Feeling exhausted? Fatigue kicks in for many moms-to-be around week 9 of pregnancy. The (very important) reason? Your body is working overtime in the first trimester to develop the placenta, the lifeline between your baby and your own blood supply.

Your Baby at Week 9

At a Glance

Getting stronger
Getting stronger
This week, tiny muscles are starting to form, but it will be at least another month or two before you'll be able to feel those little punches.
Big-hearted baby
Big-hearted baby
Your baby's heart is growing larger and developing quickly this week. It could even be audible with a hand-held Doppler by now, though you'll probably have to wait a while longer for your doc to let you hear that glorious sound at one of your appointments.
Hi, baby
Hi, baby
The spinal cord "tail" at your baby-to-be's rump has all but disappeared! He's looking more and more like a tiny human.

9 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If you're 9 weeks pregnant, you're in month 3 of your pregnancy. Only 6 months left to go! Still have questions? Here's some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.

How big is my baby at 9 weeks?

At 9 weeks pregnant, your little one is now about 1 inch long, the size of a medium green olive — but no martinis, please.

The embryo period ends

Would you believe your baby is only an embryo for one more week and is already developing into a fetus?

The head has straightened out and is more fully developed and the ears are continuing to grow, making baby look more human. Plus, toes are visible, and all of baby's essential organs, like the heart, brain, kidneys, liver and lungs, have begun to develop.

The arms and legs in your soon-to-be-fetus are also spontaneously moving now that minuscule muscles are beginning to develop, though you won't feel your tiny dancer for at least another month or two.

Baby's heart is growing fast

At this stage, your baby's heart is developing rapidly and growing bigger by the week. Though in theory, by now, fetal cardiac activity may be detectable using a handheld ultrasound device known as a Doppler, your practitioner likely won't take it out and give it a try until around week 15.

So you have to wait a bit longer to hear that sweet, sweet sound. And when you do, be still your beating heart!

Your Body at Week 9

9 weeks pregnant woman

Feeling so tired!

When it comes to pregnancy symptoms, you may feel like you've already reached your limit at 9 weeks pregnant: Your clothes are getting tighter around the waist, you're busting out on top and you're still running to the bathroom 100 times a day — and if it isn't because you're sick, it's to pee.

But wait, there's more. You're having trouble lifting your head off the pillow, you're dragging your feet all day and you can't wait to crawl into bed as soon as you arrive home at night.

Sound familiar? Extreme pregnancy fatigue is a common symptom, especially in the first trimester. And for good reason: Making a baby is hard work. Your body is working overtime preparing for motherhood as it develops the placenta, your baby's lifeline.

What's more, your body's metabolism and hormone levels have increased significantly, which triggers a decrease in blood sugar and blood pressure — a recipe for fatigue. Try these tips to combat fatigue safely during pregnancy.

The good news: Relief is around the corner as your energy level increases and morning sickness decreases over the next few weeks, once placenta construction is completed in the second trimester.

The not-so-good news: Tiredness is likely to reappear during the third trimester as the demands of toting around a larger fetus increase. But since staying active is important for your health (and your baby's!), try these tips to work out when you're tired during pregnancy.

Snacking well

Even if you're still grappling with morning sickness, try not to worry too much. Your baby will still get the necessary nutrients to grow and develop.

Focus on eating six mini-meals or snacks rather than three big meals a day. And snack smart to satisfy your baby's and your nutritional needs without offending your less-than-settled tummy.

Snacks like saltine or whole grain crackers topped with mild cheese, ginger in various forms (tea, ginger ale, candy or even small meals cooked with fresh ginger), applesauce, bananas, plain toast or bread, and modest servings of plain rice or pasta can all do the trick.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 9

Frequent urination
Frequent urination
Fatigue
Fatigue
Breast tenderness and changes
Breast tenderness and changes
Heartburn and indigestion
Heartburn and indigestion
Bloating and gas
Bloating and gas
Constipation
Constipation

Tips for You This Week

Fight heartburn

Are you feeling the burn — heartburn, that is? For many, heartburn is among the earliest symptoms of pregnancy, beginning around the second month.

If avoiding spicy and greasy foods isn’t helping, try taking antacids. They contain extra calcium, which you need during pregnancy anyway. You can also try to cut out citrus and tomatoes from your diet and avoid lying down for four hours after eating and try to sleep more upright, if it’s comfortable.

Ask about NIPT and other genetic tests

Talk to your doctor about whether you should get a blood test called noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) — a screening for chromosomal abnormalities that many pregnant moms now take. It can be given as early as week 10 of pregnancy, and can also tell the sex of your baby

Just remember that it only tells the likelihood or probability of certain conditions, unlike amnio or CVS, which are invasive but give more definitive answers about your baby’s health. And be sure to check with your insurance about whether NIPT is covered or not.

If you’re 35 or older or if you have a family history of genetic conditions, you’ll definitely want to consider not only NIPT but also CVS (chorionic villus sampling), performed between 10 and 13 weeks, and amnio (amniocentesis), typically done between week 15 or 16 and week 20.

Get your Zzzs

If your favorite sleep position is tummy-down, that’s perfectly fine — at least, until your tummy is the size of a watermelon, at which point you’ll have to switch positions for obvious reasons.

During the second and and third trimesters, sleeping on your side is ideal for you and your baby-to-be.

This position allows for maximum blood flow and nutrients to the placenta, since it puts less pressure on a large vein called the vena cava and enhances kidney function.

Avoid at-home fetal Dopplers

It’s around now that your baby’s heart is developed enough to potentially hear it on a Doppler device, though it's not likely you'll be given the chance until around week 15.

If you're feeling more excited than patient about that pregnancy milestone, you may be tempted to buy an at-home Doppler so you can check  and hear  that little pitter-patter early at your house, or any time (and place!) you like.

Not so fast. While the variety used by doctors is reliable and safe, those sold for home use aren’t accurate and can cause unnecessary anxiety among expectant parents.

So skip the OTC Dopplers and save the heartbeat jam sessions for your prenatal appointments.

Expand your carbohydrate horizons

Has the word “carb” become synonymous with “saltines”? You have more options to nourish your baby and fuel your energy needs.

Here's a list of complex carb options that reads like the roster of a nutritional all-star team: fresh fruits, dried and freeze-dried fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grain breads, crackers, cereals, baked potatoes (with skins on), beans, and peas.

Prevent constipation

Constipation — it's a pregnancy symptom that no one wants to talk about.

Need some tips to get things moving? First, scrutinize your supplements. Ironically, many of the supplements that do a pregnant body good (prenatal vitamins, calcium and iron supplements) can also contribute to constipation.

Talk to your practitioner about possible alternatives, such as a slow-release formula, an iron-free prenatal or a vitamin that contains a stool softener.

You can also get things going more smoothly by fitting in some kind of exercise (a brisk walk, yoga, even a swim) daily.

And don't forget, when you gotta go — go. As soon as possible. Holding it in can weaken your bowel muscles, making it harder to push out the poop. And remember to stay away from medications, including herbal ones, until you've checked in with your practitioner.

Use cold compresses

Breast tenderness is extremely common among the pregnant set, with symptoms ranging from a dull ache to feelings of fullness and sharp, shooting pains.

There's a reason for all this activity, though: Your body is building fat and increasing blood flow to the area, which will help prime you for breastfeeding once baby is here.

Until the pain subsides — usually in the second or third trimester — apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to your breasts. Or, if you prefer heat, take a warm (not hot) shower.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  1. What to Expect When You’re Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  2. WhatToExpect.com, Sleeping Positions During Pregnancy, December 2022.
  3. WhatToExpect.com, How to Relieve Breast Pain and Sore Nipples During Pregnancy, March 2023.
  4. WhatToExpect.com, Constipation During Pregnancy, October 2022.
  5. WhatToExpect.com, Noninvasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), April 2022.
  6. WhatToExpect.com, Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), April 2021.
  7. WhatToExpect.com, Heartburn During Pregnancy, October 2022.
  8. National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Fetal Development, July 2021.
  9. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy, December 2021.
  10. Johns Hopkins Medicine, The First Trimester, August 2021.
  11. Merck Manual, Stages of Development of the Fetus, September 2022.
  12. KidsHealth From Nemours, Week 9, April 2022.
  13. University of Rochester Medical Center, First Trimester Fatigue.
  14. American Dental Association, Chewing Gum, July 2019.
  15. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Problems of the Digestive System, August 2022.
  16. Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, Choosing a Calcium Supplement, October 2020.
  17. National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Genetics Home Reference, What Is Noninvasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) and What Disorders Can It Screen For?, July 2021.
  18. KidsHealth From Nemours, Prenatal Test: Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), July 2022.
  19. KidsHealth From Nemours, Sleeping During Pregnancy, May 2022.
  20. WhatToExpect.com, What Is the Placenta? What This Organ Does and How It Forms, July 2021.
  21. WhatToExpect.com, How Many Weeks, Months and Trimesters in a Pregnancy?, May 2022.
  22. WhatToExpect.com, Pregnancy Symptoms: 14 Early Signs of Pregnancy, May 2023.
  23. WhatToExpect.com, Fatigue During Pregnancy, November 2022.
  24. WhatToExpect.com, Your Baby's Heartbeat, August 2022.
  25. WhatToExpect.com, Best Energy-Boosting Pregnancy Foods, November 2021.
  26. WhatToExpect.com, Are At-Home Fetal Dopplers Safe and Accurate?, August 2022.
  27. WhatToExpect.com, Amniocentesis, October 2022.
  28. WhatToExpect.com, What to Do About Bloating During Pregnancy, February 2021.
  29. WhatToExpect.com, Frequent Urination During Pregnancy, September 2022.

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