WEEK 8: Let the Games Begin

Even though you’re eight weeks pregnant, great chances are that you might not be showing yet.

But on a brighter note, you will most likely have your first prenatal visit right around this time.

Your baby in week 8 of pregnancy is growing rapidly, and in terms of size is approximately 0.63 inches and weighs 0.04 ounces.

8 week pregnant

Just like in your week 6 and week 7 of pregnancy, its heart is beating at an amazing 160+ beats per minute, and little fingers and toes are starting to transform from tiny buds into actual digits (5 fingers per hand).

With regards to your life, you will experience some significant changes such as your bra getting tight due to the rising level of hormones.

8th Week Pregnancy Symptoms

As mentioned earlier, your hormones are working overtime at 8 weeks pregnant, so you’re bound to experience a plethora of pregnancy symptoms such as:

  Weird dreams
Weird dreams during pregnancy

Having strange dreams especially in week 8 of your pregnancy is completely normal, and although it isn’t clear what causes these dreams, experts believe it could be due to surge in thoughts and anxieties.

 Pregnancy cramps
Pregnancy cramps

Experiencing cramps during pregnancy is perfectly normal, and is mostly caused by the stretching of ligaments in your abdomen as your uterus expands.

 Increased sense of smell
sense of smell during pregnancy

You may become sensitive to certain smells that you weren’t before, which could trigger nausea. Once you identify the odors that you find unpleasant, it is best to avoid them as much as possible.

 Morning sickness
 severe Morning sickness at pregnancy times

This can be strong when your 8 weeks pregnant, and in most cases is related to pregnancy hormones. As a solution, drink lots of waterduring your pregnancy to ensure you are well hydrated at all times, and binge on healthy snacks throughout the day.

 Fatigue
Fatigue during pregnancy weeks

At this stage of your pregnancy, your body’s hormones are fluctuating in order to produce more blood for your baby. The best solution for fatigue during pregnancy is to get more sleep, because 9 months later, you may wish you had more of it!

 Sore breasts
Sore breast at pregnancy time

Your breasts may feel bigger and sore at times, a week 8 pregnancy symptom that’s caused by the expanding of the milk producing lobules in your breasts in order to prepare to produce more breastmilk.

 Spotting
Spotting during pregnancy

Yes this can be quite alarming at 8 weeks pregnant, and could be a sign of miscarriage. But spotting in the first trimester may also be caused by sex and best advice is to speak to your doctor in order to rule out any complications.

Size and Weight Flashcard

Baby Size and Weight Flashcard week 8

Inside your Belly in Week 8

You may or may not be showing when you’re 8 weeks pregnant, which either way is nothing to worry about.

Take note that at this stage your uterus is expanding, but it may take longer for it to show on the outside for some than others. You will most likely show if you’re pregnant with twins though.

This is probably the time when your OB will start taking measurements of your pregnant belly, but this is mostly to keep track of your pregnancy, and size doesn’t matter at this point.

With regards to weight gain, you will gain approximately two pounds each week starting from your first week, which equates to four to six pounds when you’re 8 weeks pregnant.

However, weight gain may be considerably less if you’ve been experiencing morning sickness, which again is okay.

8th Week Pregnant Ultrasound - What to Expect ?

8 weeks is around the time when you will be having your first prenatal visit. Your doctor at this time will most probably have your blood drawn in order to run some tests.

First prenatal visit of a pregnant lady

Further, your OB will also want to know whether you’re Rh positive or negative because if your baby is positive and you negative, some more tests will be ordered to prescribe medications to avoid complications.

Other pregnancy tests include ones for hepatitis B, STDs, HIV, certain immunities, and Pap smear to check for abnormalities and infections.

Your Baby's Development in Week 08

Your baby has made significant progress in week 8, and is not any more just a cluster of cells, but looks more like a baby-to-be rather than reptile.

Its eyelids are formed, upper lips are taking shape, and nose beginning to protrude. In terms of size, your baby in week 8 is as big as a kidney bean or olive, and measures half an inch long or between 10 and 14 millimeters.

baby development on week 8

credit:babble.com

You baby in when your 8 weeks pregnant will also begin to develop the color for their retinas, and heart will still be beating at a rate between 150 to 170 times per minute.

Pregnancy Week 8 Checklist


 Determine whether you need to have a CSV (Chorionic villus sampling) test
 Think about creative ways to break the good news of pregnancy to your near and dear
 Spend some time in the fruit isle in order to provide a rich and constant dose of vitamins and nutrients to your baby
 Make light exercise part of your daily routine