By the seventh week, your baby is about 1.2cm, as big as a blueberry. At week 7, your tummy still looks normal, and you probably won’t notice a big change in your weight. What is going on inside you, though, is a whole other story. Here’s a closer look at that…
Your baby at 7 weeks
By this week, the embryo is developing brain cells every second and the heart and brain are starting to form. Your baby is starting to get kidneys and the limbs will be forming within a few days. If you go for an ultrasound, your doctor will be able to confirm the progress of your baby’s development.
Your gynae might ask you for urine and blood samples, among other samples and tests. All these are used to help them make an accurate determination of both your and your baby’s health. There will be many more such tests as your pregnancy progresses.
Your body at 7 weeks
Here are some of the things you can expect to notice about yourself:
- Nausea and vomiting: Morning sickness is common in the first trimester of pregnancy. Nausea can be managed by eating smaller snacks during the day, dry crackers and ginger (a lot of moms swear by ginger tea too). However, no home ready will work 100% of the time, and different women will find different remedies effective. Vitamin B6 supplements are also good for nausea. The good news is that as you approach the second trimester, nausea and vomiting will likely disappear.
- Cravings: As your hormones heighten, you will start having cravings for particular foods. It is not uncommon to crave weird foods throughout the day, sometimes even in the middle of the night.
- Mood swings: You might be getting angry at the slightest provocation, or emotional over more “trivial” things. These are all part of the expected changes at this stage of your pregnancy.
- Acne: Breakouts on the skin are also to be expected at this stage. Your hormones are all over the place and your body is still adjusting to the changes it is experiencing. Before you start using any creams and beauty regimens to solve this issue, consult your doctor and ensure that they are safe for you and your baby.
- Cramps: Cramping is normal when you are pregnant – your body is simply preparing itself for the contractions that will be coming in a few months. However, if you have severe abdominal pain, make sure that you see your doctor immediately.
- Excess saliva production: Nausea is usually accompanied by the production of saliva in your mouth during pregnancy. It can also be a side effect of the hormones. You can mask the taste of saliva in your mouth by having a calcium chew or any hard candy.
You should, however, note that not everyone experiences these symptoms. You might get all or none of these symptoms at all during this stage of pregnancy. Therefore, do not worry about others’ stories and symptoms – everyone has a different pregnancy.
Taking care of yourself during this time
Just like at all other stages of pregnancy, you must take good care of your body during this stage. Your baby is developing rapidly and you need to do everything you can to enhance this development. Here are a few ideas:
- Eat foods rich in calcium, iron, proteins and folic acid.
- Talk to your doctor about other vitamin supplements you can use.
- Avoid carrying heavy objects.
- Do not smoke, drink alcohol, take illicit drugs or any toxic substances.
- Eat healthy food and do exercise that’s safe for you and baby.
- Drink more water/hydrate.
Reading Time: 2 minutes Follow BabyYumYum pregnancy week-by-week calendar guide to understand how big your baby is at each week of gestation (compared to the …
