Expecting a baby is a time when amazing things happen in a woman’s body. Many processes take place inside, so they remain unnoticed. But even 7 weeks of pregnancy can give the expectant mother a lot of pleasant moments. However, there are also some unpleasant changes, as well as dangers.
We will try to cover the main points about this term, so you can feel more confident.
The 7th week of pregnancy: first changes
Pregnancy at 7 weeks is a little more than the first trimester of the pregnancy period. Enough time has passed from the moment of conception for many changes to occur inside the woman’s body.
The main changes occur mostly inside. The changes with the embryo will be discussed later. Regarding the woman’s body, the most significant changes occur in the uterus – at this stage it resembles a large orange in size.
The expectant mother does not yet feel distinct and vivid sensations, but it is worth remembering that this is strictly individual. The most obvious change in the body of a pregnant woman can be considered a steadily growing breasts. Thin women may notice some increase in the waist area, but in most cases nothing happens to the abdomen at 7 weeks of pregnancy yet.
Obstetric week 7: Fetal development
Simultaneously with the changes in the woman’s body, the embryo is also constantly developing. The most active developmental processes take place inside the little embryo, but all systems cannot yet be called fully functional, but everything is going towards it.
In the buds of the organs are constantly forming new cells, forming a future organism. Some peculiarities of fetal development are worth talking about in more detail.
Baby size at 7 weeks of pregnancy
At 7 weeks’ gestation, the fetus is like a large cherry berry, figuratively speaking. If in millimeters, at the beginning of this week it is about 15-18 mm in height. However, the fetus develops rapidly, so it increases by about 1 mm every day.
What happens to the fetus?
The embryo continues to grow and develop. The brain is practically formed (referring to the basic sections), but development continues. The lungs are practically formed, but the bronchi and trachea are only at the rudimentary level.
The development of the genital system continues. But the embryo already has a large intestine, while the small intestine is just beginning to form.
What else happens to the fetus externally?
Proportionally, the embryo so far but strongly resembles the normal representation of a human, albeit a small one. The calf looks smaller, and the head remains more massive for now. Body position is still bent – head is tilted forward, arms and legs (still forming) are tucked toward the center of the body.
Facial features – lips, nose, eye sockets – continue to form. The formation of
the external hearing organs (auricles) is almost complete. Up to this point, the unborn child has a kind of webbing between the fingers, which makes the hands and feet look like fins, but at this stage they begin to disappear. Also, there is still a peculiar “tail” at the end of the spine – it is insignificant, but visually still present, and as the embryo grows, the outgrowth disappears.
What happens to your body during the 7th week of pregnancy?
The 7th week of pregnancy is still early, during which the restructuring of the body continues and the “carrying the baby” mechanism begins. Outwardly, there are practically no changes (except for the enlarging breasts).
More active processes take place inside the woman’s body. The uterus is actively enlarging to provide enough space for the rapidly developing embryo. All body systems (digestion, immune, nervous, etc.) continue to be rebuilt, triggering a host of processes in the body. Most of these processes occur for a woman without a trace, but sometimes there may be some symptoms – this is the familiar nausea, food cravings or antipathy, heaviness in the stomach, constipation and a number of other signs. Also changes the color and consistency of the discharge at 7 weeks of pregnancy, which become whitish and slightly viscous – this is not out of the concept of “normal”.
Week 7 of pregnancy: signs and symptoms that may occur
At this stage, the expectant mother may feel quite normal, because there are no particular changes in the body (at least externally). Because every body is different and reacts differently to changes.
Most women do experience some symptoms, for example:
- Nausea in the morning;
- Dizziness;
- Increased appetite;
- Heaviness inside the abdomen;
- Constipation or diarrhea;
- Swelling;
- Mild headaches, etc.
Craving or aversion to food
The seventh week of pregnancy for most women does not herald the elimination of an unpleasant sensation that visits them in the morning hours – it is toxicosis. Most often it will appear as a reaction to certain foods or meals. This does not happen to everyone and not only in the early period, because every body is different.
There is another reaction to food: the desire to eat more. Many women motivate this by the fact that a new body is developing in them, and this requires a lot of strength. Such radical changes regarding eating habits threaten excessive and rapid weight gain, which is not always good for you.
Frequent urination
Although the abdomen in the 7th week of pregnancy may remain flat and no special internal pressure is felt, women in early pregnancy may feel the need to urinate frequently. This symptom can be explained by the fact that the growing uterus presses on the pelvic organs – the bladder is no exception.
However, every pregnant woman should make sure that only her interesting situation is the cause of frequent urge to pee. If you are not sure, you should see a doctor to rule out the possibility of genitourinary problems.
Acne
Changes in hormone levels, digestive disorders, or decreased immunity can all negatively affect the quality of your skin. Pregnant women are especially frustrated by acne on the face, cleavage, shoulders, or back, even if adolescence is long gone.
Pimples and inflammation on the skin are a serious problem that needs to be solved. To do this, you should consult a dermatologist. As for the causes, you should not write it all off to hormones, because it can be caused by bad eating habits, poor hygiene and many other things.
But even small rashes on the body can be considered a good reason to see a dermatologist. This is necessary to make sure that the rash is not a symptom of rubella, chickenpox and other dangerous diseases. Especially worth worrying about if the rash and inflammation are accompanied by poor sleep or appetite, severe itching or other ailments.
Increased salivation
Such a symptom can be considered surprising and illogical, but it can happen. Doctors attribute this phenomenon to changes at the hormonal level, namely due to an increase in the amount of progesterone in the body.
Part of the reason for heavy salivation can be changes in taste as well as toxicosis. As a rule, this symptom appears under certain circumstances. It is not a serious problem, so there is no reason to worry.
Mood swings
Sharp changes in moods are considered by many to be a quirk of pregnant women. This is partly true, because even in the 7th week of pregnancy women can experience significant changes in their behavior and moods.
This usually manifests itself in hypersensitivity, the appearance of self-criticism, sleep disorders and the like. Fluctuations are manifested in abrupt changes in the mood of complete melancholy. However, it is worth noting that much depends on the environment – if there is support from close loved ones, there will be no problems with the moral and emotional background of the pregnant woman.
Lower abdominal cramps
The presence of lower abdominal pain in the 7th week of pregnancy may be considered one of the typical signs, but this applies only to the types of pain that do not bring significant discomfort. Severe pelvic thrusting pains can be a kind of “bell” of a dangerous condition. In short, the pain can indicate the threat of early miscarriage.
However, the above-mentioned reason is not the only one. During pregnancy, against the background of general restructuring diseases of the digestive system (for example, pancreatitis) may worsen. Heavy or low-quality food eaten the night before can “give” a feeling of discomfort in the abdominal area.
Returning to the threat of miscarriage, the pain is of a very specific nature. As a rule, the pain goes to the lower back. There are also bloody discharge during pregnancy at 7 weeks. In the presence of such signs, you should immediately consult a doctor, and better to call an ambulance.
Ultrasound at 7 weeks of pregnancy
As a rule, an ultrasound scan at 7 weeks of pregnancy (done transvaginally) can already be performed, but its purpose is not at all to show a woman what the developing embryo inside her looks like. The goals of an early stage ultrasound scan are as follows:
- Determine the number of embryos and placentas;
- Detect or rule out the development of abnormalities;
- Record the fetal heartbeat;
- Confirm or deny ectopic pregnancy.
Lifestyle at 7 weeks of pregnancy
At such a small term, there is rarely a need to make drastic changes in your lifestyle, if there were no health problems before and there are no reasons at the moment. However, some changes should be made:
- Give up bad habits. It is surprising, but some expectant mothers do not give up smoking or drinking alcohol, even in this most important period of every woman’s life. It is categorically impossible to consider such behavior normal;
- Recalibrate your digestive habits. For most women, the body itself will help to revise the foods and dishes from their diet, because there will be a peculiar reaction to some familiar food;
- Changes can be made to the daily routine – this is not a necessary change, but in some cases of pregnancy. If a woman has severe toxemia or there are some threats to the fetus, it is wise to see a doctor at all times;
- A special attitude towards her own hygiene. This should not be understood to mean that a woman needs to monitor her body 24/7, its cleanliness and so on. But sufficient attention should be paid to the reaction of her body to pregnancy to ensure the maximum level of safety.
Symptoms such as drowsiness, fatigue, and the like may bring some changes. A woman during this period may demand more attention from those around her.
Sex in 7 weeks of pregnancy
It is worth noting that intimacy with a regular partner and while observing all the rules (precautions, hygiene, etc.) is not forbidden at any stage of pregnancy. However, the atmosphere and nature of the relationship between sexual partners depends on the behavior of both.
Psychologists point out that different men react to the changes in the body of their partner due to pregnancy in a strictly individual way. Some men incredibly like to understand that his woman is carrying his child and this provokes an increased interest in her. Others, on the contrary, experience a waning of sexual desire for the pregnant woman.
What can be said about the pregnant woman herself? In the absence of severe pregnancy symptoms, the expectant mother may have a huge sexual desire. This may require a woman purely on an emotional level more than on a physical level. Therefore, the male partner should remember that sloppy remarks or abrupt changes in behavior towards a pregnant woman can cause her stress, severe resentment and the like.
If a couple has some concerns about the likelihood of harm to the woman or her unborn child, it is worth seeing a doctor for advice. And during sex, the man should remember not to practice positions that require significant physical effort from the woman.
Useful tips for the expectant mother
At an early stage of pregnancy you should already think about how to create all the foundations for normal development of the baby. Therefore, it is worth taking advantage of these tips:
- Eat right. This applies not only to eating the right and healthy food, but also to following a certain regimen. Doctors advise expectant mothers to eat in small portions, but more often – for example, if you used to divide the daily rate of food into three meals, now it is better to divide everything into 5 meals;
- Regulate the amount of water you drink during the day. If you feel swelling in your extremities and face, you may want to reconsider and reduce the amount of fluid you drink per day;
- Take time to walk outside in the fresh air. Going to the store or to work should not be considered a proper walk. The right way to breathe the air is to walk around a sparsely populated area where the air is as clean as possible and you can take time for your thoughts;
- Protect yourself from stress. This period is still considered potentially dangerous, because the threat of miscarriage is still present, so it is important to protect your nerves. However, many expectant mothers experience emotional stress and anxiety for no apparent reason – you should not keep it to yourself, and need to talk to your loved ones or a psychologist;
- Ensure that you get plenty of rest. Pregnant women may experience insomnia, which can be caused by physical changes in the body, as well as emotional shifts. Do not immediately run to the drugstore for sleeping pills, you should try other methods – for example, relaxing head massage or warm drinking in the evening. It is helpful to give yourself time to rest in the middle of the day;
- Give up uncomfortable clothes and underwear. Changes with the body (not counting breasts) are not so noticeable, but you may already feel some discomfort when wearing tight clothes. Tight jeans, short shirts and similar things should be avoided for the duration of pregnancy (at least). You should also wear deep and quality underwear of the right size, made of stretchy and breathable fabrics.
An important point – taking vitamins, and in particular folic acid.
It is not necessary to buy up pills or powders with vitamins from all pharmacies, to ensure the normal development of the embryo is enough to take a normalized amount of these drugs. Remember that more vitamins are in the right foods, so include in your diet fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as lean meat, fish and dairy products.
Try to monitor your body and its processes. Pay special attention to dangerous signals – for example, brown discharge at 7 weeks of pregnancy is not the norm, so you should immediately consult a doctor. But even emotional problems should not hide, so you should not hesitate to ask a psychologist for help. It is not superfluous to attend courses for expectant mothers, where you can learn a lot of interesting things about yourself, your condition, the baby and its development.
But the most important advice is the need to register at the antenatal clinic and undergo all the required tests. This should not be considered an unnecessary precaution, because constant monitoring by a doctor will help to go through the period of pregnancy correctly and without serious difficulties.
The seventh week of pregnancy: questions and answers
Preparing for motherhood is a very exciting time in the life of every woman. And it is not surprising that at this point, every expectant mother has a lot of questions that she just needs to find answers to.
It is helpful to consult with a specialist, but self-education will also provide a lot of useful information. But we are ready to answer some questions for you right now.
What month is the seventh week of pregnancy?
You don’t need to be a scientist to calculate your due date, because everything is simple enough once you figure it out. The 7th week of pregnancy (obstetric) in months is the end of the second month from conception. But only those women who have undergone artificial insemination can be 100% sure, and in practice, pregnancy dates are determined from the date of menstrual latency.
How does a woman feel when she is 7 weeks pregnant?
The overall well-being of the expectant mother may be normal, but this is provided that she herself has no chronic diseases or problems, and the embryo develops without abnormalities. But mild discomfort, increased frequency of urination, some abdominal discomfort and nausea are within the norm.
If you have health problems or lead an unhealthy lifestyle mixed with stress, the condition of the pregnant woman can be difficult. In some cases, medical intervention is necessary.
What does the baby look like at 7 weeks’ gestation?
It is unlikely to see changes in appearance on the ultrasound scan, but these changes are definitely occurring. The embryo grows daily by 1 mm, clear facial features continue to appear, but the head is still relatively larger than the body and tilted forward. The fingers are lengthening, and the genitals are becoming more apparent.
What does the ultrasound show at 7 weeks?
Many doctors consider this to be the most favorable time for the first ultrasound because the embryo has entered an active growth stage. Since the fetus is already more than 10 mm tall, it can be seen if a sufficiently powerful ultrasound device is used. However, this diagnosis will not allow you to clearly see the embryo, only its approximate size and outline, as well as the placenta. As mentioned earlier – early ultrasound diagnosis has completely different goals.
