The little embryo is now a fetus and the gestational age is 6 weeks. Congratulations on being 8 weeks pregnant! Let’s find out what’s up with your baby and yourself:
Baby Development:
Your baby is now in kidney bean size
The size of baby at 8 weeks is that of a kidney bean, measuring around 11 to 14 millimetres. Tiny arms and legs, webbed fingers and toes, bones, and muscles have sprouted. The 8-week fetus has distinct facial features now. The intestines are extended into the umbilical cord because there is no space in the baby’s abdomen. An 8-week old baby has an incredible heart rate of 150 to 170 times per minute. 8 weeks pregnant ultrasound is too early to determine the sex of the baby. In some cases, the doctor might recommend 8-week ultrasound to detect:
- Bleeding
- Multiple pregnancies
- To check the size of your embryo
- To confirm the baby’s heartbeat
- To examine the health of your ovaries and fallopian tubes
- To rule out an ectopic pregnancy or other problems
However, the 8-week scan is usually too early and one wouldn’t need it.
Body Changes
You might have put on some weight but your 8 weeks pregnant belly isn’t showing many changes from the outside. You would have to wait until around week 12 to see external changes. Your uterus is growing and pressing against your bladder to accommodate your baby at 8 weeks. There is an increased blood supply to your breasts as your body is preparing them for lactation.
8 weeks pregnant symptoms:
Your womb is around the size of a lemon. A surge in pregnancy hormones can cause emotional stress or irritability. So don’t be hard on yourself during this stage. Other 8 weeks pregnant signs:
Here are a few number of common symptoms a woman may notice throughout her Pregnancy Symptoms Week 4.
- Sore or tender breasts
- Fatigue
- Morning sickness
- Weight gain
- Nausea
- Heartburn
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty sleeping
- Constipation
- Mild cramps
- Strange dreams
- Excess saliva
- Bloating
Tips for You This Week
You can support your body to prepare for pregnancy by following the tips below:
Go to bed early or take small naps in the day to manage the fatigue. Have ginger teas or ginger lollies to get relief from nausea. Avoid smells that trigger nausea or headache. Weight gain or weight loss is common for women during pregnancy. Manage weight concerns with a healthy diet.
Avoid:
- heavy lifting or carrying
- Standing or sitting for a prolonged duration without breaks
- Being exposed to toxic substances
- Long working hours