7 Weeks Pregnant

Changes in Your Baby at 7 Weeks Pregnant

At 7 weeks pregnant your baby will grow tremendously during this week, up to 13 mm in length. At this point your baby is closer to the size of a large blueberry or a small grape rather than a pea at 6 weeks pregnant.

Facial features are becoming more prominent at 7 weeks. With close observation you would be able to see a mouth and the tongue is forming, even though you can't actually see it. The baby's eyes are becoming more fully developed including the retina and lens. Also during week 7 of pregnancy, the major muscle systems continue to develop and the baby begins to produce its own blood type. Your baby will begin squirming about even though the movements are uncoordinated at this point.

As this amazing development of your baby continues in the 7th Week of Pregnancy, you would still see a decreasing amount of webbing of the fingers and toes. Teeth are beginning to be formed. Other developments at this point include the visualization of tiny veins under the skin, formation of the intestines, appendix, and the liver. Your baby is now right at home in its comfortable and warm environment!

Changes in Your Body at 7 Weeks Pregnant

A look in the mirror at 7 weeks pregnant might reveal a small pooch in the lower abdomen, but you still aren't showing much. During this week you might feel more comfortable in a pair of old sweatpants rather than those jeans that seem to be getting smaller. You may want to consider purchasing a belly belt or something similar to extend your pants waistline a little more. You might start thinking about maternity clothes, but truthfully it will be many more weeks before you really start showing. Waiting is always the hardest part, but before you know it your belly will be too big to actually see your toes.

Truthfully, by now, you have started to feel pregnant at 7 weeks. Morning sickness is probably still a daily problem and if you are prone to migraine headaches they have either worsened or lessened. Some women experience an almost complete relief to migraines during pregnancy, while others find they come on with greater regularity.

Some women experience a migraine for the first time in their life during pregnancy. Dilated blood vessels in the brain are generally the cause of migraines. These headaches start out like any garden variety headache with a dull pain or throbbing, but progressively become worse. It becomes a constant pulsating sensation on one side or both sides of the head and is usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Vision problems have also been noticed during migraines such as wavy lines or flashing lights before your eyes. This is referred to as an aura.

You should call your healthcare provider if you experience repetitive migraines and especially call if it is accompanied with blurred vision. Migraines are not generally dangerous during pregnancy, but to decrease their frequency you should become familiar with the triggers that may impact your susceptibility. These include the following:

Stress
Lack of Sleep
Chocolate
Cheeses
Wine
Coffee
Hormones
Smoke
Strong odors

Since you can’t control hormonal changes, there are some natural things to help relieve the pain of migraines. A cold towel or frozen bag of peas on the head helps relieve the aching associated with migraines. Some people feel that lying down in a dark room and falling asleep offers some relief. It is considered acceptable to take Tylenol during pregnancy, but other forms of pain relief like ibuprofen and aspirin should be avoided. Report truly severe migraines to your healthcare provider who may prescribe a stronger pain medication and who should evaluate your migraine headache.

It is not uncommon during your seventh week of pregnancy to develop normal food cravings. Some of the common cravings are pickles and salty foods. Harmful cravings that include eating dirt and starch are seen with anemia during pregnancy and you should consult your healthcare provider if they persist.

Read next about your baby's growth, as well as the changes in your body at 8 weeks pregnant.