In this article you will be able to read about everything related to your pregnancy in week 9. Here you'll find information on the development of the baby, how the mother's body is changing and tips you may need along the way. When you are 9 weeks pregnant, the embryo is the size of a cherry.

Baby: Embryo starts to look like a child

The embryo is about 20 millimeters between head and tail!

Development

In week 9, the embryo can begin to make some simple movements. These are important for the muscle and joint functions of the embryo, but they are not voluntary and are done at this early stage by reflexes. Although the embryo is moving inside you for most of the day, it is not something you will feel for a while. However, it is not too far away! Although it can vary greatly from woman to woman and depending on where in the uterus the placenta is located, many women feel fetal movement around weeks 18-24.

The arms that started developing last week have now grown elbows and fingers are starting to grow on the hands, which still have webbed skin between the fingers. The feet also continue to develop and have now started to grow small toes.

The eyes are still on the side of the head, but this week the eyelids begin to develop. The mouth is being completed this week and the development of the teeth in the jaw continues, while the palate and tongue begin to take shape.

Development of the sexual organs

From week 9 onwards, the genitals also start to develop in different directions depending on gender. The XX or XY chromosome set controls the development of either testes or ovaries. Depending on the chromosome set, the different sex hormones are then formed, which will drive the development of the sex. Initially it looks like two small litters with a bud in the middle whether it is a vagina or a dick, but at a later stage it will be possible to distinguish the sexes.

Mum: 9 weeks pregnant - is this the time to show your belly?

Your uterus is now twice as big as when you are not pregnant!

Walking

The feeling of period pain and needing to pee is usually very noticeable now, and this is because your uterus is growing. In addition, your bowels are starting to swell and together they may be pushing against your bladder. The bowels move more slowly as a result of the hormones, and they swell because the muscles become more relaxed.

Although the uterus has doubled in size, it cannot be felt outside the body. Some women notice a big difference in the size of their stomach compared to its normal state, while others have not noticed any difference at all. Remember not to compare your growing belly with that of other pregnant women - all women's bodies are unique and so are pregnancies. Trust that your body is changing in exactly the way it needs to.

Hormones and bleeding

The increase in hormones during pregnancy can lead to fungal infections and/or increased vaginal discharge. Bleeding is also common in early pregnancy. At this stage of pregnancy, many people are worried about this and feel a fear of miscarriage. Try not to worry too much, even about bleeding - it is often completely harmless to the embryo and does not necessarily mean a miscarriage.

There may be bleeding from the mucous membrane of the vagina due to swelling, hormonal changes or from a vessel in the mucous membrane that is more fluid-filled. A polyp in the vagina or uterine nipple can also cause bleeding and is not associated with uterine bleeding or linked to fetal development.

About 1 in 4 women will bleed at some point during their pregnancy! If you are worried about a miscarriage or about possible bleeding, you can always go to your midwife, gynecological clinic or obstetrician for advice or help in dealing with your concerns.

here you can listen to our Baby Talk podcast as we talk about bleeding in pregnancy with midwife Maria.

Harmful substances during pregnancy

Potentially harmful substances that enter your body are absorbed by the blood and can reach the fetus via the placenta and the umbilical cord. Examples of these harmful substances include medicines, alcohol, smoking, snuff and drugs. They pose an increased risk to the fetus during pregnancy and should therefore be avoided completely.

If you need help or support in quitting an addiction, you can go to your health center or midwife's office to get the help you need. There are also special clinics for people who are or have been in an addictive or high-risk relationship.

Remember that the healthcare journey during pregnancy differs from region to region. Talk to your midwife about what applies where you live.

You can read about week 8 here.

You can read about week 10 here.