Week 9: The placenta takes over

Your baby — about the size of a grape — is looking more and more human this week. The early “tail” has gone, eyelids have formed and fused shut for now, tiny earlobes are appearing, and little muscles are firing off their first reflexive movements.

Behind the scenes, the placenta is now fully up and running and taking over hormone production. For some people that means the worst of the nausea begins to ease from around here — though for others it lingers a while longer, and both are normal. You might feel new sensations too, like a sharp tugging near your groin (round ligament pain) when you move quickly.

With the placenta taking over hormone production, many people turn a corner in the next couple of weeks — energy creeping back, nausea easing — though it’s completely normal for it to take longer, so don’t worry if you’re not there yet. You may notice other changes as your blood volume rises: more visible veins, the odd dizzy moment if you stand up too fast, and an increase in clear or milky vaginal discharge, which is normal (though anything itchy, smelly or unusually coloured is worth a check).

It’s a good week to settle into a few habits that will serve you for the months ahead: a daily prenatal supplement, regular gentle movement, decent hydration, and a loose routine around meals and rest. Small and steady beats heroic. And if you’ve been white-knuckling through nausea or low mood, remember you don’t have to — your GP or midwife would much rather help early than have you struggle on alone.

If those twinges catch you out, changing position slowly helps. Gentle movement — a walk, a swim — is good for body and mind in pregnancy; your midwife can guide you on what’s right for you. And keep those prenatal vitamins going daily.

This is also around when some parents consider NIPT, a blood test that screens for chromosomal conditions. In Australia it’s available privately from roughly $400 to $600 and is usually done from about 10 weeks — your doctor can talk you through whether it’s something you’d like.