9 Weeks Pregnant: Everything You Need to Know Right Now

Hey mum to be!

Nine weeks pregnant.

You made it here!

It might sound like a small thing, but it really isn’t.

By now, things have probably started to feel a little different.

The shock of seeing those two pink lines has started to fade.

You’ve had a few weeks to get used to the idea.

But it still might not feel totally real.

Because from the outside, nothing has changed yet.

You don’t have a big bump, you don’t feel any kicks, you don’t feel any special bond with the baby… Just the knowing you’re growing a human inside of you.

And yet everything has changed.

Your body is working harder than it ever has.

Your emotions are all over the place.

And your brain is trying to make sense of something that is honestly really hard to make sense of.

That is a LOT to deal with.

And most of the time you’re doing it quietly, getting on with normal everyday life, while nobody around you has any idea what’s going on inside of you.

So if this stage feels really hard right now – that makes complete sense.

There’s nothing wrong with you and you’re definitely the only mum feeling this way.

You’re probably also wondering what is actually happening inside your body right now, what to expect, and whether what you’re feeling is normal.

This post will answer all of that.

Let’s get into it!

What to expect at 9 weeks pregnant: symptoms

Here are common physical and emotional symptoms you may feel at 9 weeks pregnant:

Physical symptoms:

• Morning sickness (nausea and/or vomiting) – for a lot of mums, this is at its worst right now. Not fun, I know. And just so you know – it doesn’t only happen in the morning. I felt sick mostly in the evenings. It can hit at any time of day.
• Bone deep fatigue – I’m not talking about tiredness here. Pregnancy fatique feels like you’ve taken a double dose of sleeping pills. It has no mercy and can hit you anywhere, anytime.
• Sore, tender breasts – still very much there at 9 weeks. For some women it gets worse before it gets better, so hang in there!
• Needing to wee all the time – your uterus is growing and pressing on your bladder. That’s why you may have a constant urge to pee, even if your bladder is empty.
• Food aversions – foods you normally love might suddenly make you feel sick just thinking about them.
• Cravings – mine were sooo intense at this point. Luckily for me, I was obsessed with oranges. I could eat ten in one go and still want more. (I say luckily for me because I once heard of a mum who craved a soap!)
• Certain smells make you feel sick or dizzy – things that never used to bother you – coffee, someone’s perfume, certain foods – might suddenly feel unbearable.
• Headaches – common at this stage because your hormones are surging and your body is producing a lot more blood than usual.
• Bloating and mild cramping – a little cramping is normal as your uterus grows and stretches. But if something feels really off or the pain is strong, always get it checked. 
• Constipation – not the nicest symptom to talk about, but a very common one. Drinking lots of water and going for gentle walks can really help.
• More saliva than usual – this one doesn’t get talked about much, but lots of women notice it at 9 weeks, often alongside nausea. Annoying, but completely normal.

Emotional symptoms

• That stuck-in-the-middle feeling – you’re past the very start, but you’re not at the 12-week mark yet either. A lot of mums say that 9 weeks is one of the hardest points emotionally, just because of this in-between feeling. You’re not imagining it. It really is tough.
• Worry about the 12-week scan – the closer it gets, the louder the thoughts can get. What if something is wrong? What if they can’t find anything? These worries make complete sense, even if part of you knows that everything is most likely fine.
• Feeling disconnected from the pregnancy – some women get to 9 weeks and still don’t feel a strong bond with the baby, and then feel bad about it. Please don’t. That bond often takes a long time to grow. For some mums it doesn’t really arrive until the baby is actually in their arms. There is nothing wrong with you.
• Anxiety or irritation – you may cry at a sad song, hate your husband, feel irritable, or anxious… Some people call it mood swings, but it’s so much more than that. Again, completely normal.
• Intrusive thoughts – these are strange, sometimes scary thoughts that pop into your head out of nowhere. They can feel really unsettling, but they are incredibly common in pregnancy. The good news is that they are actually your brain trying to protect you.
• Missing your old life – this one can sneak up on you. The reality of how much is changing is starting to sink in. Feeling a sense of loss alongside the happiness is completely normal. You are allowed – even expected – to feel both.

How to survive week 9 and get some relief

I’m going to be honest with you.

Most symptoms don’t have a magic fix. They get better with time – and for the physical ones, they’re gone for good once the baby arrives at the latest.

I know. Not what you wanted to hear. But I’d rather be straight with you than give you false hope.

The good news is that there are things that genuinely help – right now, today. Not cure, but help.

Here’s what I’d tell a close friend sitting across from me:

• Talk about how you’re feeling – whatever is sitting heavy on you, get it out. Find someone who will really listen, without jumping in to fix things or tell you it’ll all be fine on autopilot.That kind of support can change everything.
• Write it down – even two minutes of scribbling how you feel can shift something. It has a strange way of helping you figure out what’s really going on underneath.
• For nausea – check out my post on morning sickness hacks for first time mums. There are some super helpful tips in there that helped me a lot.
• Rest – and don’t feel bad about it – your body is doing something incredible right now. When it tells you to sleep, sleep. You are not being lazy, you are growing a human.
• Drink water – especially if nausea and vomiting are draining you. Little sips, often, works much better than trying to drink a whole glass at once.
• Get some fresh air – even five minutes outside can lift your mood and give you a little energy boost. It sounds too simple but it really works wonders.
• Stay off Google – I mean it. It will almost never make you feel better, and it very often sends you into a complete spiral. If you need to look something up, use the NHS website. Stay away from forums and Facebook groups.
• Be easy on yourself – you are pregnant, my darling. You are not supposed to feel or function like your normal self right now. Lower the bar, and then lower it a bit more.
• Find your people – talk to other pregnant women, other mums who just get it. Having people around you who understand what you’re going through makes everything lighter and more manageable.
• Trust yourself – everyone is going to have an opinion about what you should be eating, doing, feeling, wearing,… So just smile, and then do what feels right for you. Your instincts are your best guide – now and forever.
• For mood support – allow yourself to feel what you need to feel, without trying to push it away. I know I sound like a broken record but your body and mind do go through so much – so it’s normal if you will feel all over the place.

If you need an extra help with this, my FREE Pregnancy Mood Survival Toolkit is perfect for help you cope with difficult pregnancy feelings.

I also recommend you check out these posts:

• How to Stop Hating Your Husband During Pregnancy (Even When Hormones Are Wild)
• First Pregnancy Checklist: What You Actually Need (and What You Don’t)
• 9 Things That Surprised Me About Pregnancy (No One Talks About These!)

Practical things to do at 9 weeks pregnant

• If you haven’t had your booking appointment with your midwife yet, now is the time – it typically happens between 8 and 10 weeks
• Your dating scan invitation (a letter inviting you to your 12-week scan) should be coming soon – make sure your contact details are up to date with your GP so you don’t miss it
• Keep taking your prenatal vitamins every day – this is non negotiable; folic acid is especially important right through the first trimester
• Decide who you want at your 12 week scan – partner, mum, friend, or no one…. (there’s not right or wrong here).
• Find out about your maternity leave – it’s worth looking into what you’re entitled to at work sooner rather than later. It’s one less thing to worry about later.
• Check your medications are safe – if you take any regular medication, make sure it’s okay to keep taking during pregnancy. If you’re not sure, just ask your GP. Better to check than to worry about it.
• Ask for help if you’re struggling emotionally – this is also non negotiable. Support is not options. If things feel heavy right now, please don’t sit with it alone and wait for it to get better by itself. It will only get worse over time, if you don’t addres it now. Talk to your GP, your midwife, or someone you really trust – my favourite option. You shouldn’t have to be at crisis point to ask for support.
• Keep snacks everywhere – whatever you can actually eat right now, stock up on it and keep it close. Especially ginger biscuits!

Things nobody tells you about being 9 weeks pregnant

Final word – You’ve got this, mama!

There you go, my lovely.

Nine weeks in, and you are doing so much better than you probably feel like you are right now.

The first trimester is almost behind you, yaaay!

In the meantime, you may also enjoy these posts:

• First Pregnancy Checklist: What You Actually Need (and What You Don’t)
• Pregnancy Anxiety: What’s Normal and When to Get Support
• I Read All the Pregnancy Books — Motherhood Still Shocked Me (Here’s Why)