begin to move involuntarily and even suck his finger.

Development:

• It is already possible to determine the blood type and gender of the baby;
• Active development of the brain, beginning of differentiation of the cortex;
• Separation of the hemispheres from the midbrain and medulla oblongata;
• Complete division of the nervous system into peripheral and central parts;
• The head is disproportionately large, but already has a rounded shape;
• Head diameter – about 1.73 cm;
• Body length – about 4.71 cm;
• The eyes are completely covered with eyelids;
• The child’s kidneys begin to produce urine, which, accumulating in the bladder, is excreted;
• The blood supply to the child reaches a different level, the corpus luteum of pregnancy in the ovary fades, the number of hormones synthesized by the placenta increases;
• The thickness of the placenta is 1.34 cm.

Ultrasound at 10 weeks, photo of the fetus

Ultrasound at 10 weeks

This is what a fetus looks like at 10 weeks

Nutrition at 10 weeks of pregnancy

In order not to further increase the discomfort of heartburn, exclude from your diet spicy foods, pickled foods, sour vegetables, citrus fruits, chocolate, various sauces, mayonnaise, as well as carbonated drinks and coffee.

We remind you that nutrition during pregnancy should be varied and balanced! Be sure to eat meat (preferably dietary meat), cereals, dairy products, vegetables, fruits and herbs. To avoid constipation, drink a glass of water or freshly squeezed juice in the morning on an empty stomach.

Lifestyle

As in earlier stages, you need to take medications at the 10th week of pregnancy with caution (the formation of the baby’s organs and systems is currently underway). In addition, at this time it is important to avoid any stress and react as calmly as possible to various kinds of troubles. Remember: the child feels your condition very well, so don’t force him to “worry” with you! Yoga, swimming, and walks in the fresh air will help you relax. And at home you can brew a soothing herbal tea. In this case, herbalists recommend that pregnant women use lemon balm, mint, hawthorn and linden flowers.

Fetal development

At 10 weeks, a baby’s brain cells begin to develop especially actively. Every day their number increases by almost a quarter of a million. The body length of the embryo is approximately 3-4 cm, with the head disproportionately larger than the body. The weight of the fruit is about 4-5 grams. The baby's limbs and elbow joints are formed, he is already beginning to bend his arms. Small nails are noticeable on the fingers.

The fruit actively moves and swims. His heart beats at a rate of up to 160 beats per minute. The kidneys, intestines, pancreas and liver occupy their rightful place in the baby’s body, but they will begin to fully function only after the birth of the child. The fetus develops skeletal bones and the skin is covered with fine hairs.

At the 10th week of development, the child appears:

• the first rudiments of teeth;
• central nervous system;
• taste buds on the tongue;
• genitals;
• circulatory system;
• muscles of the jaw, neck and larynx;
• external outlines of the ears and nose;
• nerve endings on the skin.

The umbilical cord is attached to the wall of the placenta and thickens. It forms a blood flow that will supply the baby’s body with nutrients until the end of pregnancy.

The embryo's tail disappears. It camouflages itself between the buttocks of the embryo, as a result the fetus increasingly takes on a human appearance.

The baby's liver begins to function and produces small amounts of blood cells. Sex hormones are actively produced by the adrenal glands. The gill slits are covered with a thin film, and then become completely invisible.

Recommended Diet

To ensure the full development of the fetus and maintain good health, a woman at 10 weeks of pregnancy must follow a diet. Food should be consumed in small portions 5-6 times a day. She needs to add as many fresh vegetables and fruits as possible to her diet.

In addition, you should use:

• milk, kefir, cottage cheese, sour cream, cheese;
• nuts, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, dried fruits;
• porridge, wholemeal bread;
• chicken and quail eggs;
• seaweed;
• poultry, rabbit, turkey;
• lean pork, beef;
• any types of fish.

It is undesirable to eat a lot of salty, spicy and fried foods, as they can trigger an attack of heartburn. It is necessary to add seasonings, mayonnaise, ketchup, garlic and onions to dishes with caution.

A balanced diet and healthy foods will help provide a pregnant woman’s body with everything necessary for the baby to fully develop.

Particular attention should be paid to sufficient fluid intake. A pregnant woman should drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day, including soups. But it is advisable to completely avoid drinking coffee and black tea, as they cause nervous tension and contribute to insomnia. The most useful drink for a pregnant woman would be green tea, herbal tea with mint, freshly squeezed juice or natural fruit drink. During this period, you can consume juicy berries, watermelons, and melons as a complete source of fluid.

Medical recommendations

The hormonal changes that occur in a woman’s body at the beginning of pregnancy are natural and necessary. However, they lead to unpleasant side effects such as nervousness, fatigue and depression.

If a woman is 10 weeks pregnant, she is in a constant state of stress and can negatively affect the development of the baby. Therefore, every effort must be made to overcome these difficulties and cope with mood instability.

It’s great if a woman has the opportunity to take time off from work for this period. This will allow her to more easily survive the period of toxicosis, weakness and apathy. A woman definitely needs to eat well, sleep as much as possible, and try not to get nervous over trifles. Having sex during this period is not prohibited if there is no threat of miscarriage for medical reasons. Positive emotions received during a woman’s closeness with the child’s father will only help to quickly overcome the difficulties of the initial stage of pregnancy.

If a woman previously played sports, then even at the 10th week of pregnancy she can continue to lead an active lifestyle. Have a great effect on the health of a pregnant woman:

• swimming in the pool;
• a ride on the bicycle;
• yoga;
• fitness, aerobics.

A woman's daily walks in the fresh air are extremely beneficial at this stage of child development. Saturating the mother's body with oxygen helps the fetus receive everything it needs through the umbilical cord.

A woman's clothing should be loose and not restrict movement. During this period, it is best to wear underwear made of light, breathable fabrics. You should avoid items made from synthetic fibers.

It is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol, smoke, or take drugs during this period. Even in small doses, toxic substances can destroy the brain cells of the embryo and negatively affect its further development. Being in the same room with people who smoke is also undesirable. Inhalation of paint fumes, solvents, toxic glues, gasoline and other aggressive chemical compounds should be completely avoided.

Lifting loads weighing more than 3 kg by a pregnant woman during this period is unacceptable. This can lead to the loss of the child. Folic acid must be taken as vitamins throughout the 10th week. All other medications, nutritional supplements and vitamins can be taken only after they are prescribed by a doctor.

Beauty and accessories

In the body of the expectant mother, the production of melanin increases, so pigment spots often appear on a woman’s face. Don't be discouraged - they will definitely pass over time! But what can you do now to prevent age spots from appearing so noticeable? A pregnant woman should avoid the scorching sun, eat right and take vitamin and mineral complexes prescribed by the doctor. Masks made from strawberries, kefir, and yogurt will also help her in the fight against unwanted stains. Cucumber juice also has whitening properties.

And don’t forget to purchase special creams against stretch marks for the abdomen and chest - otherwise, no less unpleasant skin problems will be added to the dark spots!