Illustration of a baby at week 9 inside the womb in cross-section, with the placenta and umbilical cord
Womb in cross-section, enlarged to show detail. Not true size.

First trimester, week 9

9 weeks pregnant: Goodbye tail, hello toes

Size of a
Cherry
Length
2.3 cm crown to rump
Weight
2 g approximate
Heart rate
150–180 bpm typical range
Due date
217 days away 23% of the way
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Checked against the sources listed on this page. Not reviewed by a clinician. Last updated 5 November 2026. How we check.

At 9 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a cherry: roughly 2.3 cm from crown to rump, weighing about 2 g. You’re in your first trimester, with about 31 weeks to go until your due date.

Your baby this week

  • The tail has almost disappeared, and the toes are separating.
  • All the major organs are present in basic form. The heart has divided into four chambers.
  • External genitals are starting to form but look the same in boys and girls for a few more weeks.

Your body this week

  • Your waist may start to thicken and your usual jeans may feel snug, mostly from bloating.
  • Heartburn and constipation can begin as progesterone relaxes your gut.
  • Headaches are common in the first trimester. Rest, fluids and regular meals help. Check with your provider before taking any painkiller, and avoid ibuprofen unless advised.
Typical weight gain so far
0.3–1.3 kg
Your uterus
About the size of a lemon

Weight gain range is for a pre-pregnancy BMI of 18.5–24.9 (IOM guideline). Your provider may advise differently.

Scans, tests and checkups

  • This week
    First prenatal visit & bloodwork Checkup

    Health history, blood pressure, urine, blood type and Rh factor, blood count, and infection screening (hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, rubella immunity). The UK aims to see you by 10 weeks.

  • This week
    Early / dating ultrasound Ultrasound

    Confirms the pregnancy is in the uterus, sees the heartbeat, counts babies and dates the pregnancy. Often part of the first visit or combined with the 12-week scan.

  • From week 10
    NIPT (cell-free DNA blood test) Blood test

    A blood test that screens for Down syndrome (trisomy 21), trisomies 18 and 13, and can report sex chromosomes. It is a screening test. A high-chance result is confirmed with CVS or amniocentesis.

    Baby’s sex: Sex from ~10 weeks, typically >98–99% accurate

  • From week 10
    CVS (chorionic villus sampling) Diagnostic

    Diagnostic test on a tiny placenta sample, offered after a high-chance screening result or known family condition. The NHS gives the miscarriage risk as less than 1 in 200 for most pregnancies. The UK usually does it at 11–14 weeks.

    Baby’s sex: Diagnostic, only done for medical reasons

  • From week 11
    NT scan / 12-week scan Ultrasound

    Measures the fluid at the back of the baby’s neck (nuchal translucency). Combined with blood hormones, it estimates the chance of chromosomal conditions. The window is about 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days.

See the full scan and test timeline

Real size, next to an adult hand

Adult hand 18.5 cmbaby 2.3 cm

Growth curve

01 kg2 kg3 kgwk 10wk 20wk 30wk 40
Typical weight by week: WHO median from week 20, approximate before that. Healthy babies vary widely.

When to call your midwife or doctor at 9 weeks

Call your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away, day or night, if you have any of these:

  • Vaginal bleeding, with or without cramps.
  • Strong pain low on one side of your belly, pain at the tip of your shoulder, or feeling faint. These can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy, which needs urgent care.
  • Being sick so often that you can’t keep fluids down for a day.
  • Fever of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher, or pain or burning when you pee.
  • Pain or swelling in one leg, chest pain, or sudden shortness of breath. These can be signs of a blood clot.
  • Feeling very low, hopeless or anxious most days. If you feel you might harm yourself, get emergency help.

Based on NHS and ACOG guidance. This list isn’t complete. If something feels wrong, call anyway. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.

Tip for this week

Ask about screening choices now. NIPT, the combined test and the 12-week scan all have time windows that open soon.

Myth or fact?

Is the Ramzi theory accurate for predicting gender?

Myth

Not reliably. The Ramzi theory guesses the sex from which side the placenta is on at about 6 weeks, and we found no peer-reviewed study that confirms it works.

Read the evidence

Common questions at this stage

All common questions

More myths around week 9

Questions people ask about week 9

Can you tell the gender at 9 weeks?

Not by ultrasound. The genitals still look the same. A blood test (NIPT) from 10 weeks can report the baby’s sex chromosomes if you want to know.

How big is the baby at 9 weeks?

About 2.3 cm from crown to rump and about 2 grams, roughly the size of a cherry.

References

  1. NHS Best Start in Life: 9 weeks pregnant
  2. NHS: Your antenatal appointments
  3. NHS: Ectopic pregnancy
  4. NHS: Miscarriage
  5. NHS: Vomiting and morning sickness
  6. Mayo Clinic: Fetal development, the first trimester
  7. MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine): Fetal development

Advice differs between countries, so follow your own care team’s plan. Weights from week 20 are the WHO median, and earlier weights are approximate. How we check this.

All 40 weeks

First trimester Weeks 1–13

From conception to a fully formed, tiny fetus. The most rapid change of the whole pregnancy.

  1. Prenatal development at week 1 Week 1A new cycle begins
  2. Prenatal development at week 2 Week 2Ovulation — and maybe conception
  3. Prenatal development at week 3 Week 3A ball of cells finds its home
  4. Prenatal development at week 4 Week 4Poppy seed
  5. Prenatal development at week 5 Week 5Sesame seed
  6. Prenatal development at week 6 Week 6Lentil
  7. Prenatal development at week 7 Week 7Blueberry
  8. Prenatal development at week 8 Week 8Raspberry
  9. Prenatal development at week 9 Week 9Cherry
  10. Prenatal development at week 10 Week 10Strawberry
  11. Prenatal development at week 11 Week 11Fig
  12. Prenatal development at week 12 Week 12Lime
  13. Prenatal development at week 13 Week 13Lemon

Second trimester Weeks 14–27

Growth, movement and senses. Often the most comfortable stretch for parents.

  1. Prenatal development at week 14 Week 14Peach
  2. Prenatal development at week 15 Week 15Apple
  3. Prenatal development at week 16 Week 16Avocado
  4. Prenatal development at week 17 Week 17Pear
  5. Prenatal development at week 18 Week 18Bell pepper
  6. Prenatal development at week 19 Week 19Mango
  7. Prenatal development at week 20 Week 20Banana
  8. Prenatal development at week 21 Week 21Carrot
  9. Prenatal development at week 22 Week 22Papaya
  10. Prenatal development at week 23 Week 23Grapefruit
  11. Prenatal development at week 24 Week 24Ear of corn
  12. Prenatal development at week 25 Week 25Cauliflower
  13. Prenatal development at week 26 Week 26Zucchini
  14. Prenatal development at week 27 Week 27Head of lettuce

Third trimester Weeks 28–40

Weight gain, brain and lung maturation, and getting into position for birth.

  1. Prenatal development at week 28 Week 28Eggplant
  2. Prenatal development at week 29 Week 29Butternut squash
  3. Prenatal development at week 30 Week 30Cabbage
  4. Prenatal development at week 31 Week 31Coconut
  5. Prenatal development at week 32 Week 32Napa cabbage
  6. Prenatal development at week 33 Week 33Pineapple
  7. Prenatal development at week 34 Week 34Cantaloupe
  8. Prenatal development at week 35 Week 35Honeydew melon
  9. Prenatal development at week 36 Week 36Papaya (large)
  10. Prenatal development at week 37 Week 37Winter melon
  11. Prenatal development at week 38 Week 38Pumpkin (small)
  12. Prenatal development at week 39 Week 39Mini watermelon
  13. Prenatal development at week 40 Week 40Watermelon