10 weeks pregnant
At 10 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a date (khajoor): around 3.1 cm crown to rump and 4 g. The major organs are formed and starting to work. From now on, baby is called a fetus.
Your baby at 10 weeks
The major organs are formed and starting to work. From now on, baby is called a fetus.
| Size | About the size of a date (khajoor) |
|---|---|
| Length | 3.1 cm crown to rump |
| Weight | 4 g |
From this week your baby is called a fetus. The most critical stage of organ formation is over, and the organs now mainly grow and mature. Fingernails are beginning to form, bones are starting to harden, and the kidneys are making small amounts of urine. Your baby is about 3 cm long and can bend its arms at the elbows.
How far along are you at 10 weeks?
At 10 weeks pregnant you are in the third month of your pregnancy and the first trimester. You have about 30 weeks to go until your due date. Doctors count pregnancy from the first day of your last period, not from conception, so at 10 weeks your baby has been growing for about 8 weeks. Not sure of your dates? Use our due date calculator.
Your body at 10 weeks
Energy often starts to return by the end of this stretch. Your dating scan and first screening tests usually happen now.
Common symptoms at 10 weeks
Every pregnancy is different, and you may have some, all or none of these.
- A thicker waist. Your womb is now about the size of a grapefruit, though you probably aren't showing.
- More discharge. Thin, milky, mild-smelling discharge is normal.
- Round ligament twinges. Brief, sharp pains low in your tummy as the ligaments supporting your womb stretch.
- Tiredness. Still common, but it may start to lift soon.
- Nausea. Many women are past the worst by the end of this week.
- Emotional ups and downs. Excitement and worry often arrive together.
Your checklist for week 10
- If you want NIPT, it can usually be done from 10 weeks.
- Make sure your dating scan between 11 and 14 weeks is booked.
- Read your employer's maternity leave policy and note any notice deadlines.
- Ask your doctor whether you need extra iron. Your haemoglobin result from booking will show this.
- If you have high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disease, ask whether you should take low-dose aspirin from 12 weeks to lower your risk of pre-eclampsia.
Tip of the week: Build up your iron
Your blood volume rises by around half during pregnancy, so you need more iron. Good sources include lentils (daal), chickpeas (chana), beans, spinach (saag), eggs, well-cooked red meat and dates. Vitamin C, from oranges, lemon juice or tomatoes, helps you absorb iron, while tea and coffee with meals block it. Have your chai between meals. See our iron guide.
For your partner
The first scan is a big moment. Be there.
- Book leave for the scan
- Write down questions for the doctor
- Start a simple baby budget together
When to call your doctor at 10 weeks
Contact your doctor, midwife or maternity unit the same day if you have:
- Bleeding, cramping or tummy pain.
- Pain or burning when you wee.
Call your doctor or hospital straight away for bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, severe headache or vision changes.
Questions about 10 weeks pregnant
Can NIPT tell me if it's a boy or a girl?
NIPT can detect the sex chromosomes from 10 weeks, and in some countries the result can be shared with parents. In others, including India, telling parents the baby's sex is illegal. Ask your clinic what applies where you live.
Is the risk of miscarriage lower at 10 weeks?
Yes. Once a heartbeat has been seen on a scan, the chance of miscarriage falls considerably, and it falls further after 12 weeks. Most miscarriages happen because of a chromosome problem in the pregnancy, not because of anything the mother did.
Why do I have sharp pains low in my tummy?
These are often round ligament pains, caused by the ligaments that support your womb stretching. They are brief and come on with sudden movements such as standing up quickly or coughing. Pain that is severe, constant, one-sided or comes with bleeding needs to be checked.