What to Expect When You’re 10 Weeks Pregnant

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When you reach 10 weeks pregnant, you’ve officially completed your first trimester! This exciting milestone means your risk of miscarriage significantly drops. Now is when your pregnancy really starts to feel real as a baby bump emerges and pregnancy symptoms intensify. Though still in the early stages of pregnancy, your baby is rapidly developing and your body is going through major changes.

Here is what to expect when you’re 10 weeks pregnant and your baby is the size of a strawberry.

Key Takeaways When 10 Weeks Pregnant

  • Your uterus is about the size of a grapefruit now and just starting to expand above your pelvic bone, leading to a small baby bump.
  • Morning sickness may worsen around 10 weeks as hormones peak before easing up. Heartburn, dizziness, and food aversions are also common.
  • Your baby’s vital organs like the heart and brain are maturing rapidly. Their limbs are forming, and they can even hiccup!
  • Prenatal tests like a NIPT blood screen or early ultrasound can provide reassurance and detect potential complications. Discuss options with your doctor.
  • Tender breasts, fatigue, frequent urination, and other pregnancy symptoms continue due to hormonal changes. Stretchy leggings and comfy bras are essential.
  • Take care of yourself and baby by eating nutrient-rich foods, exercising moderately, taking prenatals, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest.
  • Pregnancy safe skincare, dental work, and hair treatments are important now as hormones affect hair and skin. Create a self-care routine.
  • Look into pregnancy safe exercises and begin kegel exercises to strengthen pelvic muscles. Start researching birthing options and childcare.

Changes in Your Body at 10 Weeks Pregnant

Your body undergoes significant physical and hormonal changes during the 10th week of pregnancy. Here are some of the symptoms and developments you can expect:

A Growing Baby Bump

Around 10 weeks pregnant is often when women first start “showing” as the uterus expands. Your uterus is now the size of a large grapefruit and grows exponentially each week as it makes room for your growing baby. The top of your uterus, called the fundus, inches above your pelvic bone leading to a slight baby bump.

Don’t be concerned if you aren’t showing yet though. When you first show varies based on factors like your weight, height, and abdominal muscle tone. First time moms tend to show later as well.

Increased Pregnancy Symptoms

Many common early pregnancy symptoms like nausea, fatigue, frequent urination, and tender breasts typically worsen around 10 weeks before easing up in the coming weeks. This is due to the ongoing rise in pregnancy hormones like progesterone and hCG that peak around 10 weeks.

Unfortunately, morning sickness and food aversions may intensify right when you hoped they would go away. Take comfort that relief is coming soon. In the meantime, eat small, frequent meals and stay hydrated. Talk to your doctor about taking vitamin B6 or using sea bands to find relief from nausea.

Heartburn, dizziness, and food aversions are also common around the 10 week mark as your hormone levels change. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and eat smaller meals slowly to minimize reflux. Keep healthy, easy to digest snacks like yogurt and nuts on hand to ward off nausea. Know that these unpleasant symptoms mean your hormones are ramping up as expected to support your pregnancy.

Breast Changes

Your breasts will likely become increasingly sore and tender around 10 weeks pregnant as they prepare for breastfeeding. Breast changes are due to rising estrogen levels which causes ducts and milk glands to grow and expand.

Wear a supportive,comfortable nursing bra to minimize discomfort. Breast fullness or a tingling sensation are also common. The areola around the nipple may change to a darker color and have small bumps around it. Though uncomfortable, breast tenderness is a reassuring sign your pregnancy is progressing normally.

Fatigue

Feeling exhausted is very common during the first trimester as your body works hard to support your pregnancy. Your progesterone levels have significantly increased which can make you feel more sleepy. At the same time your hormones are interfering with getting good quality sleep at night.

Listen to your body’s needs for extra rest. Take daily naps and go to bed earlier to get enough sleep. Avoid forcing yourself to push through fatigue. Ask your partner, friends, or family for help around the house so you can rest. Stay hydrated, exercise moderately, and maintain a healthy diet to boost your energy levels naturally.

Frequent Urination

Frequent pee breaks continue as your growing uterus presses on your bladder. Your increased blood volume and extra fluids being processed by your kidneys also add pressure. Peeing little and often comes with the territory.

Make sure to drink plenty of water and other fluids throughout the day even though it has you running to the bathroom more. Dehydration is common in pregnancy and can cause cramps, dizziness or headaches. Take pee breaks as soon as the urge hits to minimize accidental leaks and avoid UTIs.

Headaches

Pregnancy headaches are common in the first trimester due to changing estrogen levels, fatigue, dehydration, stress and more. Tylenol is considered safe for pregnancy headaches but check with your doctor first.

Drink plenty of water, lower stress through prenatal yoga or meditation, and get fresh air daily to help minimize headaches naturally. Report any severe or recurring headaches to your doctor to rule out potential complications like preeclampsia.

Dizziness

Dizziness or lightheadedness often pops up around 10 weeks pregnant. Your blood vessels are expanding rapidly to accommodate your 50% increased blood volume while your blood pressure drops. These normal changes can leave you feeling dizzy if you make sudden movements.

Prevent dizziness by moving more slowly, standing up gradually, and staying well hydrated. Eat small, frequent meals with proteins and complex carbs to maintain stable blood sugar. Be cautious climbing ladders or stool until the dizzy phase passes.

Stuffiness and Nosebleeds

Pregnancy hormones cause the mucous membranes to swell and soften which can lead to a stuffy nose and even nose bleeds. Use a humidifier at night, avoid triggers like dust and smoke, and take a saline nasal spray to ease congestion without medications.

Place a cold compress on your nose or head back to stop a nosebleed. Check with your doctor before taking any allergy meds like antihistamines. This hormonal stuffiness tends to improve in the second trimester.

Constipation and Bloating

Around 10 weeks pregnant, the high progesterone levels that relax smooth muscle tissue can slow down your digestive tract leading to constipation and bloating. Your growing uterus also presses on the bowel adding to issues.

Counteract constipation by staying hydrated, exercising, and eating high fiber foods like fruits, veggies and whole grains. Ask your doctor before taking fiber supplements or laxatives. Bloating tends to be worse at the end of the day. Wear loose clothing and move your body to find relief.

Food Cravings and Aversions

Pregnancy food cravings or aversions are very common due to surging hormones. You may suddenly crave or be repulsed by certain tastes and smells even if you normally enjoy them. Indulge harmless cravings in moderation. For food aversions, focus on eating what you can tolerate.

Craving sweets? Go for fresh fruit or a small portion of chocolate. Can’t stand the smell of eggs? Try a peanut butter smoothie for protein instead. Don’t worry if your appetite seems off, just take your prenatal vitamin and eat what you can. Drink plenty of water to stay nourished.

Clumsiness

You may feel a bit more clumsy and uncoordinated around 10 weeks pregnant as your center of gravity shifts. Your loosening ligaments and joints also throw off your balance. Take extra care going down stairs and wear supportive shoes. Move slowly getting up from sitting or lying down. Ask for help lifting heavy objects.

Emotional Changes

Your surging pregnancy hormones, fatigue and changing body can impact your moods at 10 weeks pregnant. Mood swings like anxiety, irritability, heightened emotions or weepiness are very common. Don’t dismiss your feelings as irrational. Talk to your partner and doctor if you are feeling down.

Prioritize self-care and relaxation. Join a pregnancy support group to connect with other expecting moms. Meditate, journal, or take warm baths for emotional relief. Know that these intense emotions tend to stabilize in the second trimester. You got this!

Your Baby’s Development at 10 Weeks

At 10 weeks pregnant, your baby is starting to actually look like a tiny human! Measuring 1.5 – 2 inches long from crown to rump, your baby is officially an embryo graduating to a fetus as all their organ systems rapidly develop.

Appearance

  • Head: Baby’s head is about half the length of their body as the brain and skull develop rapidly. The face is more human-like with the eyes set apart and earlobes forming.
  • Limbs: Your baby’s arms and legs grow longer with visible elbows and toes! The fingers and toes are still webbed but will separate soon. Knees and ankles become visible.
  • Body: The torso thickens as organs grow inside. The abdomen protrudes with the beginnings of liver and kidneys. Baby’s skin is almost transparent.
  • Hair and skin: Fine hair called lanugo forms on head. A waxy coating called the vernix caseosa protects the delicate skin.
  • Genitals: External genitalia begins developing. The sex organs are present but the gender is still hard to distinguish on ultrasound.

Development and Milestones:

  • Heartbeat – Baby’s heart beats at 150 beats per minute and pumps about 20-25 quarts of blood per day. This rapid heartbeat can be detected on doppler now.
  • Brain – Brain and nerves are developing rapidly. The cerebrum forms into left and right hemispheres.
  • Limbs – Bones begin hardening in the arm and leg buds allowing for movement. The fingers and toes are no longer webbed. Baby can wiggle and kick but you won’t feel movement yet.
  • Digestive tract – Intestines rotate into position in abdomen. The liver produces blood cells and the gallbladder starts functioning. The pancreas produces insulin.
  • Kidneys – Kidneys start working, filtering waste from the blood into the amniotic fluid. The bladder fills and empties urine.
  • Lungs – Lung buds branch out into smaller airways and begin secreting surfactant which will enable breathing air after birth.
  • Stomach – Stomach expands and baby may swallow some amniotic fluid. Your baby will pee it back out and this cycle helps the urinary tract develop.
  • Yawn and hiccup – Baby’s diaphragm flexes leading to hiccups which you’ll start feeling soon. They yawn, stretch, and make faces, practicing for life outside the womb.
  • Reflexes – Baby’s reflexes like sucking, swallowing, and grasping develop. Their sense of touch emerges. The umbilical cord transports life-sustaining oxygen and nutrients from you.

Fun Fact: At 10 weeks pregnant your baby is about the size of a kumquat or strawberry! They will double in size over the next few weeks.

10 Week Ultrasound

Around 10 weeks pregnant is often when your practitioner does the first standard ultrasound, also called a dating ultrasound or nuchal translucency screening. This early pregnancy ultrasound serves a few important purposes:

  • Confirm your due date – Measure baby to estimate gestational age since LMP dates can be off. This gives you a more accurate due date.
  • Check for a heartbeat – Baby’s heart starts beating around 6 weeks so a heartbeat confirms a viable pregnancy. A strong heartbeat is very reassuring.
  • Detect multiples – An early ultrasound determines if you’re having twins, triplets or more by checking for the number of gestational sacs present.
  • Screen for potential complications – Though not diagnostic, any concerning abnormalities like misshapen gestational sac or low heartbeat will be investigated further.
  • Measure the nuchal translucency – Fluid at the back of baby’s neck is measured as a preliminary screen for chromosomal conditions like Down Syndrome when combined with a blood test.

During this abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound, you should be able to see your baby’s basic body shape, head, limbs, and organs. The ultrasound tech will point out the flickering heartbeat and measure the crown-rump length.

Hearing your baby’s heart tones and catching a glimpse of this little life is an amazing milestone of pregnancy that makes it feel more real. Share ultrasound pictures with loved ones once you get the all clear from your practitioner.

Prenatal Screening and Testing

Your healthcare provider will likely recommend prenatal screening or testing around 10 weeks pregnant to assess the health of your pregnancy. Some common options include:

Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS or NIPT)

This common prenatal screening test analyzes a sample of your blood to detect higher odds for Down Syndrome, trisomy 13 or 18 and sometimes sex chromosome issues. NIPS testing is done at 10 weeks or later and provides risk odds without diagnostic certainty.

A NIPS screen has greater than 99% accuracy detecting these common trisomies when combined with an NT scan versus about 85% accuracy for standard first trimester screening. It carries no risk of miscarriage.

If your NIPS screen comes back high risk, your provider will recommend a confirmatory diagnostic CVS or amniocentesis test. Some insurance plans don’t cover NIPS testing without other risk factors, so check your coverage.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

CVS allows for diagnostic testing earlier in pregnancy at 10-12 weeks by sampling chorionic villi cells from the placenta to test for chromosomal abnormalities. It carries a small miscarriage risk of 1 in 100 to 200.

CVS is an option for women over 35 or with other risks who want diagnostic certainty about genetic issues sooner. Results come back in 1-2 weeks. Amniocentesis later in pregnancy is another diagnostic option.

First Trimester Screen

The “sequential or integrated” first trimester screen combines an NT scan with a blood test to analyze free beta-hCG and PAPP-A. It provides your risk odds for Down Syndrome and trisomies without diagnostic certainty. Unlike NIPS, it doesn’t specify the chromosome involved.

This method correctly identifies over 85% of pregnancies with trisomies while having a low false positive rate. It carries no risk to the baby. Discuss all your screening options with your provider to decide what’s right for you.

10 Weeks Pregnant Lifestyle Tips

Focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle at 10 weeks pregnant to help you feel your best and promote your baby’s growth and development. Here are some tips:

Nutrition

Aim for a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats and dairy. Take your prenatal vitamin daily to help meet increased nutritional needs, especially iron, folic acid, calcium and omega-3s.

Increase protein intake to support maternal and fetal tissue growth. Iron prevents anemia and aids in oxygen delivery to baby. Foods with folate, iron, calcium and zinc are especially important. Stay hydrated by sipping water throughout the day.

Exercise

Low-impact exercise like walking, swimming, yoga, Pilates and light strength training are great choices at this stage. Avoid overheating, stressing your joints or risking abdominal injury. Always clear exercise with your provider at each visit.

Start pelvic floor exercises like Kegels now to prevent incontinence. Maintaining fitness boosts your energy, keeps excess weight gain in check and prepares your body for delivery. Listen to your body and don’t overexert.

Stress and Emotions

Your emotional health matters during pregnancy. Make time for self-careactivities like prenatal yoga, meditation, warm baths, massages or journaling to decompress. Connect with other expecting moms through groups, blogs or apps.

Talk openly with your partner about your changing moods, anxieties and needs. Set realistic expectations for what you can handle. Don’t hesitate to seek professional support from a counselor or doctor if needed.

Sleep

Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep nightly in the first trimester as fatigue hits hard. Nap daily if possible. Go to bed earlier and sleep in when you can. Use pillows for comfort. Stay cool, dark, and quiet. Talk to your doctor if you have severe insomnia or sleep apnea.

Intimacy

Sex is safe during an uncomplicated pregnancy and helps you feel closer. Communication and foreplay matters more as comfort levels change. Oral sex, mutual masturbation, or sensual massage are good alternatives when intercourse feels unpleasant.

Reassure your partner if pain or low libido get in the way for awhile. Unless advised otherwise, most couples can remain sexually active until late pregnancy. Positions allowing the woman to control movement and depth usually work best at this stage.

Safe Skin and Hair Care

Pregnancy hormones can worsen acne, dryness, dark patches, and other skin issues. Start a simple skincare routine using gentle cleansers, natural oils, sunscreen, and prescription treatments approved by your doctor.

Ask your stylist for pregnancy safe hair treatments. For dye, highlights are preferred over all-over color. Do any Brazilian waxes, facials, or acne treatments now before those are limited later in pregnancy. Your body is going through so much – show it some TLC!