Week 10 of Your Pregnancy

At 10 weeks pregnant, your nausea may start to subside, but other common symptoms may suddenly pop up. Here is how to deal with them and more tips for this week.

Pregnancy Journey Week 10

Design By Alice Morgan / Illustration by Tara Anand

You're 10 weeks pregnant, and this can feel like a landmark week—you're a quarter of a way through your pregnancy! However, it may also come with a slew of new symptoms and worries. But experts have tips to get you through the tough moments. Plus, there are a ton of fun aspects to your pregnancy that you have yet to experience.

Read on to learn what to expect when you're 10 weeks pregnant.

Pregnancy Week 10 Quick Facts

  • At 10 weeks, you're three months pregnant
  • You have 30 weeks until your due date
  • You're in the first trimester

Your Unborn Baby's Size at 10 Weeks

When you are 10 weeks pregnant, your unborn baby measures about 1.22 inches and weighs 0.14 ounces—that all equates to the size of a prune or a strawberry! 

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 10

While your symptoms at 10 weeks pregnant may mirror that of weeks eight or nine, you may experience a few new ones, including:

  • Constipation
  • Mood changes
  • Mild intermittent cramping

Constipation is fairly common throughout the first trimester. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says an increase in hormones during pregnancy can slow down digestion and result in constipation. In addition, not eating enough fiber or drinking enough water and certain medicines can contribute to the problem.

The good news is there are ways to get relief. Experts suggest drinking lots of water, consuming a diet that's high in fiber (fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain bread are good options), and trying to stay active.

Mood shifts are normal, too. "You'll go from feeling so happy one minute to wanting to cry the next," says Yamel Belen, RN, IBCLC, registered nurse, professional doula, and certified lactation counselor in Tampa, Florida. "That's a mood swing, and it catches people off guard. It's normal, though, because of the increased surge of hormones that are all over the place."

The intense mood swings typically get better by the end of the first trimester. However, emotional highs and lows can intensify again, especially during the last few weeks. If you're ever concerned about the emotions you are feeling, never hesitate to speak with a health care provider. 

Then, there can be mild intermittent cramping, which may occur because of the growing uterus. But be sure to talk to your doctor about any persistent cramping.

Expert Tip

Stephanie Hack, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN in Washington, DC, is a big proponent of enjoying yoga sessions throughout your pregnancy. "As your body changes and your center of balance shifts, things are elongating, so you might find yourself uncomfortable, but yoga can help with that," she explains. But avoid hot yoga; the high temps can increase core body temperature, which is not recommended during pregnancy.

Developmental Milestones

At 10 weeks pregnant, your unborn baby's teeth start developing under their gums! Other bones and cartilages are also forming, including elbows, knees, and ankles.

Fair warning, though: despite your fetus's growth, don't expect to feel movement just yet—especially if this is your first pregnancy. Many people do not feel their baby's movement (known as "quickening") until well into their second trimester.

Pregnancy Journey Weekly Reminder

Design by Alice Morgan

Prenatal Tests and Doctor's Appointments

Noninvasive prenatal screening testing (NIPT) is a series of lab tests that analyze fetal DNA circulating in a pregnant person's blood. These blood tests can help determine the risk of a fetus having specific genetic abnormalities.

The screenings are offered starting at 10 weeks of pregnancy. Most health care providers conduct them between weeks 10 and 12.

"The NIPTs used to be offered to just a specific kind of patient, specifically those who were over 35 or had an abnormal first-trimester screening," explains Dr. Hack. "But now, more and more, you see it offered to everyone."

The screenings evaluate the risk for chromosome disorders, including Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome. It's important to note these are screenings and not diagnostic tests, so positive results do not equate to your baby having one of the conditions. NIPT tests also can determine which set of chromosomes your fetus has, which can predict which sex they'll be assigned at birth.

Research has found that most people with high-risk pregnancies were glad to have NIPT, and most were reassured and had lower anxiety after receiving their results. However, most found the wait time for results (around two weeks) too long.

Common Questions at This Pregnancy Stage

When will I get my NIPT results?

A lot of people wait to receive the results of their NIPT before telling the world they are pregnant. On average, the results will take one to two weeks from when your blood sample reaches the laboratory. If done at 10 weeks, you should have your results by week 12.


When will I feel the baby move?

As your body changes and you start feeling different from your non-pregnant self, you might start wondering when you'll feel the fetus move. That personal milestone usually happens between weeks 16 and 24 of pregnancy, perhaps slightly earlier if this isn't your first pregnancy. If you think you're feeling something during week 10, it's probably just gas.

Things You Might Consider This Week

It's never too early to start researching parental leave policies within your company, your partner's company (if you have one), and at the state level. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides certain US employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for specific situations, including the birth of a child. However, some employers may offer paid parental leave as part of their benefits package.

Ten weeks pregnant is the perfect time to set aside time to delve into resources and prepare questions to ask your employer when you let them know you are pregnant. Gathering this information can help you feel more at ease with the changes to come.

Support You May Need This Week

Since mood changes are real, you may want to go easy on yourself and make time for things that can relax you. Remember, these emotions are normal, and it's always a good idea to lean on a partner, family, or friends who can help you with chores or errands you aren't feeling up to. 

If you're someone who wants to document your pregnancy journey, 10 weeks pregnant is the time you may want to start taking photos of your pregnant belly. As early as your first appointment, you'll learn what day your pregnancy "turns" a week older.

So, put a reminder on your phone and snap a quick picture every week, or perhaps ask your partner or loved ones to take one for you. It's fun to look back at the images as the weeks go by and notice the amazing changes that your body is going through.

Head over to week eleven of pregnancy

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Sources
Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Problems of the digestive system. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2022.

  2. Fetal movement counting. Stanford Medicine Children's Health. n.d.

  3. Genetic non-invasive prenatal screening tests may have false results: FDA safety communication. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2022.

  4. Women's experience with non-invasive prenatal testing and emotional well-being and satisfaction after test-resultsJ Genet Couns. 2017.

  5. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). U.S. Department of Labor. n.d.

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