Arrow backLanguage
Pregnancy
Article
Add this post to favorites

9-weeks pregnant: baby development and diet tips

Two hearts beat as one, as the song says. In actual fact, your baby’s heart is beating just fine on its own. Read more about this week.

3 mins to read Dec 14, 2021

BABY DEVELOPMENT

Your baby’s taste buds have recently started to form. The way their body is developing now allows for them to be measured in two ways during an ultrasound: from the top of their head to the coccyx and from the top of their head to their heels. They are now growing rapidly; their body length will be double what it is now by the 12th week. They have eyelids covering their eyes, and inside their chest cavity, their diaphragm now separates their heart and lungs from their digestive tract. Their heart beats at its own pace – at between 120 and 160 bpm (beats per minute), it beats much faster than yours.


YOUR BODY

From the outside looking in, it may be possible for some people to tell by looking at you that there is a baby growing in your belly, while others will be completely surprised when you choose to share your news. Amazingly, so many organs have developed, and many more are still under construction. As such, you may find that you are more tired than you would have thought and that is totally normal – you are growing a little human being inside your body!


NUTRITION

What about sugar and salt?  
Canada’s Food Guide recommends healthy eating when pregnant and breastfeeding which includes choosing foods that have little or no added sodium, sugars, or saturated fat. Making water your first choice of beverage means helping to reduce the amounts of calories, sodium, sugars, and saturated fat you consume. If you need a bit of fizz in your life, go for sparkling water flavoured with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime.  
Choose whole-grain cereals and oatmeal, which contain B vitamins and fibre to aid your digestion and may help keep you feeling full.  Also choose cereals fortified or enriched with folic acid, iron, and zinc. Folic acid is a B vitamin known to reduce the risks of certain neural tube defects. Iron and zinc are also important minerals. Iron helps carry oxygen around your body and zinc supports your immune system. Add a hint of natural sweetness to your cereal by topping with fresh fruit, such as berries or banana, or add some crunch with toasted nuts and seeds.

TIPS

The safest choice for a woman who is pregnant or planning to become pregnant is not to drink alcohol. 

Reference

Join

MVP Logo

Get full access to expert-backed nutrition support, high-value coupons on our trusted brands and much more!

  • Ready for Baby

    Free Ready-for-Baby Savings Pack.

    Around 35 weeks of pregnancy expect to receive our Baby Pack filled with high-value coupons and useful information you and your baby will love!

  • Special member savings

    Special Member Savings

    Receive personalized coupons and savings on trusted products in your email inbox - and home mailbox - as your baby grows.

  • Helpful Resources

    Helpful resources

    Expert advice, articles, recipes, tips and tools for all the special, hard and at times hectic days of parenting.

  • NUTRITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR GROWTH

    Nutritional guidance for growth

    Specialized nutritional guidance and science-based expertise for every stage of the parenting journey - from preconception to toddlerhood.

*When registration is during pregnancy. If your baby’s already been born, expect to see your kit within a month

Search icon

Still haven't found what you are looking for?

Try our new smart question engine.