7 Weeks Pregnant: Navigating the First Trimester

Once you get into your seventh week of pregnancy, you are officially in the second month of your pregnancy, which is very exciting! It means that, at 7 weeks pregnant, it is only seven months until your baby gets here!

Another fun fact is that, at 7 weeks pregnant, the embryo is ten thousand times bigger than it was when it first arrived in your uterus! You might not be noticing the changes on the outside at 7 weeks pregnant, but on the inside, your baby is growing very fast and generating new brain cells at a rate of 100 per minute.

The seventh pregnancy week will come with some changes, and it is better to get familiar with them before they happen to feel more ready and more prepared.

Physical pregnancy symptoms during the seventh pregnancy week

As you are slowly getting closer to the end of your first trimester at 7 weeks pregnant, it is expected to experience some physical symptoms on the outside, which are the manifestation of the changes going on the inside. Some of the most common symptoms pregnancy symptoms at 7 weeks pregnant include:

• nausea and morning sickness
• vomiting
• a need for frequent urination
• mood swings
• weight gain (a pound is completely normal and expected at 7 weeks)
• darkening of the areolas and tender and swollen breasts
• fatigue
• food aversions and cravings
• mild pelvic cramping or low backache

Food aversions, nausea, morning sickness

An important note is that the seventh pregnancy week might make certain foods seem repulsive. It can also leave you craving some weird food combinations, such as pickles and tuna fish, as well as suffering from morning sickness, due to the surge of pregnancy hormone (hCG).

The majority of pregnant women start feeling better after the first trimester as they get into the second trimester, but this symptom might also last the whole pregnancy.

Try to avoid any foods and odors that trigger nausea, and satisfy your craving every now and then while keeping your diet as nutritious as possible the majority of the time.

What happens to the developing baby at 7 weeks pregnant?

At the seventh week of your pregnancy, the growing baby inside of your baby bump is about the size of a blueberry.

Even though this sounds so tiny, the actual truth is that your baby is 10,000 times bigger now than at conception, which was just a month ago.

At seven weeks pregnant, the baby’s new brain cells are being generated at the rate of 100 per minute, meaning that most of the baby’s growth is concentrated in the baby’s head.

Your baby’s arm and leg buds will start to sprout and grow longer and stronger. These buds will also start dividing into the hand, arm, and shoulder components, as well as leg, knee, and foot components.

At such an early stage, the limbs will not look even similar to ours, but there is considerable progress!

During the seventh week, your baby’s mouth and tongue will also form. In addition, the kidneys, which are now in place, will start producing urine soon.

Pregnancy Checklist

You need to get to a few things during week seven of pregnancy to ensure your pregnancy is going well and that the baby is growing and developing on schedule. There are some things you need to do to prepare for baby’s arrival.

To help you out, we have compiled some of the main things you need to check off during week seven. During the week seven of your pregnancy, you should:

• Continue taking 400 µg of folic acid
  During the seventh week of your pregnancy, make sure to continue taking the 400 µg of folic acid that you have been taking for a few weeks now.
• Drink water and stay hydrated
  Hydronation is always important, but drinking plenty of fluid is especially important during your early pregnancy. Make sure to drink a lot of water, but be prepared to make a few more trips to the bathroom.
• Add some fiber to your daily diet to combat constipation
  Constipation can be quite uncomfortable, and it can be quite persistent during week seven of your pregnancy. However, an easy way to deal with and solve constipation is by eating smaller meals and foods that are rich in fiber, which are essential nutrients that will improve digestion.
• Keep up with skincare
  Pregnancy hormones can be very challenging, and the changes going on on the inside might appear on the outside as well, particularly on your skin. Some of the issues you might face include pimples and extra dryness. Make sure to avoid neglecting your usual skincare routine, to combat these issues.
• Call your doctor if symptoms are severe
  You might be dealing with a complete set of early pregnancy symptoms during week seven of your pregnancy. Whether this is your first pregnancy or not, you are bound to be scared and unsure about what is going on. Remember that it is always OK to call your doctor to ask about any symptoms that are worrying you.
• Schedule the first prenatal visit
  If you haven’t already, you should schedule your first prenatal care appointment to check the baby’s development. You can expect your first visit will to be the longest and most extensive checkup you will have during your pregnancy journey.
• Start prenatal exercise
  Many pregnant women find that now is the perfect time to start a prenatal exercise program. Thirty minutes of yoga, walking, or swimming per day are great options for staying active and healthy.

What to avoid or begin to avoid?

To make sure you and your developing baby are safe and well during the week seven, and to make sure you are having a healthy pregnancy, make sure to avoid:

• Stop smoking, as smoking can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as premature labor and low birth weight.
• Stop drinking alcohol and taking any drugs.
• Stay away from raw or undercooked meat, fish, chicken, raw eggs, cheeses made from unpasteurized milk, and unpasteurized dairy foods.