You’re in week 7 of pregnancy, and probably loving every moment of it!
You’ve got several reasons to, most notably preparing for your first prenatal visit.
There’s a lot going through your mind at this stage such as how big is my baby in week 7, and the symptoms you can expect to experience.
Your baby’s size in your seventh week is about the size of a blueberry, where your embryo has almost doubled in size from your 6th week of pregnancy, and currently measures approximately 0.51 inches.
Your baby in week seven is taking huge strides in its development process, with most taking place in the head and face regions And just as a heads up, your baby will soon start to produce urine, and pass it directly into the amniotic fluid, which is a protective liquid that has several other functions.
At 7 weeks pregnant, you may experience a wide range of symptoms, some that won’t bother you much, while others that can make you feel uncomfortable all through the day.
Here are a few of the common symptoms in week 7.
This is one of those symptoms that you probably didn’t expect to be on this list, but its here because it is common to a few women.
While there are varying reports of what causes excess saliva or the need to spit, it is perfectly normal and as some medically experts believe is mostly triggered by hormones.
If you’re experiencing this, the best advice is to drink plenty of water to help stay hydrated rather than over-hydrated, and to also reduce the production of saliva. You can also try sucking on hard candies or chewing sugarless gum
This one’s a tricky one because you may find your favorite foods repulsive or have the urge to eat weird foods or not wanting to eat at all.
Regardless of the type of appetite, don’t despair because it’s perfectly normal, and it does start to subside after your first trimester.
Food aversions may be a great way to stay away from potentially dangerous foods, and are somewhat related to morning sickness.
Its okay to indulge in foods that you can’t resist albeit every so often, but also simultaneously identify foods and odors that may trigger these symptoms.
If your symptoms do get out of hand such as when you cannot keep foods or liquids in your body for more than 24 hours, seek professional help.
This is a common symptom that you’ve probably experienced since your first week, and will do so for several more weeks to come!
Some moms-to-be find great help in acupuncture wristbands, and others with Vitamin B-6 or ginger for their tummy issues. Remember that this is a stage where your hormones are working overtime, so nausea does tend to disappear as they are more relaxed.
Another symptom that is caused mostly by a surge of hormones, and best solution for it is to drink lots of water during your pregnancy. There are a few acne solutions for pregnancy that you can try out, but speak to your doctor first.
Again this is a symptom that you’re familiar with especially in your second week of pregnancy, and is caused mostly because of your busy uterus.
Furthermore, pregnancy may cause your cervix to become more sensitive especially after sex resulting in mild spotting.
These two symptoms can raise eyebrows for any mother-to-be, but in most cases is not a reason to panic. However, if you experience abdominal pain worse than menstrual cramps or heavy bleeding more than your period, get in touch with your OB for professional help.
If you don’t experience any of the aforementioned symptoms, you’re one of the lucky ones, and rest assured it is not a sign of any problem, given that, not all women are created equal so symptoms do vary.
You will experience diverse hormonal changes all through your pregnancy, which will contribute to several of your pregnancy symptoms.
Your body begins to secrete the hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) following the implantation of the fertilized egg.
This hormone plays a vital role towards several elements of your pregnancy, most notably preventing premature labor and lactation, fetal development and
Apart from HCG, your placenta secretes a few other vital hormones including:
This hormone helps determine the duration of your pregnancy, and also assists with your baby’s growth and development. It later on along with other hormones such as cortisol increases the mother-baby bond.
This hormone aids with the growth of the mammary gland and plays a crucial role in increasing nutrients in your blood.
Have you caught yourself looking into the mirror in the hopes of spotting one?
Sorry to break it to you, but 7 weeks is a bit too early to experience a protruding belly, unless of course you’re expecting twins.
With regards to ultrasound, you probably won’t have one when you’re 7 weeks pregnant. However, what you should be excited about is your upcoming prenatal visit, and what to expect from it.
At your first prenatal visit, you should be prepared to provide a variety of samples such as urine, blood and cervical cells for a pap smear.
You will also have your first ultrasound to confirm that your baby is as happy and well as can be, and get your estimated due date.
Week 7 is yet another significant week for your baby, where the embryo looks similar to a tadpole in the earlier part of the week, and transforms into a distinct, human-like being by the end of the week.
Your baby’s ongoing development in week 7 includes lengthening of the body, arms beginning to bend at the elbows and set themselves around the heart.
credit:babble.com
By the time week 7 comes to an end, the entire skeleton of the embryo that consists of a flexible cartilage will be fully formed.
Week 7 also sees the inception of your baby’s digestive system complete with kidneys, liver, heart, spleen and appendix.
Your placenta in week 7 will sort of look like a fuzzy ball due to the outburst of tiny hair-like projections aka villi, which ultimately will fulfill the important role of transporting nutrients and oxygen from your bloodstream to your rapidly developing baby.
Your baby’s heart is beating much faster than yours, somewhere around 160 beats per minute
It will slowly begin to move around in pregnancy week 7
Your baby’s skin is paper thin and almost transparent
It may begin thumb sucking around this time
Learn about prenatal tests
Check which over the counter medicines are safe
Start taking belly photos
