When you are 7 weeks pregnant, you are very close to completing the 2nd month of your pregnancy. By now, you might have started getting used to the pregnancy concept and the good and bad that comes with it. The 7th week of pregnancy is not really different than the last couple of weeks. For you, it’d just mean experiencing the symptoms without any physical changes. But for the baby, things are changing too fast and too quick.
You can understand the rate at which your baby is developing through the fact that it is developing more than 100 new cells of the brain every single minute. Yup, that is how eager your baby is to see this amazing world. If you’ve told anyone about the pregnancy yet, this can be a strange phase as you might be experiencing a lot of emotional and mental changes along with the symptoms but others around you won’t really understand what’s wrong with you.
You should know that there are a few telltale symptoms which might give out your pregnancy secret. For instance, someone in your family might note that you are visiting the bathroom more frequently than you should. If you still not ready to spread the good news, make sure that you keep an eye out for such symptoms and do things a little discreetly if possible.
Continue reading to know what your baby might go through this week, your physical changes, symptoms, and some very useful tips for the 7th week of your pregnancy.
Baby’s Development in the 7th Week
While every aspect of your baby’s body is growing, the most important development for your baby this week is the development of the umbilical cord. This is the tube that will join the placenta and your baby for a continuous supply of nutrients and oxygen. As the kidneys are now functional yet, the cord would be responsible for the waste management too.
By the time your baby is 7 weeks pregnant, it is as big as a blueberry. Can you believe that something as small as this would turn into a full-fledged baby within a few months? Or a blueberry-sized embryo already has a working heart, blood circulation, nerve cells, spinal cord, and face? Surprising, right? Well, that is what pregnancy is! It’s one surprise after another.
Apart from the umbilical cord, the 7th week is also the time when the baby will receive the kidneys which will start working very soon. Also, while the arms and legs buds developed last week, they’ll begin to sprout this week. Mouth, tongue, more profound eyes, ears, and mucus plug are some other important developments this week.
Physical Changes in Women in the 7th Week
While you might start believing that your belly is finally growing, it is nothing more than bloating. No matter if you are pregnant with a single baby or with twins or if this is not your first pregnancy, you still have at least a few weeks to go before you start showing. The uterus is still preparing itself for the baby and the baby itself is only as big as a blueberry.
It is only in the middle of the 2nd trimester that the uterus will outgrow the pelvis and you’ll start showing. Until then, enjoy wearing your favorite dresses and start searching for maternity wear. While there is still plenty of time to see any physical changes, some women claim that their breasts started growing around the 6th-7th week. However, this is highly uncommon. This too generally begins in the 2nd trimester. With respect to the breasts, they might just be sore or feel tender in the 7th week.
Signs of 7th Week Pregnancy
The hormones have now spread out pretty nicely in your body by the 7th week and can result in a myriad of symptoms. Especially, if you are pregnant with twins, there can be pretty severe symptoms that you might start going through around the 7th-8th week. However, it is also possible that you might not really feel much irrespective of whether you are pregnant with a single baby or twins.
But you should remember that it is only the first trimester that is considered the most difficult. After the first trimester ends, the hormone level starts falling and this generally reduces the symptoms too. But until then, these are some of the symptoms that you might experience this week-
- Nausea
- Tender breasts
- Food aversions or cravings
- Tiredness
- Morning sickness
- Frequent urination
- Mood swings
- Excess saliva
7th Week Pregnancy Ultrasound
A lot of women go for their first prenatal visit in the 8th week. Some get it done in the 7th week. If you do have the visit this week, prepare yourself for a number of different tests for which you’ll be required to give your urine and blood. An ultrasound might also be done this week to ensure that everything is fine.
In an ultrasound done in the 7th week, you’d be able to see a small dot on the screen but won’t really be able to differentiate the body parts. You can also hear the heartbeat of your baby which would be way faster than yours. It’ll be alright by the time of the delivery.
Tips for 7th Week Pregnancy
From developing vital organs, your baby is now moving to a phase where all the different parts of the body are being developed. While you might be experiencing a lot of strange things, you should focus on providing as much support to your baby as possible. Some tips that you should follow this week are-
- Stop drinking alcohol
- Quit smoking
- Cut down caffeine intake
- Eat well-cooked home food
- Take all the prenatal vitamins recommended by the doctor
- Exercise for up to 30 minutes every day
Conclusion
If this is your first pregnancy, the symptoms can surely get the best of you. Just try to stay strong and remember what the final goal of this whole pregnancy is. Everything that you are going through would be rewarded in the form of your baby within a few months from now. You are already doing a great job and about to finish the 2nd month of your pregnancy. Then it’d be just 1 month more to complete the first trimester which is known to be the most difficult.
Remember that emotional and mental support from your partner can be very helpful and try to share as much of your discomforts and thoughts with your partner to feel better. Remember the tips mentioned above and the 7th week would just go by like the past weeks.
Pregnancy Checklist at 7 Weeks Pregnant
- Schedule the first prenatal appointment
- Look for an exercise program exclusively for pregnant women
- Get in touch with your doctor if anything feels seriously wrong
- Try to stay calm and spend more time with your partner