By your 10th week of pregnancy, your baby measures between 3 and 4cm long1,2 and roughly the size of a fig. Although already baby-like in appearance, their head is still disproportionately large – a sign of all the brain development that has occurred even at this early stage3.
Within your baby’s developing jawbone, tiny teeth buds are forming. Miniscule ear canals are also taking shape4, while throughout the rest of the body, bones and cartilage are beginning to grow2.
At 10 weeks pregnant, you might start to see the beginnings of a pregnancy bump, although this isn’t true for everyone.
Early pregnancy symptoms vary from person to person. At 10 weeks, you may experience any of the following signs of pregnancy, or no symptoms at all:
Your iron levels will be checked at regular intervals during pregnancy. But 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. The recommended daily intake of iron for women is 14.8mg per day11.
Iron-rich foods include red meat, oily fish, eggs, dried fruit, fortified breakfast cereals and wholegrain breads, as well as some green, leafy vegetables. These foods all contain a wide range of important nutrients in addition to iron.
Other nutrients affect your body’s ability to absorb iron. Vitamin C, for example, aids the absorption of non-haem iron found in plant sources, such as beans and green, leafy vegetables11. Calcium, however, inhibits it11. It is also thought that the tannins found in tea and coffee can also have a negative effect on iron absorption11.
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.
An adequate intake of iron supports the formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin in your blood, which carry oxygen around your body12. Having healthy red blood cells reduces your risk of developing anaemia. Sometimes called iron deficiency anaemia, this condition can leave you feeling tired, washed-out and breathless.
Weight gain during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy weight, and varies a great deal from mother to mother. Most women gain between 10kg and 12.5kg (22–28lb) while pregnant, some of which is the weight of the growing baby16. Learn everything you need to know about weight gain in pregnancy.
If you haven’t been to see your GP yet, you should make an appointment so they can start planning your antenatal care, including your first ultrasound scan.
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