The seventh week of your pregnancy
Your changing body
Your Uterus increases in size and has become almost double the size by around this week. The growing baby also puts added pressure on your Bladder necessitating frequent urination. Increased urination also occurs due to an expansion of blood volume.
The surge in the hormones during pregnancy brings about many changes in your body: increase in the size of and tissue changes in the breast in preparation for lactation, food cravings and aversions, constant feeling of exhaustion and emotional changes.
Sleep problems may be common at times but you need to take adequate rest and find ways that will help you unwind and de-stress easily.
Your growing baby
Your baby is approximately 11 mm long by the end of week 7 and weighs less than a tablet. Hands and feet are getting formed from the arms and legs. By week 7, every essential organ in your baby’s body has begun to form. Development will continue at a faster pace till about 20 weeks.
Organs such as heart, brain and liver will start developing in a more complicated and intricate manner. The liver starts producing red blood Cells until the bone marrow develops and perform its function.
Hair, tooth buds, palate are forming and the eyelids and tongue have started to develop. Fingers and toes have a webbed appearance. The skin of your baby is extremely thin and the veins can be clearly observed. Tips for the seventh week of pregnancy: The increased blood volume during pregnancy gives rise to increased iron requirements.
The actual increase in the requirement of iron is only in the second and third Trimester. But, a single large dose at the beginning of the pregnancy is an effective way of building up the iron stores and in preventing any depletion of reserves.
So along with Prenatal vitamins, enrich your diet with leafy greens, eggs, enriched cereal grains, meat, beans and nuts. To combat nausea, you can use lemon wedges, salty crackers, lime water.
Activities for the seventh week of pregnancy
Incorporate a regular sleeping schedule. You might be getting easily exhausted during this time. Regular, mild exercise is essential; however, it should be coupled with adequate amounts of rest.
Ensure that you develop a regular sleeping pattern from now onwards, because sleeping is only going to become more difficult as the days pass by and you may feel irritable due to inadequate amount of rest.
Supplements to be taken during the seventh week of pregnancy
Folic acid supplements, iron and calcium supplements.
Common problems in the seventh week of pregnancy
Heart burn, sudden twinges and bloating in the abdomen are commonly observed around this period. Problems of Miscarriage also hover and around this time till about 12 weeks in many women.
Nausea, Morning sickness and increased urination may be commonly encountered. Excessive vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum) may be a problem in some pregnant women.
Common tests in the seventh week of pregnancy
An appointment with a good obstetrician should be scheduled during this time after confirmation of your pregnancy.
At your first visit, you may be undergoing several tests (baseline weight and blood pressure, pelvic exam, blood test, ultrasonography) to ensure your sound health and that of your baby.
|