How Many Months Is Seven Weeks Pregnancy?
The seventh week of pregnancy means that you are in the second month and the first trimester. By now your pregnancy is confirmed, and you are gearing up for the coming months. MomJunction tells you what happens to your baby and you in this week, the care you should take, and more. Read on.
How Big Is Your Baby At Seven Weeks?
The baby is about the size of a blueberry this week. Babies usually measure around 0.15 to 0.3 inches (5-5.5mm) in length.
Baby Development In The Seventh Week
The embryo is developing to attain a human-like structure. Here are the developments happening in your baby during this week. When the embryo is gradually turning into the fetus and eventually a baby, your body is bound to show out some symptoms as a result of the happenings within. So, what do you have to deal with in the seventh week?
Pregnancy Symptoms In The Seventh Week
Here are the symptoms that remind you about your pregnancy in this week:
Eat small meals at regular intervals. Nibble crackers before getting up from the bed in the morning. This will help ease the discomfort of morning sickness to some extent. Drink a lot of water and keep yourself hydrated. Follow a healthy diet of lean meat, cereals, pulses ,dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid consumption of caffeine and alcohol. Stay connected with family and friends for emotional support. Take enough rest. In the case of nausea, drink lemonade, eat watermelon or sniff a lemon. Chew ginger to get relief from nausea. Do not skip meals or lie down immediately after having meals. Avoid uncooked, spicy, deep-fried, and fatty foods. Take the vitamin supplements (folic acid) every day. Do not take medicines without your doctor’s permission.
Tips for dad-to-be
Here are some tips for the soon-to-be dad, who is eager to help his partner:
Be with her during the prenatal visits. Lend a helping hand in the daily household chores. Accompany her during the walks or exercises. Plan a day out and make her feel happy. Start finding the names for your child. Discuss your plans for welcoming the newborn. Go shopping for maternity wear. Capture her pregnancy developments in videos and pictures.
Morning sickness will continue to be there for a few more weeks.
Weight loss because you might not want to eat much due to morning sickness; also vomiting will not allow you to gain much weight.
Acne and darkening of skin due to the changes in hormonal levels.
Swollen and tender breasts due to hormones and increased blood flow to them.
Frequent urination.
Fatigue and dizziness because your body is working extra; a drop in blood sugar level can also make you feel dizzy.
Excessive saliva due to morning sickness and heartburn.
Food cravings and food aversion.
Cramping, especially during the night time.
Spotting could happen. If it happens, consult your doctor.
Nasal congestion as the hormonal changes soften the nasal membranes. Also, the increased blood supply makes the mucus membranes swell causing extra secretion of the mucus.
Headaches triggered by morning sickness, fatigue, and emotional or physical stress.
Bleeding gums due to hormonal changes and increased blood volume.
It is not necessary for you to have all these symptoms. Some women might not have any signs, which is normal. Still, if you have any concerns, get in touch with your doctor.
Twin pregnancy at seventh week
In a twin pregnancy, the symptoms are same as that of singleton pregnancy but the intensity might be more. The vomiting sensation is heightened and abdominal distension will be more. Also, the pregnancy symptoms will start earlier than in a singleton pregnancy.
Changes In Your Body During The Seventh Week Of Pregnancy
You will undergo both physical and emotional changes. Here are a few you can expect in this week:
The breast size increases. The areola gets larger and darker and shows off some spots, which are the sweat glands.
You will begin to have the pregnancy glow. The estrogen hormone can bring about brightness to your face, make your hair thicker, and skin softer.
Blue veins are visible near the breasts and the pelvic area due to the increased blood flow in these regions.
Mood swings due to hormonal fluctuations..
Strange dreams due to anticipation and fear of pregnancy.
The most prominent change in pregnancy is your swelling belly. Let’s see if it shows already.
What Does A Seven-Week Pregnant Belly Look Like?
There is no visible change in the belly size during this week because the baby is still tiny and inside the pelvis. However, in the second pregnancy, some women start showing the baby bump early because the abdominal muscles get stretched and weaker during the first pregnancy. Also, the uterus doesn’t shrink back to its original position. If you haven’t seen an OB/ GYN yet, you may do it this week but do some homework before making an appointment.
How To Prepare For The First Appointment?
This is what you can do:
Take all the medical records, including those related to the medications and supplements you are on. It will help the doctor to evaluate the risks of taking those medicines during pregnancy.
If you are pregnant for the second time and had any complications in your first, then share your concerns with the doctor.
Make a note of the LMP (last menstrual period) to help the doctor calculate your due date. If you forget or could not track your LMP due to irregular periods, then the doctor will go for an early scan to determine the age of your pregnancy.
So, what do you see in an ultrasound scan in this week?
Ultrasound Scan In The Seventh Week
An early scan between the sixth and tenth weeks is called viability or dating scan. The reasons for an early scan include:
Rule out any chances of ectopic pregnancyto confirm that the gestational sac is appropriately located inside the uterus. Confirm the number of sacs to know if it is a singleton or multiple pregnancy Check the pregnancy viability by tracking the fetal heart rate Track the fetal heart rate Assess the gestational age Check the viability of the fetus if the complaint is spotting or bleeding associated with any pain
A seventh-week ultrasound helps you see the heart of your baby flickering, indicating the heartbeat. The presence of heartbeat reduces the chances of miscarriage to 5%. The separation between the embryo and the yolk sac this week can be clearly seen during the scan.
Your OB/GYN visit will include a check-up for
Weight, height Blood pressure Blood investigations Any health issues, if you have
Your doctor will explain the importance of nutritional and physical care. They may also advise you to change your lifestyle if you smoke or consume alcohol.
Nutrition And Wellness At 7 Weeks Pregnancy
A healthy diet and regular exercising are essential during pregnancy. Here are some wellness and nutritional tips you can follow during the seventh week.
Exercise
Seek your doctor’s approval before you begin any exercise during pregnancy.
Nutrition
Note: Prenatal supplements are not a substitute for a healthy diet.
i. Ectopic pregnancy An ectopic pregnancy happens when the fertilized egg attaches itself outside the uterus (7). The place of implantation can be the fallopian tube, cervix, ovary or the cornua. The symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are almost similar to those of a normal pregnancy at the beginning but become severe later. You are at the risk of ectopic pregnancy if you:
had an ectopic pregnancy previously have pelvic inflammatory disease had surgery on your fallopian tubes had IVF treatment
ii. Miscarriage During the seventh week, a miscarriage could happen due to any underlying health issues such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism or uterine problems, an unhealthy lifestyle or blighted ovum. An early miscarriage can take place even before the woman knows about her pregnancy. Around 10-20% of women are susceptible to early miscarriages (11).
