9 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms and What to Expect

9 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms and What to Expect

Your Growing Fetus at 9 Weeks

At nine weeks pregnant your baby is .91”, which is roughly the size of a Polly Pocket or a Grape.

Here’s what is happening inside your tummy,

  • The baby’s heart is developing into four distinct chambers.
  • Your baby now has eyes!
  • The bones in their arms are beginning to develop.
  • Your baby can hiccup. Crazy, right?
Pregnancy Superfood for Week 9

We’re going nuts for the pregnancy superfood this week! It’s Almonds! See what we did there! During your pregnancy it is perfectly safe to eat raw almonds, unless you have a nut allergy.

Raw-Almonds-9-Weeks-Pregnant-Benefits

These nuts are jammed packed with nutrients. Iron, calcium, folic acid, and fiber are all found in a single almond. If you’re having digestion problems soak your almonds overnight. Soaked almonds aid in digestion by releasing enzymes.

In fact, soaked almonds are actually better for you than raw almonds. Phytic acid is great for nuts and seeds as they are growing on plants but is not that beneficial to us. It decreases the absorption of minerals in our body. When almonds are soaked the phytic acid is removed and phosphorus is released. Phosphorus is great for easing digestion and is also good for bone health.

Almonds do contain carbs, but it is a healthy amount of cards. These carbs along with dietary fat reduce blood sugar, inflammation and stress while boosting the metabolism. With all of the crazy pregnancy cravings you may be experiencing, it is super easy to gain weight. Instead of going for the unhealthy cravings eat almonds as they will keep you full longer.

During your first trimester it is important to reach the amount of your daily iron requirement. An ounce of almonds contains 1.1 mg of iron. That is 6% of your daily requirement. Eating enough almonds will keep you from becoming anemic and will help push oxygen to your baby.

Eating nuts during your pregnancy has also been known to reduce allergies in your baby. Protein is essential to your body and your baby’s, almonds contain plenty of protein. Containing calcium, these nuts will aid in bone formation in your baby. The bones in their arms are forming this week so enjoy your almonds!

Top Tip for Week Nine

With pregnancy announcements all over Facebook, Pinterest, and every other form of social media, it’s easy to get caught up in the fad. Having your announcement go viral is not a “must have” for your baby. Don’t stress out about how you will reveal your secret to the world, do your announcement your own way. The important thing is that you’re having a baby, not how you reveal it.

Inspirational Message of the Week from Already Moms

“When a woman is preparing for the transition to motherhood, it’s important that she do so with a sense of mastery over her life,” – Gayle Peterson

Big Efforts from your Co Creator

By now you’ve probably heard the craziest of ideas on how to announce your pregnancy. You can thank Pinterest! Elaborate announcements for social media may not be your thing, but if your partner is excited about it just go with the flow.

This Art of Allowing

If you were constantly on the go before you got pregnant this may be hard for you but it is necessary.

  • Slow down and take a breather. Your body needs rest! You can still exercise but don’t over do it.
  • As you’re finishing up the first two months of pregnancy you may begin to doubt yourself.
  • Stop the negative thoughts!
  • Remember the inspirational message you read at the top of this page, let it soak in.
  • Reframe your negative thoughts into positive ones.
  • A positive mentality will improve your pregnancy journey.
Pregnancy Symptoms of Week Nine

You’re just a few short weeks away from the second trimester. Next week your hormone levels will start to stabilize so you may begin to feel better than you have been. However, week nine brings some pretty intense pregnancy symptoms for you to battle. Hang in there!

Fatigue: You’re going to be hit hard with fatigue. It’s no surprise since your body is developing a human inside of you. Progesterone levels will be raging inside of you, thus making you feel more sluggish than you have been. Going to bed earlier and taking naps will help you feel more rested.

Headaches: Due to your hormones raging, you may begin to experience pounding headaches or even migraines. Lucky for you the solution to a headache can also ease some of your other pregnancy symptoms. Stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.

Abdominal Pain: As your uterus grows you will experience cramping. However, immediately go to the doctor if you notice blood along with the cramping.

Gas: As embarrassing as it may be, you will begin to pass gas more often. Relax, it’s completely normal. Eating less cabbage and other gas-producing foods will help reduce the amount of gas you pass.

Mood Swings: Another symptom caused by those raging hormones and it certainly doesn’t help that you’re feeling nauseous and tired. With everything you’re dealing with, you will definitely find yourself to be more irritable. In stressful situations try to rework your thoughts into positive ones. If you can avoid stressful situations altogether, do it.

Frequent Urination: As your uterus continues to expand you will feel like you’ve spent most of your day in the bathroom. Don’t let that stop you from drinking LOTS of water.

Nasal Congestion: The production of mucus increases when you become pregnant so you may experience some nasal congestion. Keep a pack of tissues nearby and you will get through it just fine.

Sore Breasts: As your breasts continue to grow to prepare for the arrival of your baby they will become more sore. A lot of pregnant women find comfort in maternity bras. We recommend trying one as it may ease your pain and discomfort.

Your Body will Change and It’s Necessary

At this point, you may not be showing just yet, but your uterus has definitely doubled in size. Touch your lower abdomen, do you feel how much firmer it has gotten? That’s your uterus and in the next few weeks, it will be growing out of your pelvis!

Don’t stress or dwell on weight gain, it is normal and recommended to gain a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy. In fact, the extra weight will be distributed to your baby. Typically 2-3 pounds will go to the placenta, amniotic fluid, and breast tissue. Of course, your baby will account for some of the pounds you have gained as well. Your veins may become more prominent throughout your body.

While you may feel like you look like a blueprint, your veins are hard at work. Your blood volume has increased by 20 to 40 percent and your veins are keeping up. They are continuing to carry the nutrients and your increase in blood supply to your baby.

Our Recommended Remedy for Week 9

Headaches while being pregnant can be difficult to combat because you can’t just pop in some aspirin and go about your day. Before trying to cure the headache, make sure you are eating enough and getting plenty of water and nutrients. Herbal tea can be used to ease your headaches. Here is a recipe for a pregnancy safe tea for headaches

Combine 1 part of the following herbs together; chamomile, skullcap, lemon balm, lavender, and lemon peel. Chamomile is commonly used to treat headaches. Skullcap is full of calcium and will not only help you relax but also fall asleep. Lemon balm reduces anxiety. Lavender is soothing and is also used to treat headaches often. The lemon peel is full of vitamin C and adds flavor to the tea. You can store your combination of herbs in a tea tin until you’re ready to brew. For every cup of hot water, use 1-2 teaspoons of your tea. Enjoy this tea hot or chilled.

If this remedy isn’t your cup of tea, here are some other ways you can ease your headache while pregnant.

Almond Milk

We see you superfood of the week! Almonds are full of magnesium, which is an extremely beneficial mineral used in treating migraines. Yes, you could eat raw almonds but a glass of milk will also keep you hydrated. If the thought of drinking almond milk by itself repulses you then get fancy and put it in a smoothie.

Green Juice

This juice recipe is sure to cure your headache. Pineapple contains the natural enzyme bromelain, which has been used for pain relief for centuries. 95 percent of a cucumber is water, thus it will aid in keeping you hydrated and reducing your headache.

In order to make the perfect headache curing green juice combine the following ingredients in a blender:

  • 16 ounces of water
  • 1 cup of pineapple
  • 1 cup of kale
  • 1 stalk of celery
  • 1 cup of cucumber, and 1 ½ cups of ice.
  • Blend for at least 60 seconds or until it has a liquid consistency.
Soothing The Uncomfortable

While fatigue may be a fierce beast this week, pregnancy is no excuse to strictly lay in bed. You’re allowed to take frequent naps, but don’t stay in bed all day. Try taking a short walk around the block. Exercise can help beat fatigue and ease other pregnancy symptoms. It will also improve your positive mindset making you feel better physically and emotionally.

If you don’t want to take a walk around the block you can also go swimming, walk on a treadmill, ride a bike or try low impact aerobics. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, we can’t stress this enough! If you don’t like the idea of drinking tea, almond milk, or a green smoothie to cure your headache there are a few other things you can try.

As you lie down to battle the fatigue, place a cool washcloth over your forehead. You’ll be combating two pregnancy symptoms at once. If your partner is around, have them massage your neck, shoulder, and feet.

The applied pressure will help reduce your headache. As you get a massage, you will become more relaxed, thus preventing future headaches from occurring. Heating pads and warm baths will relax tense muscles and ease pain.

Preparation for Motherhood
  • Decide on how you will announce your pregnancy, it’s time for the world to know……or at least the people you’re close to.
  • Rest up. That’s right, we’re encouraging you to nap!
  • Plan a lunch date. Take a break from preparing for your baby’s arrival and go grab lunch with a friend! Treat yourself, you deserve it!

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