Week 7 of 40
What's happening with the baby
At around 7 weeks the embryo is about 10mm long from head to bottom, roughly the size of a grape. The brain is growing faster than the rest of the body, so the head and forehead look large. There are small dimples where the nose and ears will be, and the arm buds are getting longer. The NHS week 7 guide describes this stage.
Mayo Clinic's first trimester guide notes that the face is developing, the start of the retinas is forming, and lower limb buds appear that will become legs. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's week 7 page adds that internal organs including the stomach, kidneys and lungs are developing, and that the heart is beating at around 150 to 180 beats per minute.
If this is your first pregnancy, you may not start looking pregnant until around week 12. If you've had a baby before, you may show earlier, as the NHS explains.
What you might notice
Week 7 can feel tough. Tiredness, nausea and mood swings are common. The NHS also lists a metallic taste, sore breasts, headaches, new food likes and dislikes, a stronger sense of smell, a milky white discharge, light spotting (see your doctor if you get any bleeding), period-like cramps and bloating. Your blood volume is rising, which can make you thirstier than usual.
Your breasts may be swollen and tender, and the area around the nipples may darken. Some people get constipated at this stage, and more water and high-fibre foods can help. See Pregnancy, Birth and Baby.
Morning sickness can happen at any time of day, and it's most likely between weeks 6 and 14. Small, frequent meals can help. healthdirect's morning sickness page covers what to try and when to get help.
Things worth doing
- Book your first appointment. If you haven't seen a GP or midwife yet, now is a good time. In the UK the booking appointment usually happens between weeks 8 and 12 (NHS week 7), and you'll be offered an 11 to 14 week scan, sometimes called the dating scan, to check when your baby is due (NHS antenatal care). At a first visit in Australia, your doctor will usually confirm the pregnancy, work out your due date, check your general health and order blood tests (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby). Care differs between countries, so follow your local service's advice.
- Folic acid. The usual advice is 400 micrograms of folic acid a day until at least week 12. If you're unsure about your dose, check with your doctor or midwife. See the NHS vitamins page.
- Rest and gentle exercise. Rest when you can and ask for help. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests aiming for 150 minutes of exercise a week, or 30 minutes on most days, if you're well enough. If you're unsure what's safe for you, check with your doctor or midwife.
- Smoking, alcohol and caffeine. The NHS suggests doing your best to stop smoking and give up alcohol, going easy on caffeine, and asking your midwife or GP for support.
For partners this week
- Tiredness and nausea can be hard going. Take on more of the cooking, shopping and housework where you can.
- Help find the right contact to book the first appointment, and offer to come along.
- Talk about when and how you both want to share the news. There's no right time.
- If you smoke, keep smoke away from them and the home, and think about getting support to stop.
When to get help
Contact your midwife, GP or early pregnancy service if you have:
- any bleeding from the vagina
- vomiting that means you can't keep fluids down
- any strange symptoms, such as feeling itchy all over
Call emergency services if you're bleeding and have severe tummy pain, shoulder pain, feel faint or dizzy, or the bleeding is heavy. See the NHS bleeding in pregnancy page and healthdirect on morning sickness. If you're unsure about anything, check with your doctor or midwife.