This week, your baby's face is developing further, making its facial features increasingly distinct. What else is happening with the little being in your womb during the 10th week of pregnancy, why you should pay special attention to your dental hygiene now, and what rights you are entitled to in the workplace—you can read about it all here.

How big is your baby in the 10th week of pregnancy?

Your baby is about three centimeters long, comparable to an olive. In an ultrasound image, the lips and nose would already be clearly visible at this stage.

10th week of pregnancy: What's changing for you

The good news: your body is gradually getting used to the hormonal changes. This means that fatigue and nausea may already be easing, and you may start to feel better. If you are still affected by these symptoms, don't worry: for most women, pregnancy symptoms subside by the 12th week of pregnancy at the latest.

Due to the hormone progesterone, your gums and oral mucosa are now supplied with more blood, and the tissue becomes looser. This makes it easier for plaque and other bacteria to multiply in your mouth and cause inflammation. The acidity level in your saliva also increases during pregnancy, making the enamel more vulnerable to attack.

If a small belly is already beginning to show, it is not due to your baby; it is still much too small for that. Rather, the growing uterus, which is now as large as a grapefruit, the placenta, and the amount of amniotic fluid, which is constantly increasing, may now cause a slight bulge. If you have been pregnant once or multiple times before, your belly will protrude earlier than in women expecting their first child, as your tissue has already been significantly stretched once.

10th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby

Your child looks more and more human from week to week: By the 10th week of pregnancy, the skin between the fingers and toes has disappeared, as has the tail remnant. The eyes and ears have also almost fully developed. During this week, more and more new brain cells are forming, and the fetus's senses are becoming more pronounced. For example, your child can already open and close its mouth this week. The first taste buds are now forming on its tongue. Your baby is also quite busy and is already training its muscles through movements in the uterus. The organs continue to grow and gradually take on their functions. Even though your baby will be born without teeth in a few months, the development of the baby teeth already begins in the 10th week of pregnancy: In the coming weeks, tooth buds will form in the fetus's mouth.

Maternity Protection

After the initial joy of your pregnancy, there are also very practical questions: When should you tell your employer that you are going to be a mother? What rights do you have as a pregnant woman in the workplace? In Germany, you can find the answers to these questions in the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG). How these rights are defined in detail and what else is regulated in the Maternity Protection Act, we have summarized in the article “ “. We have summarized the most important points that you should already know in early pregnancy:

• The Maternity Protection Act applies to all pregnant and breastfeeding employees, regardless of the type of employment relationship, marital status, or nationality.

• The protective regulations come into effect as soon as you inform your employer of your pregnancy—therefore, it makes sense to share the news with your employer as early as possible. By the way, they are not allowed to pass on this information to third parties. The exception is the government occupational health and safety offices, to which pregnancies are reported.

• The rights you enjoy through maternity protection include, among others,
  protection against dismissal, protection periods before and after childbirth, the right to maternity benefit, and leave from work for medical check-ups if it is not possible for you to attend these appointments outside of your working hours.
  

This is now important

• Now is a good time to schedule a check-up with your dentist.
  

• Your blood volume has increased by 30 percent in recent weeks, and the
  amount of fluid in your body continues to rise. Even though the growing uterus presses on your bladder, staying well-hydrated (1.5 to 2 liters per day) is important. Also, make sure to empty your bladder regularly and not wait until it is overfull to go to the toilet. The reason is that the uterus also presses on the urinary tract, which can prevent your bladder from being fully emptied. Bacteria can easily multiply in the remaining residual urine.

• If you haven't done so already: Schedule an appointment with your employer to
  inform them about your pregnancy. This is not only sensible because you will benefit from the Maternity Protection Act, but your employer can also plan better for your absence and arrange for a replacement in good time.

With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which is also created in exchange with our
LILLYDOO experts. Nevertheless, the information listed here can never replace personal advice from your doctor or midwife. Always contact your healthcare professional with questions and for professional care.