What's happening in week 7 of your pregnancy
You're already 7 weeks in and your unborn baby is coming on in leaps and bounds.
At a glance
- Your baby is now the size of a little bean, surrounded by fluid in the amniotic sac
- Try to avoid being around people who are unwell in these early weeks
- You need to be cautious around certain animals at this point too
How big is my baby at 7 weeks pregnant?
Your baby is continuing to grow at a remarkable pace, its embryonic form is slowly starting to transform into an actual little person, with emerging arm and leg buds, and a beating heart – how amazing? They also have a tiny tail – but that will soon disappear!
With its tiny arm and leg 'buds' your baby starts making unco-ordinated movements this week; although you won't feel anything until the second trimester.
Amazingly your baby has already gone through three sets of kidneys by week 7, but this week they’ll start developing their final set which will be ready for waste management. In the coming weeks your baby will start to produce urine which will form part of the amniotic fluid.
Size-wise, your baby is now about 1cm in size and not much bigger than a little blueberry, bobbing around in your womb.
Did you know?
- Your baby is officially called a 'foetus' which means 'offspring', getting nutrition from the yolk sac rather than the placenta for now.
- Your baby's heart is beating around 90-120 beats per minute.
- Your baby starts moving around now.
- Your baby's hands and feet have webbed fingers and toes.
- Thumb sucking has been detected in babies from as early as 7 weeks.
- Your baby's skin is paper thin, almost transparent.
You at 7 weeks pregnant
Seven weeks in, you might be coming to terms with, (or still awaiting!) the nausea on waking, or the other earlier signs of pregnancy.
It can be a lot to take in, especially if you have chosen not to let others in on your secret until after your
12 week scan.
Try to avoid being around people who are unwell in these early weeks – some illnesses such as rubella and parvovirus (also known as slapped cheek disease) are mainly picked up by coming into contact with children – so take care!
You should also be very cautious around certain animals at this point in your pregnancy, too – ewes and lambs in particular can carry an infection which causes miscarriage, and cat litter trays (cat poo, basically) can cause toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection.
Get free dental checks
Fill out the FW8 form from your midwife or GP, and you'll get free dental care until your baby is 12 months old.
What to think about at 7 weeks pregnant
When will your little one be arriving? You can get a better idea of your due date before your dating scan by using our pregnancy due date calculator on Bounty.com. This is a good way to begin ensuring you have everything in place for your baby's exciting arrival!
Most women give alcohol up completely in pregnancy because this is the safest way. Guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists say no alcohol for the first three months of pregnancy as this is a vital time for growth and development. Additionally, the Chief Medical Officer has advised that the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all in pregnancy.
Remember: What you drink your baby drinks. Alcohol crosses the placenta, into your baby’s bloodstream.
If you do decide to drink, it is recommended that you do not drink alcohol in the first three months and limit yourself to no more than 1 or 2 units, not more than once or twice a week. NICE guidelines also say the safest approach is to drink no alcohol at all to keep risks to the fetus to a minimum.
Whilst there is uncertainty on how much alcohol is safe to drink in pregnancy what is known is that drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, with the more you drink, the greater the risk.
You'll be having your first appointment with your GP or midwife very soon, if you haven't already done so. Think about any questions you might want to ask them, or things you might need to make them aware of - remember, nothing will seem like a 'silly' or irrelevant query to them (and whatever it might be, it almost certainly will not be the first time they have been asked it!)
At your first midwife appointment, you might be asked for some family health history information - do you need to speak to your parents or get any information together for this? What about your partner's health and family history?
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Signs and symptoms at 7 weeks pregnant
Heartburn
It might be very common and harmless in pregnancy but heartburn can cause a significant amount of discomfort.
An uncomfortable burning sensation in the upper abdomen, it’s usually triggered by eating - especially spicy and fatty foods. The vast majority of mums-to-be experience heartburn on and off during their pregnancy, not usually continuously. The increase in hormones in your system, namely the hormone Progesterone, which helps to relax and smooth out the muscles of your womb during your pregnancy is often the cause. Heartburn in pregnancy is very common and although it can be uncomfortable and painful it poses no harm to you or your baby. However if it becomes severe your doctor may prescribe medication for you.
Bleeding gums
You may find you have bleeding gums when you brush your teeth early in pregnancy even if you’ve never experienced it before.
You may also notice your gums bleed when you floss. Expectant mums are especially vulnerable to gum disease (gingivitis) because the increase in blood volume combined with pregnancy hormones means gums can swell and bleed more easily. Do keep flossing to prevent gingivitis and remember, you're entitled to free dental care in pregnancy and for a year after your baby is born, so take full advantage of this.
Video: Should I take supplements during my pregnancy?
