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Week 10 of Pregnancy: Week by Week Pregnancy Calendar

At a little over one (1) inch long and weighing no more than a quarter of an ounce, your baby is now the size of a kumquat. The embryo is now officially a fetus. You are in your third month of pregnancy.

Your Baby

10 Week Fetus
10 Week Fetus

During week 10 of pregnancy, your baby has completed the most critical portion of development during which all the major body parts formed. From now until her or she is born, your baby’s tissues and organs will rapidly grow and develop. The liver has taken over the job of producing red blood cells from the yolk sack, which is currently disappearing. The stomach, kidneys, and intestines are also beginning to function. The spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out of the spinal cord, which is now visible through your baby’s translucent skin. The brain, which bulges atop your baby’s head, also begins to function during week 10 of pregnancy.

Ultrasound of 10 Week Fetus
Ultrasound of 10 Week Fetus

Your baby also begins to swallow amniotic fluid during week 10 of pregnancy, which your baby excretes back out as urine. Tiny teeth begin to form under your baby’s gums inside his or her tiny mouth. The ears, which initially formed on your baby’s neck, are developing and moving into place on the sides of the head. The arms and legs begin to bend at the elbows and knees. Tiny nails begin growing on the fingers and toes, which are clearly defined. Downy hair as fine as peach fuzz, which is called lanugo, begins to cover your baby’s delicate skin in a protective layer. If your baby is a boy, his testes begin producing the hormone testosterone.

Your Body

Life Week 10
Life Week 10

As hormones relax the smooth muscles in your body including the smooth muscles in your intestines, you may find yourself suffering from constipation during week 10 of pregnancy. Make sure to drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fiber including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Your ever-increasing hormones are also relaxing the ligaments in your body, which is good for giving birth but not necessarily so good during week 10 of pregnancy. You may find yourself a lot more flexible than usual so take precautions when moving around to prevent joint and muscles injuries. Your blood supply will increase by 20 to 40 percent by the end of your pregnancy, so you may begin noticing more visible veins throughout your body. Other symptoms during week 10 of pregnancy include fatigue, nausea, heightened emotions and mood swings, stress and anxiety, and breast tenderness and changes. Your waist will also be a little bigger as your baby and uterus continue to grow.

Kumquats
Baby Is the Size of a Kumquat
During Week 10 of Pregnancy

Learn about your baby during week 9 of pregnancy or week 11 of pregnancy.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is not meant to replace the professional medical advice of your health care provider.

References

10 weeks pregnant: http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/10-weeks-pregnant_70665
Curtis, Glade B. & Judith Schuler. 2011. Your pregnancy week by week. 7th edn. Philadelphia: Running Press.
Stone, Joanne & Keith Eddleman, eds. 2003. The pregnancy bible: Your complete guide to pregnancy and early parenthood. Willowdale, Ontario: Firefly Books.
Your pregnancy: 10 weeks: http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-10-weeks_1099.bc
Your pregnancy week by week: Weeks 9-12: http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-9-12

Image Credits

10 Week Fetus: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Embryo_-_approximately_8_weeks_from_conception,_10_weeks_estimated_gestational_age_from_LMP.jpg
Ultrasound of 10 Week Fetus: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:10_Weeks_Fetus.JPG
Life 10 Weeks: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/322391
Kumquats: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kumquat-0245.jpg

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