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9 Weeks Pregnant
 The Baby Lots of things are going on now with your baby-to-be. A human being has many double body parts and organs that originate at the same time and develop into a right and left counterpart. A beautiful symmetry. Every cell knows exactly where it has to be and what it has to develop into, without anyone telling it what to do. A 'little person' is almost complete, measuring about an inch in length and weighing some 2 grams, happily splashing around in its membrane filled with fluids.Did you know that at 9 weeks, your baby already has a tiny anus and that little bones are beginning to be formed? From now on the baby will develop hips, shoulders, elbows, hands and fingers. The 'lower stumps' will get knees, ankles and feet and the fingers and toes will eventually lose their webbing. He can wiggle them, too! With small twitches, he squiggles with his little arms and legs. He can move his thumb to his mouth, which opens and has a tongue. Soon he will start sucking his thumb yet and develop a preference for his right or left hand which will last throughout his life. He even has a tiny little nose. In short, your baby is becoming a real miniscule human being with a face.
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You really don't have to take it easy out of fear of a miscarriage. Normally, your child is securely nestled in your uterus; exercising or making love can therefore do absolutely no harm. If you do experience a loss of pregnancy, there's nothing you could have done about it.It normally means the fetus did not develop properly or there was no fetus at all. One out of every 8 to 10 pregnancies results in miscarriage, with the risk increasing along with maternal age. The signs of the beginnings of a miscarriage are loss of blood, cramps in your abdomen and pain in your lower back.Even though miscarriage is common and not your fault, many mothers feel a deep sense of loss and grief. It may feel right to you to honor this loss with a ceremony, by talking it out with your partner or a trusted friend or therapist, or going for a therapeutic massage or acupuncture. |
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 MotherHurray, you feel pregnant and nobody can see. From the outside, your belly still looks the same... longingly you look in the mirror to check if there is a slight roundness, but no. In the morning in bed you can feel your uterus, though. By pressing softly on your lower abdomen you can feel that your uterus is located higher than usual, but that's all. What you do notice about your body is that you feel different on the inside. There's something going on. It starts in the morning when you wake up: "What is it, oh yes, yippee, I'm pregnant!" is the first thing you think. Soon reality hits you when you feel a wave of nausea coming on. You stay in bed a little longer and grab some of the cookies you keep next to the bed. Now just a bit of tea and you can face the world again. The rest of the day you might feel tired, but work has to be done. Sometimes you're nodding off behind your desk or while doing a household chore, and your mind starts to wander. How will things develop? Your life has pretty much been turned upside down and the people around you don't know anything about it. They just expect you to be your useful self. That's not always easy, especially when you have to eat all the time!Treat yourself at home to some tasty juice, a warm bath or a loving and caring arm around you. You deserve it!
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It's useful and sensible to take prenatal vitamins throughout your pregnancy. Your body needs them. All pregnancy supplements contain well-balanced concentrations of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A, for instance, is included in these supplements in the form of beta-carotene; this is a precursor that is turned into vitamin A by your own body. Once there's enough it will stop the conversion process, because too much beta-carotene is no problem, but too much vitamin A is.Ask your health care provider to recommend a high quality prenatal supplement. |
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 Father
Your previously easy life is now in quite a turmoil. You're faced with big and small problems that require a solution. Your feelings for your partner are beginning to change. You notice that the mother of your child-to-be reacts differently, feels differently and is also changing towards you. It's probably the hormones, you tell yourself, but you're wise enough not to say that to her. It seems as if all the codes of conduct you've been relying on are no longer valid. In the morning especially, you have to go out of your way to please her. From now on you'd better not get up on the wrong side of the bed. You plan to buy her flowers or some tiny socks.Your partner may not be in the mood for lovemaking anymore. She might be too tired, nauseated, or touchy. Your feelings towards her may be new, too. Some expectanat fathers find their pregnant partner sexier than ever. Others find the idea of making love with the mother of their child-to-be somewhat scary. Know that the fetus has no clue what you are up to. But also know that you may need to be gentler than before with your partner, and ask what feels good and what does not. Her cervix may be tender and her breasts may be extra sensitive, and not necessarily in a good way. Examine these feelings and face them honestly together. Open communication is more important than ever. If she's lost her libido, try to be sensitive. She's likely to be more willing to help you with your needs if you are compassionate with her about her throwing up and exhaustion. However, it's fun and exciting to share a secret, too. Together, the two of you are facing something completely new. Especially if this is your first child - the little one forms a major challenge for your relationship already. But if everything goes well, it immediately seals the bond you have, too. Emotionally, you're now starting to come to terms with the fact that the pregnancy is a reality and it's becoming more and more difficult to keep it a secret from the rest of the world. You're looking forward to announcing the news: how are we going to do it, with a speech, in a fun way, by dropping more and more hints or by buying tiny slippers that we give to the grandparents-to-be? |
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