You're speeding through your first trimester. Only three weeks to go! Are you feeling better? Most moms get some relief from early pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness and fatigue, as they progress through their pregnancy week by week. In the second trimester, you should feel remarkably better and you'll have more energy to boot!
During week 10 of pregnancy, your baby transitions from an embryo to a fetus! From this point onward, your baby enters his or her "embryonic" period. As you approach the end of your first trimester, you should feel happy knowing that your risk for congenital birth defects and miscarriage is decreasing.
Did you know that your pregnancy weight gain at 10 weeks pregnant is between one and three pounds? By the end of your first trimester, at pregnancy week 13, you may have gained up to five or six pounds. (Keep in mind that some women will gain more and others less. Every pregnant woman is unique.)
Beware of Common Pollutants
Although you don't look remarkably pregnant at 10 weeks pregnant, unless this is not your first pregnancy, keep in mind that lots of vital things are happening inside your uterus. That's why you need to be careful of your lifestyle and the substances that you are around, including common pollutants.
The first trimester of pregnancy is the most dangerous time for your baby, because his or her major organs are forming, such as your baby's brain, heart, liver, lungs, and digestive system. Any pollutants that you are exposed to now, at week 10 of pregnancy, can really harm your little baby. If you want a healthy baby, you need to avoid potential contaminants, such as smoking, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Even being around secondhand smoke can have consequences on your growing baby.
Cleaning During Pregnancy
You may want to also avoid certain cleaning products during pregnancy. Studies suggest that using bleach and spray air fresheners when pregnant can cause babies to develop asthma later in life.
To be on the safe side, during pregnancy perhaps you could ask your partner or husband to clean for you. If this is not an option for you, make sure that when you do clean, you wear gloves and avoid using toxic products. For example, some oven cleaners contain toxic chemicals that could harm your developing baby.
Some tips for cleaning your home:
Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning.
Read product labels. Pay careful attention to the warnings on the products you're using. Don't use toxic chemicals to clean.
Keep the room you're cleaning well ventilated. Open windows and doors if you need to.
Avoid breathing in fumes. Do not mix chemicals (such as bleach and ammonia) that can produce toxic fumes.
Try to aim for more environmentally friendly cleaners and supplies, such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.
If you start to feel dizzy or nauseous while cleaning, leave the area and get some fresh air until you start to feel better.
At 10 weeks pregnant, you may want to seriously consider hiring cleaning help if you can afford it. Staying away from all cleaners is preferable.
Fetal Development at Pregnancy Week 10: Organs and Peach Fuzz Isn't the miracle of life amazing? Less than two months ago, your baby was just a fertilized egg and now he or she is about 1.22 inches long from crown to rump, or roughly about the size of a lime!
By pregnancy week 10, your baby looks like a tiny human being! The outer ear, which was developing last week, is now fully formed but it has not moved to its final location. It won't be long before your baby will be able to hear your voice in utero (usually in the second trimester).
As you continue your pregnancy week by week, your baby's face is becoming more distinct. His or her nose has a noticeable, protruding shape at 10 weeks of pregnancy, and the mouth and lips are almost completely formed!
The yolk sac, which has been providing nourishment for your baby up until now, is shrinking away. It is no longer needed because the placenta is now mature and fully functioning.
At 10 weeks pregnant, your baby's fingers and toes are now separated. It's quite a remarkable change from last week when your little one's toes were still webbed.
Your baby's organs continue to mature this week, including his or her liver, brains, and kidney. Around pregnancy week 10, some babies start to develop tiny fuzz along their skin. Many moms-to-be refer this to "peach fuzz" or "baby fuzz." This soft fuzz protects your baby's skin.
This week, your baby is having fun swimming in your uterus, sheltered by harm within the amniotic sac. Around 10 weeks pregnant, your baby has the ability to swallow. Throughout your pregnancy week by week, your little baby swallows the amniotic fluid around him or her. This helps prepare your baby for breathing later in life. Amniotic fluid will help the digestive and respiratory systems of your baby develop.
Food Cravings at Pregnancy Week 10 As your first trimester comes to a close, you will notice a dramatic drop in your morning sickness symptoms. For the first time in weeks, you may feel like you can finally eat again. As you regain your appetite, watch out for food cravings during week 10 of pregnancy.
The Purpose of Food Cravings
When you start eating again, you may notice that foods that you once loved may not appeal to you anymore. Sometimes the body has a natural filtering system that will turn you away from foods that aren't good for your developing baby. If you are lacking certain nutrients, you may also start to crave foods that provide them.
If you're a vegetarian, don't be too surprised if you start craving a big ole piece of steak during pregnancy. It's possible that your body is lacking the protein that's in the meat. You may want to consume non-met protein sources, such as soy products.
How to Satisfy Your Food Cravings
To satisfy your cravings, you should keep your refrigerator packed with a large selection of foods, so you can eat when you feel like it. Make sure your fridge is always stocked with healthy fruits and vegetables!
Don't be shy about your food combinations, even if your partner teases you! Pregnant women are known for their strange food cravings. If you want to eat pickles and ice cream, please do! Just make sure that you use moderation and don't overindulge in one area and neglect the rest of your diet!
Pica
At 10 weeks pregnant, you should be on the look out for bizarre food cravings. Some women develop a condition known as "pica" when they are pregnant. These women crave non-food products, such as clay, chalk, and laundry starch. This condition is very unhealthy and researchers think it is a sign of a nutritional deficiency, such as a lack of iron or zinc.
If you start to crave inedible substances, you should seek medical help. You should not give into your cravings, as they can lead to lead poisoning and bacterial or parasitic diseases.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare providers about these odd food cravings. If you are indeed suffering from pica, you may need to take an iron or zinc supplement. Often, after the nutritional deficiency is treated, the pica goes away and the pregnant woman goes back to having regular food cravings.
Nutrition During Pregnancy
Remember that you only need to add 300 extra calories during pregnancy, despite the old proverbial saying that you are "eating for two." Those 300 calories can be easily added to your diet with a snack or two throughout the day. (If you are expecting twins, you may need to add 600 extra calories).
During pregnancy week 10, if you're feeling better and want to eat, feel free to eat the foods that you enjoy. Just don't go overboard. Continue to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
Keep in mind that excessive weight gain during pregnancy can make you feel more exhausted and achy. Research has found that pregnant women who put on more than their recommended pregnancy weight gain have an increased risk of being overweight later in life, especially if they don't lose those pregnancy pounds.
Regular Exercise During Pregnancy
If you haven't already, you need to start a regular exercise regiment during pregnancy. At 10 weeks of pregnancy, you don't have to do much. Even walking every day will give you the added benefits of exercising. Many pregnant women enjoy swimming, dancing, yoga, Pilates, and biking.
Women who exercise during pregnancy tend to regain their pre-pregnancy body quicker. These women also gain less fat weight, and they feel and look better. With all these perks, why not try adding some exercise into your life at pregnancy week 10?
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