For more information about week 10 in a twin or multiple pregnancy, tap here.
In week ten, you’re heading into the tail end of your first trimester! And — fingers crossed — many of those common first-trimester symptoms may be behind you soon, too.
How’s Baby?
Baby is now the size of a kumquat, almost 1 ¼ inches long. Your little one is also beginning to develop tiny human features, like a teeny tiny bit of hair, the buds of baby teeth, and joints that bend. And if your baby is a male, their testes are just beginning to produce testosterone. Your tiny dancer is starting to move around enough that it will likely be visible in an ultrasound scan, which your healthcare provider may perform at your next appointment (if this hasn’t already happened). Baby’s digestive system is also functional by this point, transporting food matter to the bowels in preparation for that first poop after being born. How exciting!
What’s new with you?
You are now a quarter of the way through your pregnancy! Hopefully, this means that any common early pregnancy symptoms you may have been experiencing — like morning sickness, fatigue, or mood swings — should be lifting. You may also start to notice changes in your body’s shape or weight gain. Your healthcare provider will track your weight gain as one way to monitor your progress and health. That being said, if you have a history of disordered eating and/or find weigh-ins triggering, you can request that your provider adjust how you are weighed or how often your weight is checked during pregnancy. You have the right to feel comfortable with the healthcare you receive — during and after pregnancy.
As far as pregnancy symptoms go, you might start to notice more visible veins due to the extra blood being carried to Baby. In fact, the total blood volume in your body may increase 30-50% during pregnancy. (If you have a history of cardiovascular problems, this is something your healthcare provider will watch closely, as the increased blood volume can strain the heart.) You might also notice an increase in vaginal discharge around this time, which acts as a way to protect your baby from infection. If the discharge is whitish, thin, and odorless, that’s totally normal. However, discharge that is tinged yellow or green or has a thick or uneven texture could be a sign of infection, and this is something to speak with your provider about right away.
During this time, you might be waiting for your NIPT or other genetic screening test results. You may be eagerly awaiting news of your baby’s sex through NIPT as well! There are several methods to screen for conditions, including Down syndrome, congenital heart defects, and other chromosomal differences, so don’t worry if this hasn’t taken place quite yet. These tests are optional and may or may not be fully covered by insurance. Talk to your provider about genetic counseling and screening — they’re there to be your expert guide through all the ins and outs of pregnancy.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
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Sources
- Dr Bahman Rasuli and Dr Yuranga Weerakkody et al. “Fetal Heart Rate.” Radiopaedia. https://radiopaedia.org/articles/fetal-heart-rate?lang=us.
- Sir John Dewhurst. Dewhurst’s Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 8th ed. Keith Edmonds. John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2012. Print.
- Susan Storck et al. “Fetal Development.” U.S National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. March 10, 2014. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002398.htm.
- Mark A Curran, M.D. “Fetal Development.” Perinatology.com. Perinatology.com. March 31, 2019. https://www.perinatology.com/Reference/Fetal%20development.htm#1.
