Week 10 of Your Pregnancy

Week 10 of your pregnancy has begun, and while this can feel like a landmark week as you’re a quarter of a way through your pregnancy, it may also come with a slew of new worries. But experts have tips to get you through the tough moments. Plus, there are a ton of fun aspects to your pregnancy that you have yet to experience.

Your Unborn Baby's Size at 10 Weeks

At 10 weeks of pregnancy, your unborn baby measures about 1.22 inches and weighs .14 ounces—that all equates to the size of a prune or a strawberry! 

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 10

While your symptoms during week 10 of pregnancy may mirror that of weeks eight or nine, you may experience a few new ones including:

• Constipation
• Mood changes
• Round ligament pain

Constipation is fairly common throughout the first trimester. The American Pregnancy Association says some reasons behind the discomfort include anxiety and an increase in progesterone hormones, which relax the intestinal muscle. This causes food to move through your body at a slower pace. Medicines and supplements can also affect your gastrointestinal system, so that prenatal vitamin you’re taking may slow things down too.

The good news is there are ways to get relief. Experts suggest drinking lots of water, consuming a diet that's high in fiber (fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain bread are good options) and trying to stay active, as long as your health care provider is OK with the exercise you choose. You can also try a different supplement with a provider’s approval.

Mood shifts are normal too. "You'll go from feeling so happy one minute to wanting to cry the next," says Yamel Belen, R.N., CLC, registered nurse, professional doula, and certified lactation counselor in Tampa, Florida. "That's a mood swing and it catches people off guard. It's normal, though, because of the increased surge of hormones that are all over the place."

That said, mood swings typically go away on their own, and usually by the end of the first trimester. However, the emotional instability can make itself apparent again, especially during the last few weeks of pregnancy. But if you’re ever concerned about the emotions you are feeling, never hesitate to speak with a health care provider. 

Then there’s round ligament pain, something I felt throughout all three of my pregnancies. The pain was mostly in the abdomen, as if having just pulled a muscle below my belly button. It varied from soreness and achiness to a generalized cramping, and it bothered me during my first trimester, particularly when I tried to get out of bed. Turns out, though, that this discomfort is actually a type of "growing pain" caused by the expansion of your uterus. To put it simply: your body is stretching to make room for your growing baby and it might hurt.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, there are some exercises that might ease the discomfort, including the classic yoga child's pose where you place your knees on the floor, push your butt in the air while stretching your arms in front of you with palms down and your head pressed down between them.

Developmental Milestones

During week 10 of pregnancy, your unborn baby's teeth are starting to develop under its gums! Other bones and cartilages are also forming, including elbows, knees, and ankles. Fair warning, though: despite its growth, don't yet expect to feel the fetus move inside of you—especially if this is your first pregnancy. Many pregnant people do not feel their baby move until well into their second trimester.

Prenatal Tests and Doctor's Appointments

The noninvasive prenatal screening tests (NIPTs) are a series of exams that, according to the FDA, "analyze small fragments of fetal DNA that are circulating in a pregnant person's blood with the goal of determining the risk that the fetus has certain genetic abnormalities." The screenings, which, in practice, are just a blood test, are offered starting at 10 weeks of pregnancy. Most practitioners conduct them between weeks 10 and 12.

"The NIPTs used to be offered to just a specific kind of patient, specifically those who were over 35 or had an abnormal first trimester screening," explains Dr. Hack. "But now, more and more, you see it offered to everyone."

The screenings evaluate the risk for chromosome disorders, including Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome. It's important to note these are screenings and not diagnostic tests, so positive results do not automatically mean that there will be something wrong with your baby. NIPTs tests also detect the sex of the baby.

Certain people might have to go through other tests this week as well. For example, given a shortened cervix during my second pregnancy, I was asked to get a transvaginal (internal) ultrasound around week 10 of my third pregnancy to record the length of my cervix. Despite it measuring "average," the doctor advised me to schedule a preventative cerclage—basically, a cervical stitch meant to ward off the possibility of early labor caused by a too-early opening of the cervix. My surgery took place in week 12.

Things You Might Consider This Week

It's never too early to start researching parental leave policies within your company, your partner’s company (if you have one), and at the state level. Set some time aside to delve into resources and prepare a series of questions to ask your employer when you will let them know you are pregnant. Gathering this information can help you feel more at ease with the changes to come.

Support You May Need This Week

Since mood changes are real, you may want to go easy on yourself and make time for things that can relax you. Keep in mind, these are normal and it’s always a good idea to lean on a partner, family, or friends who can help you with chores or errands you aren’t feeling up to. 

If you’re someone who wants to document their pregnancy journey, this is the time you may want to start taking photos of your stomach. As early as your first appointment, you'll learn what day of the week your pregnancy "turns" a week older. Put a reminder on your phone and snap a quick picture on a weekly basis or, perhaps, ask your partner or loved ones to take one for you. It's fun to look back at the images as the weeks go by and notice the amazing changes that your body is going through.

Head over to week eleven of pregnancy