Pregnancy week by week · trimester 1
🍒 9 weeks pregnant: your baby is about the size of a cherry
At 9 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a cherry, and fingers and toes are beginning to form.
Your baby this week
Your baby is around the size of a cherry. Tiny fingers and toes are forming, although they may still be gently joined by webbing that will soon disappear. The head is large compared with the body, because the brain is growing so fast. The eyes are fully formed but covered by eyelids that will stay closed for a good while yet. Little ears are developing on the outside and inside, and the main muscles are forming so your baby can make small, jerky movements.
You this week
Your waistband may be getting tighter, even if no one else can tell yet. Sickness, tiredness and needing the loo more often may still be very much present. Some mums notice headaches, a blocked nose, or feeling warmer than usual. Mood can dip and rise without warning. If you are feeling low or anxious most of the time, it is worth telling your midwife; your emotional wellbeing matters just as much as your physical health.
Kind things to do this week
- Wear a comfortable, supportive bra; a bra fitting can make a real difference now.
- Use paracetamol for headaches if you need to, and check with a pharmacist before any other painkillers.
- Tell someone you trust how you are feeling, even if you are not ready to share the news widely.
Appointments around now
Your booking appointment with a midwife usually happens between 8 and 10 weeks, if it has not already.
Questions to ask your midwife
- What should I do if I feel low or anxious during pregnancy?
- Can you explain my blood test results to me?
When to call your midwife or maternity unit
Please call your GP, midwife or NHS 111 if you have any bleeding, tummy pain that does not settle (especially low down on one side), or you are being sick so often you cannot keep fluids down. You are never wasting anyone's time.
OBubba from bump to baby
Follow your pregnancy week by week, free.
OBubba is free through pregnancy, with a weekly update, kick counting and contraction timing. On the day your baby arrives, the same app becomes your baby tracker.
Questions
Can I take paracetamol at 9 weeks pregnant?
Paracetamol is the usual choice for pain or fever in pregnancy, at the normal dose for the shortest time. Avoid ibuprofen unless a doctor advises it, and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.
Is it normal to feel emotional at 9 weeks pregnant?
Yes. Hormones, tiredness and the size of the news can all make feelings swing. If low mood or worry is with you most days, talk to your midwife or GP.
Not sure how far along you are? Use the due date calculator.
Sources
OBubba gives general information. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Your midwife and maternity unit are always the right people to ask, any time of day or night.