Week Seven of Pregnancy

Your Baby and Changes…

By week seven of pregnancy, your baby has grown to become about thirteen mm in length and is closer to the size of single piece of corn.  This week is an important time for development with your baby, as facial features in your baby start to development and take shape.  By looking at your baby’s features, you may be able to see a small mouth at this point, which is now developing a tongue which resides inside the mouth.  Your baby’s eyes are taking shape and the retina is forming inside the eye.  As always, muscle and bone development continues in this week.   Your baby is now forming internal organs such as intestines, appendix, and small veins are forming and becoming apparent.  Your baby is also moving more and more during this week of pregnancy, so be aware of movements you might start to feel.

Your Body and Changes…

By now, even though outsiders may not detect your pregnancy, your partner may be able to see significant signs of your body forming to a pregnancy Mommy.  Things like trouble buttoning your favorite pair of jeans or that pair of loose jeans that you love for comfort may not feel as comfortable these days.  You might also be experiencing taste cravings for certain foods, or less of a taste for your previous favorites during this week.  This is normal, don’t react but simply embrace it in moderation.  For example, certain nutrients are necessary for your baby’s development, therefore you can eat as many fruits and veggies as you like.  If you are craving foods with a low nutritional value, try your hardest to control the urge to eat them all the time.  A good meal consists of veggies and meat, as iron may be a nutrient the body needs at the time, and fruits for dessert. 

Some experience frequent headaches during this timeframe.  After the first trimester, you should see these decreasing in frequency considerably.    This is normal, as the body is reacting to the increased dilation of the blood vessels in the brain.  Week by week, your body is needing to produce more and more blood, even so far as double the normal value it is accustomed to producing in a normal environment.  You are nurturing two living bodies at this time…remember?

If you are experience headaches, you do have some remedies you can execute on which will allow for comfort.  Things such as small intakes of Tylenol, cold packs, or even frequent meditation exercises like yoga or palates help create comfort.  For some, taking naps or simply lying in a dark environment for a small period of time will help the body to relax.  While headaches are normal, sometimes as they become more intense, they can be a sign that a complication may exist with the baby.  It is always good to communicate regularly with your physician on these matters.