Week 10: Completion of the Embryonic Period
Week ten marks the end of the embryonic period. Your baby is now fully formed.
Baby size: Strawberry (18-22 mm)
Baby development
Masterful movements and tiny nails
Your fetus is becoming increasingly active. Its skeleton begins to ossify, and joints such as elbows and knees are already fully functional, allowing it to bend its limbs.
What’s happening this week:
- Limbs: The webbing between the fingers and toes has completely disappeared. Tiny nails are beginning to form.
- Organs: All vital organs are in place and functioning. For example, the kidneys produce urine, and the liver produces bile.
- Brain: It is developing at an incredible speed — about 250,000 new neurons are formed each minute.
- Teeth: The buds of primary teeth are beginning to develop under the gums.
If it’s a boy, his testes are already producing the male hormone testosterone.
Follow this amazing process with our article on fetal development week by week.
Changes for mom
Appearance of the belly and new sensations
Your uterus is already the size of a large grapefruit. If this is your first pregnancy, the belly may still be unnoticed by others, but you definitely feel the changes.
What you may notice:
- Appearance of a "bump": At the end of the day, when the abdominal muscles are relaxed, you may see a small belly.
- Pain in the round ligaments: You may feel short, sharp pains in the lower abdomen or groin during sudden movements. These are the stretching ligaments that support the uterus.
- Visible veins: Due to increased blood volume, veins on the chest and abdomen may become more noticeable.
- Relief from nausea: For many women, this week brings the long‑awaited reduction of nausea.
These and other changes are completely normal. We examine them in detail in the article "Physical changes of the body during pregnancy".
Overview
Week 10: Your baby is no longer an embryo!
Week ten marks the end of the most critical stage of development. Your baby, now officially fetus, has completed the formation of all major organs and systems. The risk of congenital anomalies drops significantly.
It is now the size of a strawberry or a large fig. Its main task over the next 30 weeks is to grow, gain weight, and refine the function of all systems.
For you, this may be the week of the first important screenings. You may also notice that your clothes are getting tighter, and a faint bump appears on your abdomen, especially in the evening.
This is an important psychological milestone. The most anxious period of formation is behind you. Now you can relax a bit and watch your child's growth.
You are approaching the "golden era" of pregnancy. Find out what's ahead in our overview of the second trimester.
Tips for mom
Time for screenings and comfort
This is a key period for prenatal diagnostics. It’s important to stay informed and calm.
What to pay attention to:
- Schedule the first screening. If you haven’t done so yet, now is the time. It provides important information about the baby’s development and the risk of chromosomal anomalies.
- Invest in comfortable clothing. Buy a few pairs of maternity pants or use special belt expanders.
- Drink plenty of water and eat fiber. Progesterone can cause constipation, so prevention is very important now.
- Visit the dentist. Pregnancy can affect gum health. A preventive check‑up is safe and necessary.
To better understand what screenings are and why they’re needed, read our article "Screenings during pregnancy".
Tips for partner
Practical care and positive reinforcement
Your partner may start to worry about the changes in her body. Your support and positive attitude will help her feel more confident.
How to be the best support:
- Give compliments. Tell her how beautiful she is. Your words are more important than ever.
- Offer a massage. A gentle back or foot massage can relieve fatigue and tension.
- Help with heavy tasks. Take on carrying grocery bags and other physical loads.
- Review the screening results together. Your involvement shows that you’re walking this path together.
Body changes can affect self‑esteem. Read about maintaining harmony in the article "Relationships and sex during pregnancy".
Checklist
Your action plan for week 10
A structured approach adds calm and confidence.
- ✅ Complete the first prenatal screening or confirm its scheduled date.
- 🦷 Schedule a preventive dental check‑up.
- 💧 Increase water intake and foods rich in fiber (vegetables, fruits, whole grains).
- ❤️ Start thinking about how you’ll share the news with friends and family.
- 👖 Buy the first pair of comfortable maternity pants.
- 📚 Familiarize yourself with upcoming examinations, by reading the article "Tests and examinations during pregnancy".