10 weeks pregnant: Pregnancy Symptoms & Baby Development
Explore pregnancy stages week by week
At 10 weeks pregnant, whilst it might be hard to believe, you’re almost at the end of the first trimester. Some exciting developments are taking place in your pregnancy, from your baby's emerging facial features to their internal organs. It’s also likely that you’ll have had your first booking appointment with your midwife and be more in the know about what you can expect from your antenatal care.
As you approach your second trimester, you may find that some of the early pregnancy symptoms will start to ease off, leaving you feeling more energetic1. Here we’re looking at some of the symptoms you might be experiencing at 10 weeks pregnant, how your baby develops, and the importance of iron for a healthy pregnancy diet.
How big is my baby at 10 weeks pregnant, and what do they look like?
Your baby is around 30 mm long at 10 weeks pregnant. That’s about the size of a small apricot2.
Whilst your baby’s head is still out of proportion to the rest of their body, their tiny face is really starting to take shape. Little ears are starting to form, there’s an upper lip of their mouth, and their nose has nostrils1.
Pregnancy at 10 weeks (first trimester): what changes are happening in your body?
If this is your first pregnancy, you’re unlikely to develop a baby bump or look pregnant to the outside world until around week 12 of your pregnancy. If you’ve already had children, then you may be starting to show at this point. This is because the muscles in your uterus will have stretched from a previous pregnancy3.
As your pregnancy progresses, it’s important that you’re getting the right healthcare. During your booking appointment (which usually takes place before you’re 10 weeks pregnant)4, your midwife may discuss any vaccinations or tests that you’ll be offered during your pregnancy. For example, the flu and whooping cough vaccines2.
Your midwife will also ask if they can take your height, weight and blood pressure measurements, and give you a blood test to determine you blood type and rule out any underlying conditions such as HIV or hepatitis4.
10 weeks pregnant: signs and symptoms
There are any number of symptoms you might be experiencing at 10 weeks pregnant. From feeling tired and fatigued, to heartburn and an increase in vaginal discharge. We’re taking a look at just a few of the symptoms below.
If you’re yet to experience any pregnancy symptoms, that’s not uncommon. Whilst some women experience the whole range of pregnancy symptoms, others don’t experience any at all. As long as your midwife or other healthcare provider is happy with how your pregnancy is progressing, there’s no reason for concern.
As pregnancy hormones travel around your body, you may experience some tenderness or soreness in your breasts. They may also look bigger and have visible veins, whilst your nipples may be darker in colour and stand out more5.
As you come to the end of the first trimester, you may be feeling tired and exhausted, as this this is a common symptom during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy6. Many women find that they have more energy as they enter their second trimester, especially as many of the early pregnancy symptoms start to ease off1.
Try to take it easy as much as you can, eat a healthy and balanced diet, and rest when you feel like doing so.
Around 8 in 10 women experience nausea, vomiting, or both during their pregnancy7. Also known as morning sickness, these symptoms can occur at any time during the day or night and can, in some cases. significantly affect your daily life.
If this is something you’re experiencing, you’ll be glad to know that it’s unlikely to cause any harm to your growing baby8, and that in most cases morning sickness will subside between weeks 16 and 20 of your pregnancy9.
A common symptom at 10 weeks pregnant, bloating and gas can be very uncomfortable. The cause is the pregnancy hormone progesterone, which at this point in your pregnancy is hard at work relaxing the muscles in your uterus so that it can stretch to support your growing baby. An unpleasant result of this is the fact that progesterone relaxes the muscles in your digestive system at the same time, which is why you may feel bloated and full of excess wind1.
To ease any discomfort from bloating and gas, you could try1:
- Eating little and often - eating around 6 smaller meals each day rather than 3 larger ones
- Avoid eating late at night
- Eating and drinking slowly
- Avoiding alcohol, smoking and spicy foods
- Taking a short stroll after eating if you feel up to it
Aside from bloating and gas, these hormonal changes in your body can also lead to heartburn. Also known as acid reflux, heartburn is very common in pregnancy, and can get worse as your baby gets bigger and starts to press against your stomach10. Although heartburn is usually more common after 12 weeks10, you may find that it starts as you come to the end of the first trimester.
Whilst light spotting or bleeding is common in pregnancy, it’s important to seek advice from a healthcare professional if you experience any bleeding at all. That way you can ensure that everything is progressing as it should.
Cramps in week 10 of pregnancy are another common symptom that you may experience. This could be the result of11:
- Constipation
- Trapped wind
- The ligaments in your body stretching and changing to accommodate your growing baby
If the cramps increase in frequency and severity, or are accompanied by bleeding or unusual vaginal discharge, always seek advice from a healthcare professional11.
The bigger your baby gets, the more pressure they’ll put on your bladder. As a result, you may find that you need to go for a wee more often than you normally would. Whilst this might be slightly annoying, be sure to continue drinking plenty of fluids, as it’s important to stay hydrated during your pregnancy.
If you notice that your moods and emotions are up and down, it’s likely due to the hormonal changes going on in your body. As you come to the end of the first trimester, the levels of progesterone and oestrogen are increasing, which can result in mood swings12.
Always seek advice from your doctor, midwife or other healthcare professional if you’re worried about how you’re feeling. Pregnancy is a big life change, and it’s not unusual to feel a little anxious.
At 10 weeks pregnant, it’s very common to notice an increase in vaginal discharge, as this helps to prevent infections from travelling to your womb13. If the vaginal discharge doesn’t have a strange smell, is milky white or clear and thin in consistency, these are all signs that it’s nothing to be concerned about.
You should seek medical advice if your vaginal discharge13:
- Smells strange or unpleasant
- Is accompanied by pain when you go for a wee
- Causes your vagina to feel sore or itchy
- Is an unusual colour such as green or yellow
Focus on: iron in pregnancy
Reviewed by Bahee van de Bor
Iron is one of the key nutrients in a healthy diet during pregnancy14. The recommended daily intake for every woman, whether pregnant or not, is 14.8mg each day15.
It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to suffer with an iron deficiency, and as a result, your midwife will regularly check your iron levels throughout your pregnancy16. If you start feeling particularly sluggish at any time, let your midwife or GP know. You may need to take iron supplements for a while if you have low blood iron levels.
Boost your iron intake
It’s very important to get plenty of iron from the food you eat, and you can prepare plenty of iron-rich meals and snacks using the following foods14:
- Lean meat such as chicken (always make sure it’s well cooked) and oily fish, such as sardines.
- Dark green vegetables, including broccoli, watercress, spinach and kale.
- Nuts.
- Beans and pulses such as lentils, which are among the richest plant-based sources of iron, essential for your baby's growth and development.
- Wholegrains, including wholemeal bread and iron-fortified breakfast cereals
- Dried fruits, such as apricots, prunes and raisins.
- Eggs.
Vitamin C enhances your body's ability to absorb iron from plant sources, which is crucial during pregnancy. That’s why it's beneficial to pair foods like those mentioned above with vitamin C-rich fruits or juices.
However, it's important to moderate your intake of fruit juices or smoothies to no more than 150 ml per day, and to consume them with meals. This helps maximize iron absorption while also protecting your teeth from potential damage due to natural sugar content17.
Peppers, broccoli, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables are also great sources of vitamin C.
To maximise the amount of iron your body absorbs when eating plant sources of iron, combine them with a vitamin C-rich fruit or glass of juice.
The science behind: iron
Iron is very important for your baby’s cognitive development19, as well as carrying oxygen and vital nutrients to them through the bloodstream as they grow14. It also helps the body to form red blood cells20.
How much weight should I gain in pregnancy?
Weight gain during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy weight and varies from person to person. Most women gain between 10kg and 12.5kg (22–28lb) while pregnant, some of which is the weight of the growing baby21. Learn everything you need to know about weight gain in pregnancy.
If you haven’t been to see your GP or healthcare professional yet, you should make an appointment so they can start planning your antenatal care, including your booking appointment and your first ultrasound scan.
10 weeks pregnant: next steps
At 10 weeks pregnant, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure that your pregnancy runs as smoothly as possible.
Many women prefer to wait until they’ve had their first ultrasound scan before they let people know that they’re pregnant. As this will be due to happen any time now, it’s worth giving some thought to how and when you’ll be telling your friends and family. If you’re working, you’ll also want to consider when you need to tell your employer, and what working life will look like as your pregnancy progresses.
Screening tests are also something to consider. Screening tests are offered in the form of either a blood test or an ultrasound. A blood test can help to determine whether you have certain conditions or infections, for example, sickle cell anaemia, HIV or hepatitis. When combined with an ultrasound, a blood test can discover what the likelihood is of your baby having Down’s syndrome22.
At 10 weeks pregnant, other things to think about include:
- Scheduling your antenatal care. If you haven’t yet arranged your booking appointment with your midwife, it’s really important that you do so now.
- Ensuring that you’re eating a healthy pregnancy diet and exercising safely.
- Taking the necessary supplements and prenatal vitamins. For example, folic acid and vitamin D.
- Enrolling in an antenatal class. Your midwife will be able to provide you with a number of suggestions in your local area.
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- NHS West Suffolk. Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy [online] 2021. Available at https://www.wsh.nhs.uk/CMS-Documents/Patient-leaflets/Maternity/6061-1-Nausea-vomiting-in-pregnancy.pdf. [Accessed January 2024]
- NHS. Vomiting and morning sickness [online] 2021. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/vomiting-and-morning-sickness/. [Accessed January 2024]
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- British Nutrition Foundation. Nutrition during pregnancy [online] 2015. Available at https://www.nutrition.org.uk/life-stages/pregnancy/healthy-eating-during-pregnancy/nutrition-during-pregnancy/#:~:text=Your%20body%20needs%20extra%20iron,iron%20as%20the%20pregnancy%20progresses. [Accessed January 2024]
- Department of Health. Report on Health and Social Subjects 41. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. London: TSO, 1991.
- NHS University Hospitals Dorset. Iron deficiency and pregnancy [online] 2022. Available at https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/uploads/about/docs/our_publications/patient_information_leaflets/maternity/Iron-deficiency-and-pregnancy.pdf. [Accessed January 2024]
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