Week 7

Leslie:

Congratulations! Weeks four through seven are when most women discover they are pregnant. This week-by-week newsletter will keep you informed about what to expect for you and your developing baby during your pregnancy.

If you have just found out that you are pregnant, you may want to read the previous articles.

How is pregnancy calculated?

This is just a reminder that pregnancy is calculated from the first date of your last menstrual period (LMP) and not when you conceived.

What changes are occurring with your body?

Changes within your body are gradually continuing. It is not likely that the people around you can even tell that you are pregnant. You may have gained a couple of pounds, but you also may have actually lost weight if you are experiencing morning sickness at this point. Losing weight this early is not uncommon, and in a few weeks things will begin to shift in the other direction. You may also be experiencing other early pregnancy symptoms.*

What is happening with your baby?

At this point every essential organ has begun to form in the embryo's tiny body. The hair and nipple follicles are forming, and the eyelids and tongue have begun formation. The elbows and toes are more visible as the trunk begins to straighten out.*

 

How big is your baby?

Your baby is approximately ¾ of an inch long by the end of this week and weighs less than an aspirin.*

What should you plan for this week?

If you have not chosen a doctor or midwife at this point, it is time to choose one. Read our information on choosing a health care provider and what to expect with your first prenatal visit.

At this point you are well into your first trimester and may begin suffering from morning sickness. Seventy to eighty percent of all pregnant women experience some form of morning sickness, which is caused by the increased amount of hormones in your body. If morning sickness is so severe that you are constantly throwing up and not keeping anything down, consult with your doctor about the possibility of having hyperemesis gravidarum.

 

Tips for making your pregnancy better:

Here are a few helpful hints on your quest to surviving morning sickness :

• Eat small meals often.
• Eat soda crackers 15 minutes before getting up in the morning.
• Get plenty of rest and nap during the day.
• Sniff lemons or ginger, drink lemonade, or eat watermelon to relieve nausea.
• Eat salty potato chips ( They have been found to settle stomachs enough to allow you to eat a meal.)
• Do not skip meals or lie down after eating.
• Do not cook or eat spicy food.
• Take Vitamin B6 (50mg) daily,
• Talk with your doctor about supplements.

Tips for mom’s partner:

Talk with your partner about which prenatal appointments she would like you to attend with her. Many couples like to attend every appointment together, while others only attend major appointments like sonograms together. Go ahead and begin making plans to attend certain or all of the appointments, and do not forget to mark your calendar.

Recommended Reading:

• Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy, Revised Edition: The Complete Guide to Eating Before, During, and After Your Pregnancy
• The Mother of All Pregnancy Books: The Ultimate Guide to Conception, Birth, and Everything In Between (U.S. Edition)
• Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn, Revised and Updated : The Complete Guide
• The Everything Pregnancy Fitness Book: Safe, Specially Tailored Exercises for Before and After Delivery (Everything Series)
• The Panic-Free Pregnancy: An OB-GYN Separates Fact from Fiction on Food, Excercise, Travel, Pets, Coffee, Medications and Other Concerns You Have When You Are Expecting