You are now seven weeks pregnant
Week 7
This week sees your baby continuing to grow at an astonishing rate. She is now about the size of a bean and starts to resemble a tiny little human being.
Your developing baby
All babies are potentially at some risk of developing spina bifida and other neural tube defects which affect the development of the brain and spinal cord. Most of these defects occur in the early stages of pregnancy which is why it’s vital to start taking folic acid before you’re pregnant and in the early stages of pregnancy when your baby's spine is forming. Folic acid plays a large role in cell growth and development as well as tissue formation. Even though folic acid is found in foods like liver, leafy green vegetables and whole wheat bread (see healthy diet during pregnancy), the Government still recommends that all women thinking about having a baby or who are pregnant, start taking folic acid supplements three months before trying to conceive and for three months afterwards. Your doctor can prescribe them to you, or they are sold at most pharmacies. They come in 400 microgram capsules which should be taken once a day, or if you don’t like taking tablets, a folic acid milk drink is also available.
You baby’s facial features are all starting to develop this week, so nostrils begin to form, the ears become more defined and the pigmentation in the irises begins to develop. The digestive system also continues to form this week with the intestines and pancreas getting bigger and more complex daily. Tiny eyelids are forming ready to protect your baby’s eyes and the first formations that will become your baby’s bones are starting to take place.
Your developing body
A mucus plug has formed at the top of your cervix that seals your baby in and stops any infections getting to her. When labour starts and the cervix relaxes, some women lose the mucus plug (sometimes called a show) that can signal that labour is imminent. Your uterus is also changing shape to accommodate your growing baby; before pregnancy it was about the size of a plum, but during the next nine months it will expand to an astonishing 500 to 1000 times its normal size.
Many women start to feel very grumpy and emotional during this stage of pregnancy and once again it is down to those pesky pregnancy hormones circulating around your body. See coping with mood swings for advice on how to manage the moods.
Foods that you previously enjoyed can suddenly turn your stomach and vegetarians may dream of eating meat! Watch our video on pregnancy cravings to learn more about this. Pregnancy does funny things to your taste buds, but make sure you check our guide to which foods are safe to eat in pregnancy and what foods to avoid – unfortunately the Brie and grape sandwich is off the menu!
Most women have pregnancy niggles and concerns at this point; check out our feature to help with your worries.
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