9 Weeks Pregnant: Baby's Growth, Symptoms & Caffeine Guide
At 9 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a grape and is wriggling around, though you won't feel it for a while yet. Their tail has almost gone, and they're starting to look like a tiny baby. For you, tiredness and nausea may be at their peak.
- Baby's size
- About the size of a grape (2 to 3cm)
- Forming now
- Separate fingers and toes, tooth buds and reproductive organs
- Common symptoms
- Tiredness, nausea, a blocked nose and tighter clothes
- This week
- Keep caffeine under 200 mg a day
What's happening this week
Your baby's head is becoming rounder and more upright, and nearly all their major organs have started to form. At the end of next week, they'll officially be called a foetus.
Face
More definedFacial features are becoming clearer, eyelids are forming over the eyes, and tiny tooth buds are developing in the gums.
Hands and feet
Fingers and toesFingers and toes are starting to separate, and elbows and wrists can bend. Your baby is making small, jerky movements.
Inside
Busy growingThe testes or ovaries are forming, the soft skeleton is beginning to harden into bone, and the placenta is starting to take over hormone production.
Symptoms at 9 weeks pregnant
With pregnancy hormones near their peak, many people feel the effects this week:
- Tiredness. Building the placenta takes a lot of energy, and blood pressure and blood sugar changes add to it. Go to bed early, and ask others to help with housework or order groceries online.
- Nausea and needing to wee. Both often continue until the end of the first trimester.
- A blocked nose. Extra blood flow can make the lining of your nose swell. A saline spray can help, and check decongestants with your pharmacist.
- Tighter clothes. Bloating and a growing uterus can make waistbands and bras feel snug. Stretchy waistbands, loose tops and a soft, supportive bra help.
- Headaches, constipation and mood swings. These are common and often ease in the second trimester.
Bleeding and miscarriage: what to know
Light spotting is common in early pregnancy and often isn't a sign of anything wrong. But it's natural to worry, and it's always worth checking. Miscarriage is also sadly common, happening in around 1 in 5 known pregnancies, mostly in the first 12 weeks. It's almost never caused by anything the pregnant person did.
Contact your doctor, midwife or hospital's early pregnancy assessment service if you have bleeding, cramping, or pass fluid or tissue. Many symptoms, like breast tenderness, come and go in early pregnancy, so a change on its own isn't a reliable sign.
Go to your nearest emergency department if you have heavy bleeding (soaking a pad in an hour), strong pain, shoulder tip pain, or feel faint or dizzy.
If you've experienced a loss, support is available from Pink Elephants Support Network and the Red Nose Grief and Loss support line on 1300 308 307.
How much caffeine is in your cuppa?
Australian guidance is to keep caffeine under 200 milligrams a day during pregnancy. Here's roughly how common foods and drinks add up.
Bars show each item as a share of the 200 mg daily limit. Amounts are approximate and vary between brands, cafés and brewing methods. Energy drinks aren't recommended in pregnancy.
Questions to ask at your appointments
Whether your first antenatal visit is coming up or you've already had it, these are worth asking. For more on what to expect, see our guide to your first antenatal visit.
- About your care
- Who will look after me, and where? How many appointments will I have, and when? What will it cost, and what does my health cover include?
- About tests and scans
- When is my first scan? Which screening tests do you recommend? Can I find out the baby's sex, and when?If you don't want to know the sex, say so early so it doesn't slip out
- About support
- Who do I call if I have bleeding or pain after hours? When should I book antenatal or birth classes?
Looking after yourself this week
Ask for help
Tiredness won't harm your baby, but it can make everyday life hard. Share the load at home, rest when you can, and don't feel you have to push through.
Nausea and nutrition
Small, frequent meals help. See our week 5 tips on managing morning sickness, and keep taking folic acid and iodine.
Start bonding
It's never too early to connect with your baby. Take a few quiet minutes each day to think about the little person growing inside you, and share those moments with your partner if you have one.
Your to-do list for week 9
Get your pregnancy week by week, every week
Tell us your due date and we'll email you what's happening with you and your baby each week.
Helpful for this stage
Week 9 FAQs
How much caffeine can I have when pregnant?
Australian guidance is to keep caffeine under 200 milligrams a day. That's about two to three cups of instant coffee or one to two café coffees, depending on strength. Tea, cola and chocolate count too, and energy drinks aren't recommended.
Is spotting at 9 weeks pregnant normal?
Light spotting is common in early pregnancy and often settles on its own. Always let your doctor or midwife know about any bleeding, and get help urgently if it's heavy or comes with strong pain.
How big is my baby at 9 weeks?
About the size of a grape, roughly 2 to 3 centimetres from crown to rump. Their tail has almost gone, and they're starting to look more like a tiny baby.
Why is my nose blocked in pregnancy?
Pregnancy hormones and extra blood flow can make the lining of your nose swell, which is called pregnancy rhinitis. A saline nasal spray and a humidifier can help. Check with your pharmacist before using decongestants.
When does an embryo become a foetus?
At the end of week 10 of pregnancy. By then, all your baby's major organs and body parts have started to form, and the rest of pregnancy is mostly about growing and maturing.
This article is general information and isn't a substitute for advice from your doctor or midwife.
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