10 weeks pregnant: Pregnancy Symptoms & Baby Development
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10 weeks pregnant is how many months?
Month 3 (Trimester 1)
Baby development at 10 weeks
Your baby’s brain is in a rapid phase of development.
Weight gain
Get the facts about pregnancy weight gain.
Iron
Learn about the importance of iron, and how to include enough in your diet.
Baby development at 10 weeks
What does my baby look like? And, what size is my baby?
By your 10th week of pregnancy, your baby measures between 3 and 4cm long 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 stage.
Within your baby’s developing jawbone, tiny teeth buds are forming. Miniscule ear canals are also taking shape, while throughout the rest of the body, bones and cartilage are beginning to grow.
Pregnancy at 10 weeks (first trimester)
What’s happening in my body?
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 at 10 weeks
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:
Focus on Iron
Iron is one of the key nutrients in a healthy diet during pregnancy. Your blood cells need it for carrying oxygen around your body and to your baby. And your baby needs it for normal cognitive development.
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 day.
Boost your iron intake
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 vegetables. Calcium, however, inhibits it. It is also thought that the tannins found in tea and coffee can also have a negative effect on iron absorption.
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.
Plan meals that contain the following iron-rich ingredients:
- Lean meat (always make sure it’s well cooked) and oily fish, such as sardines
- Dark green vegetables, including broccoli, watercress, spinach and kale
- Nuts, especially cashew nuts
- Beans and pulses, such as chickpeas and lentils
- Wholegrains, including wholemeal bread and iron-fortified breakfast cereals
- Dried fruits, such as apricots, prunes and raisins
- Eggs
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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.