Seventh week of pregnancy

At week 7 of pregnancy, you may not look much different than usual, but important changes are afoot inside you. Your little one grows and develops at an extremely rapid pace, getting all the nutrition and energy they need from you.

Weight and length at 7th week

 

How many months is 7 weeks pregnant?

At the seventh week you are in the middle of the second month of gestation. To know the exact correspondence between months and weeks of pregnancy, you can use our conversion table .

How your body changes

Every pregnancy is unique

Having reached the 7th ^week , some expectant mothers do not show particular differences in their appearance. Others, on the other hand, may start to notice a few extra pounds or, in the case of severe nausea, weight loss . In this regard, it is good to remember that no pregnancy is the same as the others and therefore, for greater peace of mind, it is always better to avoid making too many comparisons with other pregnant women.

Nausea, what to do?

Tiredness , feeling bloated and frequent urination (i.e. an increased urge to urinate ) are some of the complaints that often characterize this stage of pregnancy. Other common symptoms are constipation and the presence of pain in the lower back (so-called low back pain), while some mothers-to-be may experience increased sensitivity to smells and an annoying metallic taste in the mouth.

The most typical ailment, however, is represented by the so-called morning sickness , so defined because it tends to occur above all upon awakening , after a long night’s fast: for this reason, it could be useful to have a snack near the bed (preferably dry, such as crackers or breadsticks ) to munch on before getting up.

More generally, the advice is to follow a healthy and balanced diet, consuming five or six small meals a day : breakfast, lunch, dinner and two or three snacks. If fluid intake proves to be a problem, it is better to drink away from meals and in small sips (you can try sparkling water, but  better to avoid tonic water ).

Finally, some mothers-to-be find relief in the consumption of  ginger  (in the form of herbal teas or biscuits), while others combat the sense of disgust by adding a slice of lemon to the water, sucking on ice cubes or ice lollies or wearing acupressure bracelets ( anti-nausea bracelets).

But be careful: if the episodes of nausea and vomiting are very frequent and interfere with normal nutrition, it is important to consult your doctor, because it could be a potentially risky condition for the health of mother and child, called  hyperemesis gravidarum .

A slight anemia

In this stage of pregnancy, the heart rate accelerates by approximately 8 to 16 beats per minute to pump more blood to the uterus and provide the baby with all the nutrition and oxygen it needs. At the same time, blood volume is also growing : on average, from the initial 5.5 litres, it will gradually reach around 7 litres. This increase in blood volume causes hemodilution , i.e. an increase in the liquid portion of the blood. For this reason, it is common for pregnant women to suffer from a slight anemia, which is called physiological anemia : this is why blood tests could show values ​​lower than the reference values 

How the child grows

Your baby is about 5-9 millimeters long , about the size of a blueberry , and weighs about half an ounce .

A bean… growing!

How many expectant mothers call their baby “bean” after seeing him on the first ultrasound? Indeed, its shape resembles that of a small  bean . Your little one, however, is fast growing and will quadruple in size within the next 4 weeks.

Even if at this stage it doesn’t really look like a child, the work is progressing! The nostrils  and lips are starting to show, and the tongue and tooth buds are forming inside the mouth , while the  eyes are moving to the front of the face.

Big heart

These days, the formation and development of all major bodies continues. The heart chambers are now four, like those of an adult . A transvaginal ultrasound (performed by inserting the probe inside the vagina) will show the heartbeat, which is normally about 90-110 beats per minute . Sketches of the sexual organs have also appeared , but it is not yet possible to determine whether it will be male or female through ultrasound.

A little gymnastics

The limbs are more evident and, new this week, the sketches of the little hands and feet can be seen. Your baby is already active and moving his little arms and legs. However, it’s still too small for you to hear . If you are pregnant for the first time , you will probably have to wait until the 20th week of pregnancy , while if not, you may be able to feel her first movements as early as 16th ^to 18th ^week .

Do you know that…

Your baby’s first movements will feel like fluttering or little bubbles in the tummy . At first it will be difficult to distinguish them from normal bowel movements, but over time they will become more defined and recognizable .

For the dad

• Let’s talk about sex during pregnancy : now that your partner is expecting a baby, you may feel a little hesitant and don’t know what to do. Try to share your fears and desires with her . Keeping the dialogue open is essential to remain united and experience a fulfilling intimacy.
• In general, sexual intercourse during pregnancy is not prohibited (unless there are particular complications or problems), but even recommended: in addition to reinforcing the couple’s bond , in fact, they promote the physical and psychological well-being of the future mother and the future Pope. In any case, if you have any doubts or questions about your specific situation, do not hesitate to contact your gynecologist .

Checks and exams to do

• Choice of gynecologist or midwife

Have you already decided who to follow you during your pregnancy? This choice is very important so that you can live your journey towards motherhood in total confidence and security . In the absence of particular diseases or risk factors, you can decide to entrust yourself to a midwife , either privately or by going to a family consultancy or a hospital outpatient clinic. In the event of a risky pregnancy , however, the midwife must necessarily be supported or replaced by the figure of the gynecologist .

• First trimester ultrasound

Between the 7th ^and 13th ^week of pregnancy, an ultrasound of the first trimester is usually performed, also called dating ultrasound , because it allows to establish with greater precision the day of conception and, consequently, the expected date of delivery ( DDP). With this exam, you will be able to see the gestational chamber  and a beautiful “dot”, your baby!

• Reduce the risk of miscarriage

If you are under 40, you have a very high probability of having a healthy baby. Unfortunately, however, at this stage of gestation, 1 out of 6 pregnancies terminates spontaneously. When the loss of the baby occurs in the first 23 weeks of pregnancy , it is called miscarriage : in most cases, however, this condition occurs within 10-11 weeks.

If this happens, it’s important not to feel guilty about it . The causes are different, but the main one is represented by chromosomal or genetic anomalies of the fetus, which have no direct link with the behavior of the expectant mother.

To reduce the risk of miscarriage , however, it is possible to start adopting some good habits right away , such as:

• stop smoking;
• avoid alcohol and drugs;
• pay attention to infections and food poisoning.

Click here to see the tests you can carry out for free within the 14th week of pregnancy

Advice from the 7th ^week of pregnancy

• To counteract abdominal swelling , you can try drinking a herbal tea made with fennel seeds , cardamom , cumin and star anise . Another suggestion is to consume light and frequent meals, chew slowly and avoid coffee and alcoholic beverages.
• If you are tempted to drink less liquids to reduce the urge to urinate , know that this solution is not a good idea, because it favors urine stagnation and paves the way for the onset of urinary infections . Even in the case of frequent urination, therefore, it is important to drink abundantly , to ensure proper functioning of the kidneys.
• Pregnancy tends to complicate  constipation , especially in women already predisposed, because hormonal changes cause intestinal motility to slow down. Try to drink often , increase your fiber intake , and not hold back the urge to have a bowel movement . An important aid is also represented by physical activity : even just a 30-minute walk a day, as well as keeping you in shape and improving your mood, will help to favor intestinal transit.
• If you have started experiencing back pain , apply a warm compress over the painful area and massage the area with your knuckles. Avoid wearing shoes that are too high or too low (like ballet flats) and sign up for a yoga or gentle gym class to strengthen your back muscles and improve your posture.

To know more

• What to eat and what not to eat during pregnancy from A to Z
• Prenatal diagnostic tests by week of pregnancy
• Pregnancy and work: complete practical guide to questions to submit
• Weight gain in pregnancy: this is how much it would be allowed to grow