9th Week of Pregnancy: Here’s What to Expect

Written By Isra Zaman - April 11, 2025

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As you enter the 9th week of pregnancy, you’ll likely start experiencing a few bodily changes. Your breasts become fuller and your waist may become a bit thicker. The hormones are still gushing causing all the typical pregnancy symptoms.

But there’s good news! Soon you’ll be hitting your 2nd trimester mark when these symptoms will gradually taper off. And you’ll start feeling much better!

9 Weeks Pregnant: What’s The Size Of Your Baby

By the 9th week of pregnancy, the size of your baby increases. It now measures around 24mm long.2 This is somewhat close to the size of a strawberry.

What Does Your Baby Look Like At 9 Weeks?

Your baby starts to look like a tiny human by the 9th week of pregnancy with a proper head and well-defined facial features. But the head still looks bigger compared to the rest of the body.

The face will have developed eyes, eyelids, mouth, ears and even a tongue with tastebuds. And it would now look more recognisable. Their tiny eyes are now bigger and are developing a hint of colour. At this time, their skin starts to show tiny blood vessels underneath.

The major organs, such as the heart, brain, lungs, kidneys, and gut, are forming. And so are the limbs. But the toes and fingers are yet to form. Their arms and legs are quite long but bent, so it appears that your baby is hugging itself.

Your baby’s bone & muscle development is also beginning. If you go for a scan around this time, you may even get to see your tiny champ making movements for the first time.

Their reproductive organs are developing, but it's still too early for a scan to clearly determine the gender.

9 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound

At 9 weeks, the baby is about 24 mm long from head to bottom, as seen in an ultrasound scan. It looks more like a human now. Their face is forming, and the arms and legs are growing longer (as shown by arrows).

9th Week Pregnancy Symptoms

You might notice the following symptoms in your 9th week of pregnancy:

1) Moodiness

As your body is going through rapid hormonal changes, it is quite normal to experience frequent mood swings during your 9th week of pregnancy. The fluctuating levels of hormones estrogen and progesterone affect your brain, often leading to irritability and unexpected shifts from joy to sadness and vice versa. So it’s important to spend time on self-care and ask for support from your partner, relatives or friends whenever things get a bit rough.

2) Nausea

Nausea, also known as morning sickness, becomes quite frequent around this time and may happen anytime during the day. This is again due to the increase in hormonal levels, mainly the human chorionic gonadotropins(hCGs). To deal with this uneasy feeling, experts suggest that you eat small, frequent meals and try to add ginger to your diet, which is known to combat morning sickness.

3) Fatigue

Fatigue is a common sign of early pregnancy. It happens because your body is trying to adjust to the growing demands of your developing fetus. The increased metabolism and progesterone levels during these early weeks can leave you feeling exhausted and tired. It’s therefore important to prioritise, rest, sleep and balanced nutrition to fuel your body.

4) Dizziness

The fluctuating blood pressure and hormonal changes may lead to dizziness in early pregnancy. To deal with the increased blood flow, your body adjusts by relaxing its blood vessels. And this may lead to a feeling of lightheadedness. It's therefore advisable that you avoid making sudden, jerky movements and try to get up slowly when standing.

5) Heartburn

Heartburn is another common complaint experienced by women in their 9th week of pregnancy. The primary reason behind this is the increased progesterone levels, which relax the muscles in the digestive tract. This relaxation causes the stomach acids to flow backwards, reaching the oesophagus and causing a burning sensation. Eating small, frequent meals and avoiding spicy foods are a few ways to alleviate the discomfort.

6) Cramping

Mild cramping at this stage is usually common as your uterus starts to stretch in order to accommodate your developing baby. This also causes the stretching of ligaments and an increase in blood flow to that region which may lead to painful cramps. And while it’s normal to experience occasional cramping, you must see a doctor if the cramps worsen or become more frequent.

Your Pregnant Belly At 9 Week

It’s unlikely that you’ll have a noticeable bump in your 9th week of pregnancy. For most women, their pregnant belly doesn’t start showing until the 17th week of pregnancy. But for those with subsequent pregnancies, it can happen a bit sooner.

Tips For 9th Week Of Pregnancy

Here are a few tips which will help you sail through your 9th week of pregnancy with ease:

1) Maintain A Healthy Weight

Try to maintain a healthy weight during this period. This will support your health and also that of your baby by lowering the risk of pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes or high blood pressure. Opt for a balanced diet rich in nutrients, whole foods and green vegetables. Additionally, try to engage in some gentle exercises, and go for regular check-ups to help prevent excessive weight gain without following a strict ‘diet’.

2) Be Careful About Your Medicines

At this stage, it is extremely important to be cautious about every medicine that you take. Make sure to consult your doctor before starting any OTC medicine, drugs or even supplements. That’s because certain medicines (like Isotretinoin) can harm your developing baby. So, only choose treatments & medicines which are confirmed safe for pregnancy.

3) Snack Right

Choosing smart snacks during this time keeps you energetic and well-nourished. Opt for nutrient-rich options like fruits, nuts, yoghurt, and whole grains. These foods help maintain balanced blood sugar levels and keep you feeling full for long. Some of the snacks, like dried apricots, are not just a great source of iron but also help kickstart your digestion.

4) Consider Prenatal Testing

If you're over 35 or have a family history of genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis, consider speaking with a genetic counsellor. Your doctor may also suggest certain prenatal tests, such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS), which are performed between 9 and 12 weeks. This test can accurately detect chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders in the fetus.

5) Work On Your Sleep

Proper resting and sleep are essential during pregnancy. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, you can experiment with different sleeping positions and use supportive pillows to discover what feels comfortable. Also, establish a regular bedtime routine to help improve your sleep and boost your overall energy during this time.