Week 10

My Baby This Week

Congratulations! By this week, your baby is no longer an embryo. She would be about 2.5 cm long from crown to bottom, and would weigh no more than 7 grams. The most critical part of her development would have been complete. From now on, she will be known as a fetus. It is at this stage that her tissues and organs will start rapidly growing. Vital organs such as the intestines, kidney, brain, heart and lungs would have started to function. Of course, they will continue to develop throughout the pregnancy.

With each day that passes by, more details of her body structure will start to appear, such as cute tiny fingernails, toenails, and “baby” hair. Her fingers would no longer be webbed and her hands will actually come together just over her heart.

What’s she doing at this stage? Well, not much other than swallowing amniotic fluid and kicking her legs about.

What’s Happening To My Body?

You could be experiencing mood swings, and if you are, don’t worry. It’s because your hormone levels are fluctuating. The human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG), prevents the release of additional eggs from the uterus and stimulates the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is a group of hormones responsible for the development of female sexual characteristics. It is also produced by the placenta to ensure fetal health. Progesterone is responsible for proper functioning of the placenta. During pregnancy, the levels of these hormones soar. At some point later, the level falls once they are no longer needed. This is usually the cause of mood swings in expecting mothers. It’s important that your spouse knows the reason for these mood swings – so that he will be able to help you along, and be patient with you during this period.