Week 9: Are you looking after yourself?
Image: @ligii.m
Welcome to week nine of the Happy Parents Happy Baby guide to pregnancy, birth and beyond.
This week we'll be covering:
We hope you enjoy it!
Self care isn’t selfish
In the first trimester it can feel like a lot of the focus is on how to keep your baby healthy but it’s just as important to look after yourself at this time too. Your baby is developing rapidly at this stage and your energy levels will naturally feel depleted. But don’t worry, there’s plenty you can do to make sure you’re looking after yourself physically and mentally at this time.
Get some rest If you’re feeling exhausted and struggling with sickness or nausea, try to get as much rest as you can. Have a nap during the day if work or other commitments allow. Have a bath and get an early night.
Eat well You’ve probably already swotted up on the dos and don’ts of what to eat when you’re pregnant so you know that plenty of fruit, vegetables and protein-rich foods will help keep both you and your baby healthy.
Stay active Fresh air and moderate exercise will help blow those cobwebs away when you’re feeling drained. A walk with a podcast can be an amazing tonic if you’re feeling overwhelmed or worried. Or you might like to go swimming with a friend or try a new pregnancy yoga or pilates class where you can meet other mums-to-be.
Have fun Being pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t go out and have fun. If you’re feeling up to it, why not organise to see friends and do some things that might be a bit more tricky once your baby has arrived? This could be anything from a weekend away, to going out for dinner or to the cinema or theatre.
Ask for help If everything does feel a little overwhelming right now and you’re struggling with fatigue or sickness you might decide to share your pregnancy news with selected people who can help make things easier for you at work or at home. You won’t be feeling like this forever so now is the time to do whatever needs to be done to look after yourself and your baby.
Your baby’s development in week nine
Size of a grape
Around 22mm long
This week your baby’s face is starting to form. Their eyes are bigger and their mouth has formed and even has a tiny tongue with tiny taste buds inside.
The foetus’s internal organs such as their heart, lungs and brain are all continuing to develop. Their hands and feet are also forming but the fingers and toes haven’t separated out yet.
Wow!
Week 9 Checklist
You might like to:
Use an SPF. Your skin can be more sensitive during pregnancy so it’s important make sure you’re protecting it with a suncream which has an SPF of 30 or higher.
Stretch mark oil. Your bump might not be noticeable yet but you might like to start using a pregnancy oil on your tummy.
Book a spa – check safety. You deserve a pamper so why not book a spa day or spa weekend with your partner or friends. You won’t be able to use a sauna or hot tub but you can have a pregnancy massage (after the 1st trimester), pedicure or facial and unwind.
Spotlight on: Skin changes
Each week we'll be delving into the common symptoms of early pregnancy and bringing you top tips for managing them from our team of specialists and parent community.
My skin has started to look darker…
Why? Parts of your body appearing darker than usual can be one of the earliest signs you are pregnant. You might notice that your nipples and areolas have changed colour and moles and freckles may have darkened too.
Many women also experience melasma, or ‘mask of pregnancy’, which is when darker patches of pigmentation appear on your forehead, cheeks and neck. This is caused by your body creating more melanin, the tanning pigment, to protect your skin from ultraviolet (UV) light. Again this is caused by a hormonal change in your body.
Other skin changes you may notice in your first trimester include spots and eczema but, if you’re lucky you might experience the ‘pregnancy glow’ where your skin looks plump and smooth.
Top tips for dealing with skin tone changes:
Being in the sun could make your patches even darker so try to stay out of direct sunlight, use a high SPF and wear a sunhat.
Your patches are likely to disappear in the months after your baby is born but it is natural to feel self-conscious about them. Use tinted moisturiser, foundation or concealer to even out your skin tone if you need to.
Birth story of the week
This week we catch up with Thea and Andy from our Clapham course who share the positive birth of their baby Arthur.
“I had been experiencing mild contractions for the final three weeks of my pregnancy and throughout this time I was feeling really positive about labour. During the day on Sunday we had a lovely long walk and that evening, as I went to bed, I noticed that my contractions were starting to increase in both intensity and frequency. Then at 3.30am I felt my waters break! I felt so excited that labour was starting.
“Whilst I was at the pushing stage and struggling a bit to keep going, Andy suggested I feel Arthur’s head, which was an incredible feeling and really gave me a boost.
“Andy actually filmed Arthur’s birth and having that footage has been completely amazing – being able to look back on the experience and know that it really happened and that I really did it is the most magical thing and an incredible memory to have.
“Going on the Happy Parents. Happy Baby. course definitely prepared Andy and I for labour and parenting in so many ways and it made such a difference to our experience. In terms of post-pregnancy the breastfeeding workshop helped me understand what a good latch would look like and this made the start of my breastfeeding journey much easier. The session with the paediatrician also alleviated a lot of our anxieties about taking Arthur home. We also appreciated a first aid course being included as these are invaluable things to know.”
What a wonderful birth story!
Treat of the week
This week’s treat is Bio-Oil. It is safe to use in pregnancy and specifically designed to help improve the appearance of stretch marks and uneven skin tone. The formulation is a combination of plant extracts and vitamins suspended in an oil base meaning it’s gentle enough for your growing skin.
Products are based on suggestions from our specialists and community of parents. We may earn commission from shopping links.
Join our community
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Connect with other parents-to-be and learn everything you need to know, by joining our award-winning antenatal classes.
That's all for now...
Thank you so much for joining us!
Have a great week.
Information you
can trust
Our articles are based on the latest-evidence based guidelines and scientific research and are written by our team of medical experts.
Coming up
next week
Double figures! You’re 10 weeks pregnant this week!
Spotlight on: Pooing - why is it so painful since I got pregnant?
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