You’ve made it to the one-quarter mark in your pregnancy! By now, maybe you’re taking weekly photos to watch for pregnancy progress, and perhaps you’ve even seen your little one on an ultrasound screen!

Your baby looks increasingly like a tiny person as his features and organs develop. Meanwhile, you are feeling the pregnancy pretty intensely, even if it isn’t yet visible to others, and maybe you are starting to wonder more about who your baby will be.

At 10 weeks pregnant, you’re also getting close to the end of the first trimester and to the part of the pregnancy that many moms consider a bit easier.

Your Baby’s Development At 10 Weeks

Your baby has officially graduated from embryo to fetus and is becoming ever more individual. He’s developing fingerprints and has the beginnings of genitals (though it’s unlikely an ultrasound at this point would give a hint as to the sex).

Baby’s eyes now react to light, thanks to rods and cones that have developed to enable vision, though his eyelids will remain shut for a few months longer. His facial proportions are beginning to adjust, although his body still hasn’t caught up to the size of his head, which looks oversized right now thanks to his growing brain!

His tiny tooth nubs are developing steadily and beginning to firmly connect with a jawbone, although they’ll be hidden inside his gums for months after birth. His digestive organs are developing, and his tiny throat is practicing swallowing!

Baby’s fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and fingernails and toenails are beginning to grow!

Quick Overview: Baby's Development At 10 Weeks Pregnant:

• Your baby has transitioned from an embryo to a fetus, marking a new stage of development.
• Fingerprints are forming, making your baby even more unique.
• Genitals are beginning to develop, though they may not be visible on an ultrasound yet.
• Eyes now react to light, thanks to developing rods and cones.
• Facial proportions are adjusting. The head still appears oversized due to rapid brain growth.
• Tooth nubs are connecting to the jawbone, remaining hidden until after birth.
• Digestive organs are developing, and the tiny throat is practicing swallowing.
• Fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and fingernails and toenails are beginning to grow.

Mother’s Symptoms At 10 Weeks

Pregnancy hormones peak at around 9 or 10 weeks, and many moms report that their morning sickness is at its worst at week 9, so by now, you may be beginning to have a little reprieve. If not, hold on — Cornell biologists found that the peak can be any time between week 9 and week 14. Relief may be around the corner!

Other digestive difficulties may include heartburn and indigestion. Check with your doctor, but it’s typically considered safe to use OTC antacids during pregnancy. You may also be able to combat these symptoms by eating smaller, more frequent meals, avoiding foods that trigger these symptoms, or elevating your head more when lying down.

Breast tenderness, too, may still be an issue. While increased size and weight discomfort may be a symptom throughout (and beyond) pregnancy, some women report that some of the tenderness decreases in the second trimester.

Many women will have skin changes during pregnancy, including darker patches, oilier or drier skin, and acne outbreaks. Your skin also may be more sensitive. It’s best to avoid introducing new soaps and lotions during pregnancy, and you may want to choose detergents formulated for sensitive skin. Some acne treatments can harm your baby, so it’s best to check with your doctor before choosing one.

It’s normal to have intense food cravings or to have your likes and dislikes shift during pregnancy. Still, if you find yourself craving nonfood items, like dirt, paper, or paint, it could indicate a deficiency in iron or other necessary nutrients, so let your doctor know.

Headaches are a common pregnancy symptom, and many women will experience dizziness at some point in their pregnancy. However, dizziness should be reported to your doctor, and any fainting or extreme dizziness warrants emergency care.

You may notice a whitish vaginal discharge throughout pregnancy. This is normal, but gray or greenish discharge can be a sign of infection and should be reported to your doctor.

10 Week Pregnancy Symptoms Quick Recap:

• Morning sickness, possibly at its peak.
• Heartburn and indigestion, common digestive issues.
• Breast tenderness, which may still persist.
• Skin changes, including darker patches, oiliness, dryness, or acne outbreaks.
• Heightened skin sensitivity, possibly reacting to soaps and lotions.
• Food cravings and aversions, sometimes shifting unexpectedly.
• Cravings for nonfood items (pica), which may indicate a nutrient deficiency.
• Headaches, a frequent pregnancy symptom.
• Dizziness, which can occur at various points in pregnancy.
• Whitish vaginal discharge (leukorrhea), typically normal unless discolored.

When To Contact Your Doctor

Contact your doctor if you have any bleeding, severe cramping, or pain that doesn’t go away after taking OTC pain meds or changing positions.

Mood swings can be a normal part of pregnancy thanks to floods of hormones,

Contact your doctor for any signs of infection, such as itching or malodorous discharge.

Contact your doctor or seek emergency care for severe nausea and vomiting. Any vomiting that includes blood warrants emergency attention. Signs of dehydration, such as inability to pass urine over longer periods of time, or dark-colored urine, are a good reason to contact your doctor. Any severe dizziness or fainting should merit a call to your doctor or emergency care, too. We wrote an entire article about Hyperemesis Gravidarum which may help you better understand if your symptoms are going beyond typical morning sickness.

Let your doctor know during regular appointments if you have any spotting, but any bleeding that is heavier than spotting or is accompanied by cramps or pain should prompt an immediate call to your doctor.

What Should Mom Be Doing At 10 Weeks?

If you’re taking a prenatal vitamin, remember to take it daily. If your vitamin makes you nauseous, try taking it with food. Try to stay hydrated!

Stay active unless your doctor recommends otherwise, but don’t overdo it! Be cautious when lifting heavy objects, and watch out for signs of strain. Rest when your body demands it.

Speak to your doctor about prenatal testing. Many factors, including maternal age and other potential complications, may be involved in the decision to participate in NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing). This is a genetic test that can screen for chromosomal conditions, including Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, and others. Since the screening does identify sex chromosomes, it could also tell you your baby’s sex even before genitals are visible on an ultrasound. It’s done by drawing blood from the mother, so it’s entirely non-invasive for your baby.

Quick Recap Of What Mom Should Be Doing At 10 Weeks Pregnant:

• Take your prenatal vitamin daily, and consider taking it with food if it causes nausea.
• Stay hydrated to support your body and baby’s development.
• Stay active, but avoid overexertion and heavy lifting.
• Listen to your body and rest when needed.
• Discuss prenatal testing with your doctor, including NIPT.
• NIPT can screen for chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome.
• NIPT can also determine your baby’s sex before an ultrasound can detect it.

What To Look Forward To

If you haven’t seen your baby on an ultrasound yet, that typically happens between the eight and 12-week period. You may also hear your baby’s heartbeat at your regular prenatal visits!

The second trimester is coming soon, and for many moms, that means a reduction in some of the most brutal pregnancy symptoms, including nausea and fatigue.

If you’re interested in finding out the baby’s sex, early prenatal testing may reveal chromosomal presentation. This testing is typically done between the 10-week and 12-week mark, and results may be back within two weeks. It can also offer some relief by screening for the risk of certain genetic conditions.

If you’re not seeing signs of a ‘bump’ yet, don’t worry — it’s coming soon!