10 Weeks - Pregnancy

Baby

This 10th week, your baby grows from an embryo to a fetus. She is now about 1 ¼ inches long crown to rump and weighs .14 ounces, still very tiny. All of her major organs and systems have begun to develop; now comes the growth spurt.

Currently at 10 weeks of pregnancy, your baby’s head makes up half her length; during the next few months, her body will catch up, although her brain will still be developing rapidly.

Now that your baby’s liver is functioning well enough to make all of her blood cells, the yolk sac, which performed this function, is starting to disappear. This 10th week, or next, the placenta will begin to function, providing nourishment to your baby and filtering out the waste.

During the next 3 weeks, your baby will double in length. Her webbed fingers and toes start to separate; she will begin to develop peach fuzz, fingernails, toenails, and all of those little details that make us all more human-like in appearance. Her eyelids are fusing together in the 10th week of pregnancy so that they can develop, starting with the iris. Her arms bend at the elbow and her hands meet up by her face. She is in a true fetal position at this point.

And, if you want to know what baby is up to in pregnancy at 10 weeks and every day, check out the ExpectantSee Screensaver.

Mom

Still in the first trimester of pregnancy, you may be experiencing a continuing fatigue at week 10, morning sickness, and moodiness. Hang in there; you’re almost to the second trimester, where you will feel much better. Why is your body feeling all of these symptoms anyway? The answer is an increase in the hCG hormone. This is the hormone that caused your pregnancy test to turn blue. HCG, also known as the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone prevents your ovaries from releasing any more eggs. It stimulates the production of the estrogen and progesterone hormones as well. Estrogen is responsible for the development of female sexual characteristics and is also produced by the placenta to ensure fetal health. Progesterone is released to form the placenta and to make it functional for your baby.

During pregnancy, the levels of these hormones can increase dramatically in the first trimester during the rapid forming of the baby and placenta. The hormone levels will soon drop off at the end of this trimester of pregnancy, and you will be feeling much better. Throughout your pregnancy, your hormone level will go up and down, depending on what developmental stage your baby is in. Your emotions and physical symptoms will often depend on what your hormones are doing.

Your uterus has doubled in size now at the 10th week of pregnancy, and has grown to the size of a small melon. At your next prenatal checkup, your doctor may be able to find your baby’s heartbeat with a Doppler. The Doppler is a hand-held soundwave stethoscope that the doctor will pass over your belly to check up on your baby’s heartbeat. Hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time is a powerful experience, that will make all of the morning sickness and fatigue seem worthwhile.

Do you want to be caught up on all the latest happenings with your pregnancy and your baby? Join SmartMomma Advantage for free! You'll receive your choice of e-mail newsletters, from weekly fetal development updates to sales alerts and the latest pregnancy, baby, and toddler news. Stay up to date with the SmartMomma advantage! Join today!

RELATED ARTICLES - 10 WEEKS PREGNANCY

Fetal Development: By Month
Fetal Development: 2 Months
Fetal Development: 3 Months

RELATED PRODUCTS - 10 WEEKS PREGNANCY

ExpectantSee Screensaver Pregnancy Calendar: CD ROM

PLEASE NOTE

This should be used as a general guideline and is for general information and educational purposes only. Please remember that all pregnancies develop at different rates. If you have questions about your baby's development, please contact your doctor or midwife.