10 Weeks Pregnant - Taking Care of Yourself and Your Baby

If you are 10 weeks pregnant, it means that you are nearing the end of your first trimester. The first trimester constitutes the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. At 10 weeks pregnancy stage, the embryo would have grown considerably. At this stage, it is important for pregnant women to take proper care of themselves in order to have a healthier baby.

Fetus Growth

In a 10 weeks pregnant woman, the fetus will be around 1.2 inches. It will weigh less than a sixth of an ounce. The vital organs like kidneys, heart, brain, lungs, and intestines would have been fully formed and functioning. From here on, the fetus will start to grow rapidly with each passing day. Over a period of next few weeks, the fetus will start to show the first signs of fingernails and hair growth. At this stage, the forehead will appear very big. However, as it develops, it will become normal in size.

Taking Care Of Yourself

With a baby growing rapidly inside you, it is important to take proper care of yourself. Proper care and nourishment always starts with a healthy diet that includes proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and other essential nutrients in balanced amounts. It is best to take a doctor's advice regarding what should be consumed and what should be avoided during pregnancy.

For instance, health care providers always advise pregnant women to avoid eating foods that generate heat inside the body. Pineapple and papaya are two such fruits that generate heat and must be avoided during pregnancy.

It is best to take small meals throughout the day rather than taking large meals three times a day. Taking small meals will help in digestion and avoid problems like heartburn and acidity. Prefer taking a walk after your meal to ensure proper digestion.

Besides incorporating a healthy and balanced diet, 10 weeks pregnant women should keep themselves hydrated by drinking at least 8 to 10 glasses of water everyday.

Additionally, you should also take plenty of rest during your pregnancy. Take frequent naps throughout the day. Proper rest will ensure healthy growth of the embryo.

Activities To Avoid

At this stage, you can also begin reading books on pregnancy to get more information. Learning as much as you can about pregnancy is important to know about the things you need to avoid during pregnancy. Here is a list of some of the activities that pregnant women should avoid:

Smoking and drinking alcohol

Avoid activities like horse riding, hockey, skiing, and playing soccer as these activities increase the chances of trauma or injury to your abdomen.

Avoid exercises like aerobics.

Avoid over-exerting physically and mentally.

Avoid jacuzzi, saunas, and steam baths during early pregnancy because high temperature can lead to birth defects.

Reading books on pregnancy will also help you learn about the warning signs that you should watch out for during pregnancy. Severe headaches, a feeling that something is wrong, not feeling the child's heartbeat regularly, severe vomiting, and swelling on face, hands and legs can be considered some of the warning signs that should never be overlooked. Seek your doctor right away so that any complications can be avoided.

If you are 10 weeks pregnant, it is important to understand that there is still a long way to go. For the next 30 weeks or so, you will need to take extra care of yourself and your baby. And, learning as much as you can about pregnancy will help you in your goal.