The fetus is growing quickly and starting to look like a tiny person. Fingers and toes are fully separated, tooth buds are forming under the gums, and the brain is producing an astonishing 250,000 new neurons every minute. Use our Due Date Calculator to find your estimated delivery date.
Key Takeaways
- The fetus is about 3 cm (strawberry size), weighs approximately 4 grams, and has fully separated fingers and toes with tiny nails beginning to grow.
- Tooth buds for all 20 primary teeth are forming under the gumline this week, though they will not emerge until months after birth.
- The critical period for major birth defects is mostly past by week 10, and the risk of miscarriage drops significantly from this point.
- ACOG recommends NIPT (available from week 10) to all pregnant patients regardless of age — it screens for Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13.
Your Baby This Week
Size: Strawberry (about 3 cm, or 1.2 inches)
Weight: About 4 grams
- Fingers and toes: Fully separated with tiny nails beginning to grow
- Bones: Skeleton is shifting from soft cartilage to hardened bone
- Brain: Rapid neuron production. The head makes up about half the body length.
- Stomach and kidneys: Producing digestive juices and urine
- Tooth buds: Forming under the gumline (they will not emerge until months after birth)
- Limbs: Can bend at the elbows and knees. The fetus kicks and stretches, but you cannot feel it yet.
The critical period for major birth defects is mostly past. The risk of miscarriage also drops significantly from this point forward. Track your baby's growth with our Milestone Tracker.
Your Body
- Morning sickness may start to ease for some. For others, it continues a few more weeks.
- Increased blood volume continues, which may cause visible veins and a warmer body temperature
- Round ligament pain: Brief, sharp pains on one or both sides of the lower abdomen as the uterus grows
- Fatigue remains common but should improve soon
Your uterus is now about the size of a grapefruit.
What to Do This Week
- Consider NIPT if offered. This blood test, available from week 10, screens for Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18), and Patau syndrome (trisomy 13). It can also reveal the baby's sex if you want to know. Our prenatal testing and NIPT guide covers everything you need to know about screening options.
- Keep up good dental hygiene. Pregnancy hormones can increase the risk of gum disease. Brush twice daily and do not skip dental checkups.
- Eat calcium-rich foods. The fetus is building bones, and your body will pull from your calcium stores if your intake is low. Aim for 1,000 mg per day from dairy, fortified plant milks, or supplements.
Common Questions
What is NIPT and should I get it?
NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) is a blood test that analyzes fragments of fetal DNA circulating in your blood. It is a screening test, not a diagnostic test, meaning a positive result would typically be confirmed with amniocentesis or CVS. ACOG recommends offering it to all pregnant patients regardless of age.
When will morning sickness end?
For most people, nausea improves significantly by weeks 12 to 14. A smaller percentage continue to experience it into the second trimester, and a few have it throughout pregnancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NIPT and should I get it at 10 weeks?
NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) is a blood test that screens for chromosomal conditions including Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18), and Patau syndrome (trisomy 13) by analyzing fetal DNA in your blood. ACOG recommends offering it to all pregnant patients. It is a screening test, not diagnostic — a positive result would typically be confirmed with CVS or amniocentesis.
When does morning sickness typically end?
For most people, nausea improves significantly between weeks 12 and 14. A smaller percentage continue experiencing nausea into the second trimester. If vomiting is severe or you cannot keep fluids down, contact your provider — this may indicate hyperemesis gravidarum.
Is round ligament pain normal at 10 weeks?
Yes. Round ligament pain — brief, sharp pains on one or both sides of the lower abdomen — is caused by the ligaments supporting your growing uterus stretching. It is harmless and very common from week 10 onward. Changing positions slowly and avoiding sudden movements can help reduce discomfort.
Why is calcium especially important at 10 weeks?
The fetus is actively building its skeleton, which is shifting from soft cartilage to hardened bone. If your dietary calcium intake is insufficient, your body will draw calcium from your own bones. ACOG recommends 1,000 mg of calcium per day during pregnancy, from dairy, fortified plant milks, or supplements.
Related Articles
- Pregnancy Week-by-Week Overview — see the full timeline
- Pregnancy Week 11 — what comes next
- Exercise During Pregnancy, safe workouts for every trimester
Sources
🔧 Helpful Tools
- Due Date Calculator — Calculate your estimated due date
- Contraction Timer — Track your contractions during labor
- All Baby Tools — Browse all free tools for pregnancy and baby care
