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1st Trimester
(weeks 1-13)
Week 9
About You
Week 9 is the ninth
week of the 1st trimester.
You will soon need to make decisions about antenatal
screening. The recommendation for first trimester screening is to have what is
known as a Combined Test. This is a combination of a blood test and a special
scan. However this is not especially helpful when pregnant with more than one
foetus. In this instance, the scan is sufficient.
If you're
over 35 or have a family history of genetic illness, you may want to consider a
chorionic villus sampling (CVS), an antenatal test usually carried out between 10 and 12 weeks that
sc
reens
for birth defects and abnormalities.
There
is also a Nuchal Translucency test (NT scan) usually carried out between 11 and
13 weeks and 6 days that m
easures the fluid under the skin at the back of baby's neck, and can be
used to determine your risk of having a baby with Down syndrome.
All possible tests should be disc
You may find yourself emotional - feeling moody one day
and joyful the next. This is normal and is partly caused by your changing
hormones.
Also anxiousness may stem from
the results of upcoming tests.
About Baby
At the end of this
week,
your foetus measures approximately 2.3 centimetres long, is about as big as
a pea and weighs less than 2 grams. The eyelids are fused and won't open until
week 27. The wrists are more developed, ankles have formed, and the fingers and
toes are clearly visible. Arms are growing longer and bend at the elbows. By
week's end, the inner workings of the ears are complete. Though you can't yet
identify the sex of the foetus by
ultrasound,
its genitals have begun to form. By now the placenta has developed enough to
support most of the critical job of producing hormones.
This week's activities for the
pregnancy to-do list
✔ Look
at your
household cleaners and swap in eco-friendly ones for any
toxic ones
✔Make a pre-baby to-do list of all the things you want accomplish
or enjoy before the baby arrives
✔ Look
at all the upcoming antenatal tests, decide which ones to be done and start
booking them
✔ Eat
plenty of
fruits and vegetables
✔ Go
for a walk, or do 30 minutes of another
moderate exercise, and make it a part of your daily
routine now
✔ Start
to connect with your baby by starting a daily ritual of two 5-10 minute rest
periods and focus on your belly, thinking of your baby. Psychologists say this
helps with pregnancy and post-partum adjustment
Note
that this article contains general information only and is not intended to
replace advice from a qualified health professional.
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