Welcome to the 8th Week of Pregnancy! By now, you may have your first doctor’s appointment scheduled, and may have even had the opportunity to see your baby via ultrasound if there was a question about dates. You are right in the middle of the first trimester, and may be looking forward to the following months. Especially, if you have been plagued with morning sickness or other ailments.
What you may be experiencing
Feeling bloated? You are not alone. Your baby has begun to increase its demands for food and nutrients, and your body will respond by slowing down the digestive process, allowing nutrients to absorb into the bloodstream. This can lead to bloating, indigestion, heartburn, and general discomfort. If you find the symptoms particularly bothersome, try wearing looser fitting clothes and eating small, frequent meals that are low in fat.
Morning sickness may continue to plague you, and will likely begin to taper off in the next month. But remember, that now matter how uncomfortable things are for you mom, your baby is oblivious. They are happily growing, unaware of the trouble outside their warm womb.
Your Baby
If you had the opportunity to see your baby right now, you may not really recognize him/her. Right now their head is larger than the rest of their body- making the embryo seem alien in appearance. Measuring in at 10-13mm, there is a lot going on in such a little package. The arms now resemble paddles, and fingers will begin forming in the weeks ahead. The heart is now separated into 4 different chambers, and is pumping away at an incredible speed. The placenta is still hard at work getting ready for the second trimester, and intestines are beginning to form within the umbilical cord. Once your baby gets a big larger, these will soon begin to migrate into your baby’s tummy.
External ears are now present, but won’t be fully functional for another few months. Inside your baby- there is now a distinct difference between a boy or a girl as ovaries and testes begin to develop within the baby, though you won’t be able to tell externally until around the 16th week.
Perhaps one of the most exciting things is that your baby is starting to move! Right now they are involuntary contractions, and your baby has little control over the outcome. But as the weeks pass, they will start to gain muscle control and get stronger. Thus, allowing you to feel their little kicks and punches.
Concerns or points of interest
Depending on your situation and doctor’s preference, you may get an ultrasound at this point in your pregnancy. This is common if there is a question on the date of conception or if you have had complications such as bleeding or a previous ectopic pregnancy.
An ultrasound is a perfectly safe procedure that will allow your doctor to check on the growth and development of your baby- so discuss your options with your care provider.