Pregnancy Week 9
The formation of the ear, fingers, and toes becomes increasingly clear.
Planning Your Pregnancy
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Your Baby
The
embryo may now officially be called a
fetus, which literally means "little one" -- and he's about the size of a strawberry. An inch long, he has hands that can flex at the wrist, and he's able to fold them over his heart. Eyelids cover his eyes, and his ears are beginning to take shape on the sides of his head. His genitals are forming, but your doctor won't yet be able to discern his sex by sonogram. Give it a few more months; an
ultrasound performed in the second
trimester should tell you -- if you want to know ahead of time, that is.
Hot Topics:
Your Body
You may no longer feel as nauseated and fatigued as you've been the past two months, and your sex drive may even be revving up. Thanks to a surge in estrogen and
progesterone, there's more blood flow to the breasts, vagina, labia, and clitoris, making them more sensitive. Your breasts continue to get fuller, too, which means it's a good time to purchase a real maternity bra with good support.
Your Pregnant Body:
Do's and Don'ts
Cheese is a great source for calcium, but avoid soft or mold-ripened varieties like Brie, Camembert, and Stilton. They may contain listeria, a bacteria that can cause a rare but serious infection in pregnant women called listeriosis. Cream and cottage cheeses are fine, as are hard and American cheeses. Listeria can also live in hot dogs and deli meats, so steer clear of them completely or heat them until they're steaming hot before you take a bite.
Health
It's time to delegate any paint jobs to your partner or hire a professional. Getting a whiff of polyurethane won't hurt the fetus, but staying in a room filled with paint fumes is not recommended. Removing old paint applied before 1978 can harm neurological development.
Health Watch:
Mom to Mom
Videotape or take a photo of your belly's progress every month so you can show it to your child when she's older. "It was astonishing to see the changes years later, and our daughter loved seeing how excited we were to be having her."--Tracy Heffernan, San Francisco
Your Time:
Shopping
Soon you'll be saying goodbye to button flies and hip-hugging slacks. But you can get a little more mileage out of them by expanding your waistbands with a button extender, which you can find at most sewing-supply stores.
Making Room:
Exercise
Nosh on carb-filled foods like whole grain breads and cereal an hour or two before you hit the gym so you're not hungry, and include water before, during, and after so you're properly hydrated.
Relationships
Now that you may be feeling much better physically, take advantage of your returning libido. Don't worry: The fetus is so well protected in his
amniotic sac that no matter how enthusiastic you two might get, intercourse won't hurt the baby.
Siblings
Thinking often of your own siblings? Many pregnant women say they do. If your parents and siblings live far away, e-mail pictures of yourself so they can see how your pregnancy is progressing.
Twins
Double up on baby paraphernalia and you'll wind up with a lot of stuff you don't need--as well as a house that looks like a baby supply showroom. You will need doubles of a few crucial items like a car seat, the hallowed bouncy seat and other "entertainers."
Family Bonds:
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