Welcome to the 9th week of pregnancy! To the outside world, you still may not look very pregnant, but on the inside you are emotionally and physically all over the place! Rest assured that many of these symptoms will relieve themselves within the next few weeks- and you will regain a new sense of energy. If you feel great- then more power to you.
What you may be experiencing
Many of the symptoms from previous weeks may still be present. Morning sickness and breast tenderness may still bother some moms-to-be. Light skinned moms may notice veins popping up on their breasts and other places- as your blood volume increases. Other moms may begin to notice a gradual darkening of the areolas or nipples- this is perfectly normal and will continue to get darker as your pregnancy progresses.
Emotionally, you may feel similar to having PMS. Being overly emotional is very common, so don’t be alarmed if you start crying at sappy commercials or movies.
Your Baby
While you may not be able to feel it, your little one is busy moving around in the comfort of your uterus. Measuring in at 20-28mm, they now have all the organs, nerves, and muscles that they will have on their birthday. Though they are still immature and need time to grow and develop. A skilled practitioner may be able to locate the heartbeat on a Doppler, though some may not be able to find it for a few more weeks. This is normal.
Concerns or points of interest
Many moms at this stage worry about the health of their baby. Since you can’t feel them moving around yet, it is easy to get caught up in miscarriage statistics. While there is a certain number of pregnancies that end in miscarriage- most have to do with a problem with the baby and have nothing to do with mom. If you begin to experience cramping or bleeding, alert your physician immediately. They will be able to rule out certain problems, and get to the root of the situation.
By cutting back on negative behaviors- you can further your chances of having a successful pregnancy. Drug and alcohol abuse increases the risk of miscarriage or birth defects- so nip the problem in the habit as early as possible.
If a miscarriage does occur- allow yourself to grieve. Discuss your feelings with a support group, loved ones, a counselor, or clergyman. If and when you are ready, most women are able to successfully conceive and carry a baby to term. You can expect additional doctor’s visits to check on the progress of your baby often during any subsequent pregnancies.