First Trimester : 9 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

9 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS

Right now, the pregnancy hormone hCG is circulating through your body at its peak level. That means at 9 weeks, some pregnancy symptoms may be at their most severe. Hang in there—you’re just weeks away from those hormones leveling out a bit, leaving you feeling a lot more like yourself. Here’s what 9 weeks pregnant symptoms you may be experiencing:

• Mood swings. Because those hormones just keep raging, and also because other symptoms—such as nausea and fatigue—are bothering you, you may find your emotions more difficult to control. Remember that it’s okay to slow your usual pace, to take breaks (to nap, to meditate, or just to veg out and binge-watch Netflix), and to avoid stressful situations for the sake of your sanity.
• Morning sickness. Up to 80 percent of pregnant women experience some form of morning sickness. It really should be called all-day sickness though! If you’re suffering from nausea, you might just be feeling a little ill, or you may be vomiting regularly. If you are 9 weeks pregnant with twins, you may find yourself with more severe morning sickness symptoms. The good and bad news is that at 9 weeks, morning sickness is likely at its worst. Do some trial and error to see what makes you feel better—many moms-to-be find that ginger, frequent meals and snacks, and vitamin B6 help ease nausea. You’re suffering now, but this too shall pass. You can get through this!
• Frequent urination. Because your uterus is expanding and because there’s major blood flow to your pelvic area, you may be heading to the bathroom more often than you did pre-pregnancy. Don’t let that stop you from drinking lots of water. It’s important that you stay hydrated. Just put more pit stops onto your mental to-do list.
• Fatigue. While your hormones are working overtime to grow and develop your 9-week fetus, you might be feeling totally zapped. Sleep more, if you can, and keep your blood sugar stable by snacking healthily throughout the day. In the second trimester, you’ll get some of your energy back.
• Nasal congestion. Surprise! Pregnancy can cause higher mucus production in the body—an unexpected symptom—so you might need to keep tissues handy.
• Headaches. Thanks again, hormones! Those surges can give you headaches—and so can dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, hunger, lack of sleep, and stress. Deal by treating your other symptoms, eating at least every few hours, getting plenty of sleep, and drinking lots of water. A warm or cold compress can ease a headache and so can rest. Before you take any medication, clear it with your doctor. Many say acetaminophen (Tylenol) is okay but aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil) aren’t. It will depend on your health history and any other medications you may be taking.

9 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

Many moms-to-be find themselves struggling to button their jeans at 9 weeks pregnant. Your uterus is expanding to accommodate your growing fetus. In fact, it has doubled in size! When you touch your 9 weeks pregnant belly, you’ll probably find that your lower abdomen feels a bit firmer—that’s the uterus. You may even be showing a bit at 9 weeks! Your uterus will begin to grow out of your pelvis in coming weeks.

Weight gain at 9 weeks isn’t just okay—it’s recommended. How much weight your doctor recommends you put on during pregnancy will depend on your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). For example, if you started out with an average BMI, you will likely be told to put on a total of 25 to 35 pounds total during pregnancy—about three to five pounds of that should happen in the first trimester. If you’re 9 weeks pregnant with twins, you should aim to put on about a pound per week right now.

That said, so many moms-to-be are riddled with morning sickness and food aversions when they’re 9 weeks pregnant that they might not be gaining weight—they may be losing it! Naturally, you’ll want to talk to your OB about any concerns you have with your weight gain or loss—and definitely let him or her know if it’s sudden or drastic. But most doctors will tell you that minor weight loss is okay at this stage of the game. Once you begin getting your appetite back, you’ll have an opportunity to get your weight gain back on track.

There are also pregnant women who get nausea so severe they need medical treatment. Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is diagnosed when a pregnant woman is so sick she’s dangerously dehydrated. If you can’t seem to keep any liquids down, are losing a significant amount of weight, or if you’ve fainted, you should tell your doctor, who will do a physical exam to see if you have HG.

The good news is that there are treatments for HG. You may need an IV to replenish your fluids, and you and your doctor may choose to try a prescription anti-nausea medication to help stop the vomiting.

The first prenatal appointment typically happens between weeks 8 and 12. So by now, you may have visited the OB—if not, you will soon! At that first appointment you may even see baby’s tiny heartbeat on the ultrasound. Exciting stuff, huh?

A 9 weeks pregnant ultrasound is typically done transvaginally. That means the doctor or ultrasound technician will have to insert a probe into your vagina, since your uterus still sits behind your pelvic bone. (Don’t worry—it doesn’t hurt!) The probe will emit sound waves, which will allow you to see an image of your 9-week fetus on a screen.

Not only will you catch a glimpse of baby—who will resemble a lima bean—but the 9 weeks pregnant ultrasound will also confirm that the pregnancy is uterine (which means there are no signs of ectopic or tubular pregnancy at 9 weeks). The doctor may point out the gestational sac, the yolk sac, and the fetal pole.

That’s right, week 9 of pregnancy is a milestone: Baby’s no longer an embryo—now he or she is a fetus! These two terms simply define different phases of development. The embryonic phase is about forming major organs, including the brain, heart, and lungs, plus the arms and legs. Once you’ve got a fetus, those organs and parts are formed and are now growing and developing.

Inside your week 9 pregnant belly, baby’s working on that cuteness—developing more distinct facial features. And baby might now have a strong enough heartbeat to be picked up by a fetal doppler. At 9 weeks pregnant, miscarriage risk is on a lot of women’s minds. Rest assured that once you’ve seen or heard a heartbeat, the risk is only 3 percent. In coming weeks, it will lower even more.

Other prenatal tests you can expect around 9 weeks pregnant include blood work to test for hormone levels, blood type, white and red blood cell counts, and certain diseases. You’ll also have a pap smear to check for abnormalities (which can be signs of cervical cancer) and STDs, and a urine test to check that the protein levels and hormone levels seem healthy. All that poking and prodding will totally be worth it when you’re holding your newborn baby. All in good time!