Take your time with this information
Week 10
You may still be feeling the peak of pregnancy symptoms, or you may be starting to feel a bit more like yourself. At week 10, you’re officially in your third month of pregnancy, so the good news is that you’re coming up to the end of your first trimester, so you may want to start thinking about how you’re going to tell friends and family, if you haven’t already!1
Your body
At this point the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is at its highest, so the nausea and sickness you may have been feeling over the last few weeks should be at its peak.2 In 10% of pregnancies, nausea (with or without vomiting) may persist beyond 22 weeks.2 If you are struggling with nausea and sickness, especially if it’s affecting your ability to eat and drink, contact your healthcare provider for further support and guidance.
By week 10 of pregnancy, you may be feeling some pain or discomfort around your abdomen. This is known as round ligament pain. The ligaments on both sides of your abdomen are stretching to make room for your growing baby.1
Symptoms
- Nausea (with or without vomiting) known as “morning sickness” but can occur at any time of the day1
- Breast tenderness1
- Frequent urination1
- Fatigue1
- Bloating and gas1
- Constipation1
- Faster heartbeat3
- Heartburn1
- Headaches1
- Round ligament pain1
- Increased vaginal discharge1
- Dizziness1
Your baby
At 10 weeks your baby is no longer referred to as an embryo. Your baby has grown to around the size of a prune, roughly 3–4 cm and is now a foetus.1,4
Your baby’s face is really starting to take shape this week. Their eyelids are now developed enough to close;4 and tiny teeth buds are now developing below their gums.1 Another major development this week is baby’s digestive system as their stomach starts to produce the digestive secretions that will help break down their food.1
Things to do this week
- Consistently taking folic acid is recommended,5 or if you haven’t already, consider taking a prenatal supplement that has the recommended amounts of vitamin A and D, iron and calcium6
- Staying active and keeping a healthy weight can help support fertility and overall health7
- Try to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking – both are known as risk factors for miscarriage8,9
- Nourish your body with pregnancy-safe foods (if nausea and morning sickness allow)
You should try to avoid foods high in mercury, such as mackerel and tuna, raw seafood, undercooked meat, poultry and eggs, unpasteurised foods and cheese with a mould rind such as brie, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and any type of herbal tea10 - Limit caffeine consumption to no more than 200 mg per day11
As a guide:
1 mug of coffee contains 100 mg of caffeine
1 mug of tea contains 75 mg of caffeine
1 can of cola contains up to 40 mg of caffeine
1 bar of chocolate contains up to 50 mg of caffeine
Your first antenatal appointment is usually scheduled between 8–12 weeks of pregnancy12
What to expect from your first antenatal appointment
During your first antenatal appointment, your healthcare provider will want to evaluate your overall health, any family medical history or risk factors that could affect your pregnancy, and they will also establish how many weeks pregnant you are using your last menstrual period. This is referred to as the gestational age.11,13
If you have any concerns, or are struggling with any pregnancy-related symptoms, this appointment is a great time to speak to your healthcare provider as they can provide additional support, if needed.
Your healthcare provider may also ask about your mental wellbeing during your first antenatal appointment. It is important to be honest about how you’re feeling as hormones have a huge effect on mood and depression during pregnancy affects 12–13% of women.14