Canada's Largest & Oldest Cord Blood Bank
Say hello to the third month of pregnancy. Your baby has come a long way since he or she was conceived just a few weeks ago.
This Week’s Highlights
Your baby is just a tiny ball of cells
The zygote starts its journey down to the uterus
Amniotic fluid starts building up in your uterus
Your Baby at 9 Weeks
Your baby is the size of a grape, measuring about 0.9 inches (2.3 centimeters) from head to rump and weighing in at about 0.07 ounces (2 grams).
Baby Development at Week 9
Even though they are not fully formed, all of your baby’s body parts are now there including arms, legs, eye and other organs. This means you baby now look less like a tadpole and more like a mini baby.
The constantly moving arms and legs are starting to put on muscle. Fingers and toes are defined at this point and the arms can bend at the elbow. The arms are long enough now so your baby can rest them on his or her chest, where they will soon meet.
Your little ones heart has all four chambers at this stage and is pumping away. The nose and his or her sense of smell are also developing. Ears and teeth are starting to form and soon even the genitals will start becoming apparent.
If you have a prenatal appointment scheduled either this week or in the coming weeks, your healthcare provider will likely use a Doppler to listen to your baby’s heartbeat. Remember to have your phone ready for this momentous occasion.
Don’t worry if you can’t hear the heartbeat at this appointment, your baby’s position (e.g. back turned, located at the edge of the uterus) will influence what the Doppler can pick up. You will be able to make your recording in just a few weeks.
Pregancy Tip
Too big for your jeans, but too small for maternity wear? Use a hairband around the button of your jeans, wear your jacket unzipped or switch to a baggy top or a sweater. These pregnancy hacks can help extend the life of your normal clothes and help keep your secret hidden for just a few more weeks.
Your Bump at 9 Weeks
At this point you are probably finding that your clothes fit a little bit tighter. You may even have difficulty buttoning your jeans. At 9 weeks, your uterus has doubled in size, so this is good news. You may have gained a little bit of weight (1 to 5 pounds or 0.5 to 2.3 kilograms). You may even see a teeny-tiny bump, that looks more like a bloated belly.
How Your Body is Changing
Up until now, the ovaries were making progesterone, the pregnancy hormone essential for growing your baby. This week, the placenta will take over this role, and continue to make progesterone. In the coming weeks, the placenta will also take over the role of providing the baby with nutrients and clearing out waste.
You HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) levels are at peak right now, which means those pregnancy symptoms may feel extreme. The good news is, pregnancy hormone level out by the end of the first trimester (13 weeks)! Headaches, mood swings and fatigue are all brought on by hormones, so it is ok to slow yourself down a little, take naps, and try to avoid stressful situation.
About 85% of expectant moms experience some form of morning (or all-day) sickness. But, some can experience severe nausea and require medical treatment. Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition characterized by extreme nausea that leads to dehydration. Hyperemesis gravidarum is treatable when diagnosed. So, if you are unable to keep any liquids down, are loosing weight, or have fainted, you should consult your healthcare provider.
Can the Aging Immune System be Rejuvenated?
At Healthcord Cord Blood Bank, this question is at the crux of so much of our research. We have created a webinar to address it: https://www.healthcord.com/rejuvenating-the-immune-system/
Of the three sources of stem cells available, cord blood is likely the best candidate for cell therapy, and here’s why. Cord blood is collected and cryopreserved at birth. This makes them the youngest possible stem cell source available. When these precious umbilical cord stem cells are safely banked, they can be used to their fullest potential.
How Far Along are You?
9 weeks in, 31 weeks to go! You are still in your first trimester of pregnancy. Even though pregnancy is measured in weeks this means you are in your third month of pregnancy.
Diet at Week 9
With pregnancy hormones at their peak, you may be hit hard with nausea and morning sickness this week. You may even feel a little anxious about not eating enough. If you are unable to eat large meals, snack frequently. Change up your food groups and eat what you can. Keeping your belly consistently full can also help with morning sickness.
What is Cryopreservation?
Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 9
Headaches – Changing hormone levels are the main culprit behind your pregnancy headaches. Fatigue, stress, overeating, allergies and a drop in blood sugar levels can also lead to headaches. Remember to get lots of fresh air and stay cool by wearing comfortable clothing.
Heartburn and indigestion– Your digestive systems behaves differently during pregnancy owning to pregnancy hormones. The same hormones that relax your muscles and joints, also relax muscles in your digestive tract. This means food is passed along at a slower rate through your system causing bloating, gas and heartburn. The slow down is actually beneficial to the baby, since it gives your body time to better absorb nutrients from food, which can then be passed on to the baby through the placenta. Try keeping a food diary and taking note of the food that lead to indigestion and heart burn so you can avoid them.
Fatigue – Exhaustion is one of the most common symptoms associated with this stage of pregnancy. Remember, your body is going through massive changes at this stage to make sure that tiny ball of cells will survive and continue to grow into your precious baby.
Frequent visits to the bathroom– Frequent urination is a symptom that is present in both first and third trimesters. Right now it is caused by (you guessed it) changing hormones. Unfortunately, even if you drink absolutely no liquids, you will still need to visit the bathroom more often. This is quite normal. However, if the urgency is accompanied by pain or burning, you should contact your healthcare provider since you may have contracted a urinary tract infection.
Breast tenderness and changes– Pregnancy hormones increase the blood supply to your breasts, which makes them tender and swollen. You may also notice that your areolas are darker in colour now, which is another side effect of increased blood flow.
Invest in Your Baby’s Future by Preserving Newborn Stem Cells
