The Baby
When you are into the 11th week of your pregnancy, you would be considered 10 weeks pregnant; which is roughly the same as being pregnant for two and a half months. This is a significant time in a pregnancy because normally, it is at this time that the embryo matures into a fetus. In most cases, all the primary development of major organs such as the heart, kidneys, lungs, liver, brain etc are complete by the tenth week and the first tufts of hair and tiny nails begin to make their appearances. The fetus starts to grow at a remarkably accelerated rate from this point onwards as well as beginning to produce red blood cells. Since the baby will now begin to swallow nutrition, it may grow to a size which is more than double of what it was during the 11th week, by the time the mother is into her 14th week of pregnancy. It is also common for the baby to start kicking when you are ten weeks pregnant, but it may vary by a week or two at times.
It should be noted however, that although the baby is now a fetus and has entered a new stage of growth, it still is probably just an inch or two in length and does not even weigh an ounce. Nonetheless, one of the most vital stages of its development has indeed been completed by the baby once the pregnancy completes its tenth week. In spite of the fact that the initial formation of the major organs is usually complete by this time, these organs will continue to mature and grow throughout the entire course of the pregnancy.
When one is ten weeks pregnant, she can expect her baby to also gain a bit more physical strength. The first and the most significant sign of this is the baby’s ability to move its limbs or rather bend them along with the newly formed fingers and toes. As a result, the mother often feels her child’s kicks inside the womb. This is also when formation of the nervous system begins for the first time. In fact, with the use of all the technology that is available today for monitoring the condition of the fetus, you can actually see the little nerves stretching out of the spinal cord, through the lucid skin of the fetus. As a matter of fact, the tail-like structure which was there during the embryo stage is also gone when the baby reaches the fetus stage because by this time, it has fused into the vertebral column. On checking closely, one will also see that the previously lucid eyebrows are not lucid anymore. As the bones are also at its developmental stage, expect more defined ears and forming tooth buds. The baby will start to resemble a human being with each passing week once you are onto your 11th week of pregnancy.
The more invisible changes include growth of the brain, which is also one of the fastest developing organs in the child’s body at the moment. It is estimated that roughly twenty five thousand neurons are being developed by the baby’s brain after it becomes a fetus. Even hormone production sets in after the mother is ten weeks pregnant. As mentioned earlier, the vital organs are already up and running and since the list includes the kidneys, the baby is certain to produce a lot of urine among other bodily wastes. These are roughly the major changes that are associated with a normal pregnancy that has passed its ten weeks tenure and entered the fetal stage, but it is not necessary for all of these to be present in each and every pregnancy. Some of the changes may set in a bit early or a bit later without being a cause for alarm.
The Mother
Though it is certainly not valid in all cases, the first recognizable change in the mother could be the absence of morning sickness. However, the nausea may take more time to seize completely in some women. Pregnant women are often known for their continuous mood fluctuations and it is when they complete their ten weeks that this phenomenon actually begins. The reason is of course the constant upsets in hormone levels characteristic to all pregnancies. At times the slightest of stimulants can excite or depress her, while at times the emotional extreme may be brought on completely on its own. Prenatal depression is very common and if one experiences it, there is not much to be concerned about, because it can be countered with special diets and appropriate exercises. However, if you find the depression to be overwhelming, it is quite alright to consult the doctor about it.
Physically, the mother is about to go through some big changes and her uterus is about to get a lot bigger to make room for the growing baby. By the end of ten weeks, her uterus should be large enough to almost completely occupy her pelvis. Right at the moment though, the change in size may not be visible from outside yet. Nonetheless, the woman would definitely feel that she is slowly getting bigger around the waist. Skin problems due to irregular hormone levels are a common issue among pregnant women, accompanied by blotchy skin, especially near the face. Note that even though morning sickness may stop, the mother will still feel nausea and tiredness from time to time. Unfortunately, sometimes the gums are also affected and she ends up with pregnancy gingivitis. It is however, more common among women who are more than three months pregnant. Since the blood volume in the mother’s body increases significantly, a frequent symptom is to notice visibly pumped up veins, especially around the breasts, uterus and legs. There might at times be more symptoms associated with ten weeks of pregnancy, and in some cases, even the ones mentioned here may not all be present, but it is only natural to differ so.