7 Weeks Pregnant

You are now officially just over halfway through your first trimester. Even though you may be feeling less than fabulous and don’t look as if you are pregnant, be reassured that on the inside there’s a lot going on.

It may seem strange to be constantly comparing the size of your baby with some variety of food, but this is normal in the early weeks of pregnancy. It eliminates confusion because we've all got a mental picture of the same thing. So, when you are 7 week’ pregnant, your baby is the size of a raspberry, a grape, a small bean, or even a blueberry. Your uterus is the size of medium sized orange.

Your baby has also grown to about 10,000 times bigger than it was when you first conceived, but you still won’t be aware of her moving inside your uterus. That will come around midway through your second trimester.

Your physical changes this week

Constipation may be your unwelcome friend this week. The large bowel tends to get a little sluggish through pregnancy and the hormone progesterone has a slowing down effect. It will help if you drink lots of fluids and make sure your diet is high in fiber. You’ll be feeling the early symptoms as well, but perhaps even more so this week. Nausea, intolerance of certain foods, vomiting, and even heartburn can persist most of the day. Lots of saliva may make you feel like you constantly have to swallow. Be diligent about your oral hygiene, but watch how far back you go with your toothbrush. Your gag reflex may be sensitive now. You may be noticing an outbreak of pimples caused by pregnancy hormones. You may find you’re especially sensitive to the heat, and want to strip off layers of clothing the first chance you get. This is due to the extra circulating blood volume in your body and the hormonal "power surges" common in the early weeks. You may feel a bit of "thickening" around your middle even though it's not until after week 12 of pregnancy that your uterus will be lifting out of your pelvis. Some women gain a few pounds in the first trimester and others lose weight, it's purely individual. You might be feeling really tired all the time and no amount of sleep seems to make a difference. This is a common symptom of early pregnancy, but by the end of the 1st trimester your normal energy levels will return.

Your emotional changes this week

No big changes on the emotional front this week. You might still be feeling a sense of disbelief that you’re pregnant and rely on your symptoms, rather than what you look like to remind you. If you have friends who are trying to conceive who haven’t been successful, you might feel a bit guilty. Be sensitive to their feelings, but try not to minimize your own excitement. The reality of being pregnant may hit you this week. You might worry about how you could possibly be a parent and the idea of raising a small child to adulthood is completely daunting. Try to just deal with one day at a time and have confidence in your own abilities. Speak with your mom or other women in your life who've had children and probably had the same feelings.

Your baby's changes this week

Your baby's bones are beginning to form, as well as her facial features becoming more recognizable. That family nose and lips are beginning to take shape. The back of her head is growing faster than the front. Her mouth and tongue are starting to form, along with arms and legs. So far, they still look like paddles flapping around from the side of her chest. As the weeks progress, they’ll become more defined. So much of your baby's growth is concentrated on her brain this week that around 100 new brain cells are forming every minute! It's no wonder you're feeling hungry; all that growth needs energy from food to support it. Your baby's sex glands are starting to form when you are 7 weeks pregnant, but it's still way too early to tell if your baby is a boy or a girl on ultrasound. Your baby's kidneys are where they need to be this week, but they haven’t started filtering the baby's blood just yet. They will soon start producing urine which will form a good percentage of the amniotic fluid baby is going to float around in for the next 7 months or so.

Hints for the week

Make a dental appointment. Poor oral hygiene and gum disease are linked with premature labor and other complications. Speak with your dentist and dental hygienist about how to maintain a healthy mouth throughout your pregnancy. Remember; tell them you’re pregnant because x-rays at any stage of pregnancy can be risky. Consider eating more ginger. Many women say that ginger candy, ginger ale, or ginger lozenges help to settle a queasy tummy. Eat small snacks often and avoid too much time between meals. Don’t be concerned if you don’t want coffee or black tea this week. A lot of women say these are the first of many aversions they develop through their pregnancy. Try herbal or peppermint tea instead, or sip on ice water. Stock up on salty foods. Many women crave salty, vinegary foods at this time and, when eaten as a snack, they can be tolerated more easily than a heavy meal. Peanut butter is a good source of protein and vitamin B-6. Week 8 is next.