Week 9 of your Pregnancy

As of the ninth week, your baby, which is about an inch long, will have all of its essential body parts, even teeth that will emerge as baby teeth many months from now. Of course, these parts are not at all developed yet. The baby's little heart has all four chambers and valves coming into being now. Its eyes and eyelids are formed now, although they are shut tight until much later in the pregnancy. It's joints are all working and it even has little earlobes!

Your body is forming the placenta along with the baby at this time, which is a big part of the reason that you feel so tired. All of this inner construction takes a toll on your blood sugar and blood pressure levels, sending them down while your hormone levels remain high. These symptoms of the first trimester will probably get better in a few more weeks, so hang on. Most women have renewed energy during the second trimester, although that may not be the case, especially if you are expecting twins.

Your still likely to be suffering from digestive upsets like heartburn and flatulence (gas.) The best way to minimize these symptoms as well as the ever-present nausea you may be feeling is to eat smaller meals more frequently. Stick to healthy foods and stay away from things that you know make you feel worse, even if you love them.

A quick word about prenatal diet: Don't skimp on the protein. These days many people think vegetables and whole grains whenever anyone says healthy diet, and protein foods tend to be ignored. It is very important that your growing baby gets plenty of high quality protein now. If you are vegetarian, you might want to allow yourself a little fish from time to time. If that is unacceptable, make sure you are getting plenty of beans, eggs, and lean dairy products. It is difficult for total vegans to get all the protein they need during pregnancy.

Good snacks can include tuna or peanut butter on whole wheat crackers, yogurt and fruit, and cheese sticks. If you are concerned about gaining too much weight, stick with the leaner choices, and stay away from empty calories, like sweets and chips. There is no advantage to the baby if you keep your weight down, by the way, but skimping on good food can cause problems.