What is happening in week 9
Doctors count pregnancy weeks from the first day of your last period, so week 9 sits in the first trimester (up to the end of week 13). That is about 31 weeks to go until week 40, and about 2.1 months by a rough conversion. By week 9 the foetus is about 22mm long, with a more recognisable face and tiny taste buds.
Your baby
The NHS guide gives about 22mm, roughly a strawberry. Eyelids now protect the eyes, there is a small mouth and a tongue with taste buds, and the hands and feet have grooves where fingers and toes will form. The heart, brain, lungs, kidneys and gut are developing and bones are starting to form.
Your body
The pregnancy hormone hCG peaks at around 9 weeks, so tiredness, nausea and mood swings can feel strongest now. Your breasts may be bigger and your waist a little thicker. The NHS says many people feel much better in the second trimester.
This week’s to-do
- Snack little and often to keep blood sugar steady, which the NHS says may reduce sickness.
- Accept help and rest; it is normal for emotions to feel like a rollercoaster.
- Book your first scan; the NHS says the dating scan is around 8 to 14 weeks and the next detailed scan is at around 18 to 21 weeks.
When to call
Call your doctor or hospital if you have any bleeding, or if low mood or anxiety is getting in the way of daily life.
Chaitanya Hospital in Kadapa, near RTC Bus Stand, Simhapuri Colony, provides delivery and emergency care 24/7. Our antenatal check-ups team can answer questions about your own pregnancy.
Use the week-by-week guide to jump to your week, or the due date calculator to work out your dates. Timings for scans and tests come from NHS guidance in the UK and can differ from your doctor’s schedule, so always follow your own doctor’s advice. This page is educational and not a substitute for a doctor.
Sources
Text on this page is paraphrased from the sources above. Sizes are averages and vary between babies.