What’s Happening With You When You Are 10 Weeks Pregnant

Aug 21st, 2007

Moms-to-be should pay special attention to their oral health. And this is an excellent time to schedule a dental appointment. Proper cleaning — along with an adequate intake of calcium, protein and vitamins B, C and D — will help keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Hormonal changes occur during pregnancy can affect the gums and the gums may become swollen and inflamed in response to bacteria along the gum line. This is called “pregnancy gingivitis.” It usually appears during the 3rd to 9th month of pregnancy.

Be sure to tell your dentist that you are pregnant as it may affect the type of care you need and receive. Anyway, routine dental X-rays can be postponed until after delivery. If disease is suspected, or an emergency arises, dental X-rays are considered safe. You should be shielded with a lead apron.

Seek dental care right away if your gums are swollen or bleed when you clean your teeth. Familiarize yourself with the dental care your dentist advises for your new baby. Ask your dentist for advice.

Stop smoking!! Smoking can lead to increased risk for periodontal disease and of course will lead to health problems for you and the baby. And brush teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and use dental floss.

Maintain excellent nutrition and avoid sweet between-meal snacks as they lead to acid which attacks tooth enamel and causes tooth decay.

If you are troubled by frequent vomiting, due to early pregnancy nausea, this can leave stomach acids in your mouth. If this acid is not cleared away quickly, it can damage the surfaces of your teeth and promote tooth decay. Rinse your mouth with water, or use a fluoride mouth rinse after vomiting, to freshen your mouth and protect your teeth from the damaging action of stomach acids.

Hormonal influences may cause a soft tissue growth along the gum line over one or two teeth. This fleshy tag of tissue is known as an “epulis.” Although they are very vascular and therefore bleed easily with tooth brushing, they are harmless and resolve quickly after delivery.

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE BABY

By the end of this week, your baby will have verifiable fingers and toes. The tadpole appearance diminishes as the tail completely disappears. Eyelids fuse and will stay shut until weeks 25 to 27. Both the external ear and upper lip are complete, and the beginnings of external genitalia appear. The average size of your baby-to-be is 27 to 35 millimeters, crown to rump, or 1.06 to 1.38 inches.

Your little one weighs in at a hefty four grams!

At the end of the eighth week of gestation your little one is no longer an embryo; from now on he or she is referred to as a fetus.