9 weeks pregnant

When 9 weeks pregnant, your baby is looking less like a tadpole and more like a person. The embryonic tail at the bottom of the spinal cord is shrinking and disappearing, and the face is more rounded. Compared with the rest of the body your baby’s head is quite large and is tucked down onto the chest. The hands and feet are continuing to form fingers and toes, and elbows are more pronounced. Nipples and hair follicles are forming. Your baby’s pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder and anus have formed, and the intestines are growing longer. Internal reproductive organs, such 9 weeks pregnant as testes or ovaries, start to develop this week, but the external genitals don’t yet have noticeable male or female characteristics. Your baby may start making some movements this week, but you won’t be able to feel them for several more weeks.

You and your body - Week 9 of pregnancy

You will start putting on weight now so it is a good idea to keep a record of any weight gain yourself if your ante-natal care doesn't include regular weight checks, Your gums are becoming softer and thicker because of hormone changes so you will need to pay special attention to oral hygiene. You should now familiarize yourself with some of the other ante-natal procedures and tests.

Your growing baby in week 9

The face is now developing and the mouth and nose are clearly visible. The limbs continue to grow rapidly in week 9, and the fetus now measures about 0.9 inch (2,3 cm).

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