At 7 weeks into your pregnancy, your baby is about the size of a blueberry and will continue to grow. Some symptoms you may experience during this period include mild cramping in your pelvis and swollen breasts.
Week 7 of your pregnancy is a period of important changes for both you and your baby. While not much is obvious from the outside, on the inside your body is preparing to nurture your child for the next several months.
Each new development or symptom brings you one step closer to meeting your baby. Here’s what you need to know about week 7.
7 weeks pregnant: What to expect
- You may start to feel bloated and your breasts may start getting bigger.
- Your baby is growing, too. Baby’s head and face are developing and tiny hands and feet are sprouting.
- Your fatigue may be intense right now. Rest as much as you can.
- You’ll want to schedule a prenatal doctor’s appointment if you haven’t yet and start focusing on good nutrition and safe activity.
By now, you probably know you’re pregnant, but some pregnant people don’t find out for sure until this week.
You don’t look pregnant yet, but you’re noticing the signs. You probably haven’t gained weight, and you may have even lost a few pounds due to morning sickness.
Your bra may feel a little tight as your breasts grow, and your pants may feel a bit uncomfortable due to bloating.
Your baby is about a 1/4-inch long this week and is still considered to be an embryo. Their little spinal tail is getting smaller and will soon disappear.
During this week, your baby’s head and face are developing. Nostrils appear and eye lenses begin forming. Hands and feet are also sprouting, though at this stage they look more like little paddles than the cute hands and feet you’ll love photographing in 7 months.
Though multiples are often smaller than singletons at birth, their development each week isn’t that different until the third trimester. If you’re having multiples, your babies are each a little bigger than the top of a pencil eraser this week.
Many women have their first ultrasound between weeks 6 and 8. This is the appointment that will give you a view into your uterus to see your babies. You can also detect their heartbeats through ultrasound as early as week 6.
As your baby continues to grow, you’re likely to start experiencing early pregnancy symptoms, if you haven’t already, as well as some new symptoms.
These include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- frequent urination
- darkening of the areolas
- fatigue
- tender and swollen breasts
- food aversions and cravings
- mild pelvic cramping
- occasional spotting
Food aversions and nausea
If your favorite foods seem repulsive, and you’re craving pickles and tuna fish, don’t despair. You’re experiencing food cravings and aversions related to your pregnancy. Odors that never bothered you before may suddenly make you nauseated.
Nausea, food aversions, and cravings may last throughout your pregnancy, but most women start feeling better after the first trimester.
Try to avoid any foods and odors that trigger symptoms. Give into cravings (ice cream! chocolate!) every now and then, but try to keep your diet as nutritious as possible. If you’re having trouble maintaining a balanced diet while nauseated, that’s okay.
Prenatal vitamins can help bridge the gap between your limited diet and healthy eating habits once your morning sickness goes away.
If your symptoms are extreme and you cannot keep down any food or liquids for more than 24 hours, call your doctor as this may be a sign of hyperemesis gravidarum. This is an extreme form of morning sickness.
Excess saliva
Excessive salivation and the need to spit is an annoying symptom you may experience this week. No one knows exactly what causes this, though hormones or heartburn are likely suspects.
Avoid irritants, like smoke, that may make the problem worse. Try chewing sugarless gum or sucking on hard candies. This may make it easier to swallow the excess saliva.
It’s also important to drink plenty of water. While you may feel that your mouth is extra hydrated from all the saliva, water may actually help to reduce the saliva production.
Fatigue
You may find yourself hitting the snooze button more often this week. Fatigue is common in the first and third trimesters. Try to go to bed earlier to gain some extra winks.
If your work schedule is flexible, see if you can get to work a little later. Your body is working hard, and keeping yourself refreshed is important.
Another way to boost your energy is to exercise. If you were exercising before getting pregnant, you can usually continue exercising throughout your first trimester with little change.
Check with your doctor before starting any new fitness routines, or if you have any questions or concerns about safely exercising during pregnancy.
Your pregnancy is still pretty new, but it’s not too early to start planning and practicing healthy habits. Here are a few things you can get started on during week 7.
Schedule your prenatal visit
You should schedule your first prenatal care appointment if you haven’t already. Many women have their first prenatal visit this week or at week 8. Your first visit will be the longest and most extensive checkup.
During the visit, your doctor or midwife will review your health history, determine your approximate due date, identify pregnancy risks, and give you a physical exam, including a pelvic exam with Pap smear.
You’ll have your weight and blood pressure checked, and urine and blood tests will likely be ordered.
Start prenatal exercise
If you’re feeling up to it, start a prenatal exercise program. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests exercising 30 minutes a day to support a healthy pregnancy. Yoga, walking, and swimming are great options.
Get your doctor’s approval before running, lifting heavy weights, or doing intense cardio exercise programs.
Quit smoking
If you’re a smoker, it’s critically important to quit. Smoking increases the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as low birth weight and premature labor. It may also cause problems with the baby after birth.
It can be difficult to quit cold turkey, and smoking cessation products may be unhealthy for your developing baby. Ask your doctor for help.
Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy are complications that may occur in the first trimester. It’s important to recognize the symptoms.
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that forms outside of the uterus, often in one of the fallopian tubes. It’s a life threatening emergency for the pregnant person. You may have normal early pregnancy symptoms without being aware that the embryo is developing outside your womb.
An ectopic pregnancy cannot survive. If left untreated, the area surrounding the embryo eventually ruptures. Consult a doctor immediately if you’re pregnant and experience any of the following symptoms:
- abnormal vaginal bleeding
- fainting or feeling faint or suddenly dizzy
- low blood pressure
- rectal pressure
- shoulder pain
- severe, sharp, sudden pelvic pain
Miscarriage
Miscarriage results in the loss of a baby during pregnancy. Most miscarriages occur in the first 12 weeks, or the first trimester, of pregnancy.
While you can still have one up to week 20, after you have passed your 12th week of pregnancy your odds of miscarriage are much lower.
Miscarriages are caused by a problem with the baby’s genes, cervix or uterine issues, hormone problems, or infection. In many cases, there’s no obvious reason for a miscarriage. Call your doctor if any of these warning signs occur:
- bleeding or spotting
- passage of tissue through the vagina
- gush of pink vaginal fluid
- abdominal or pelvic pain or cramping
- dizziness, lightheadedness, or faintness
If you experience a miscarriage, take time to grieve your loss and reach out to your doctor if you need support. Most people who have miscarriages go on to have successful, full-term pregnancies.
Weight gain at week 7
It’s unlikely that the scale has shifted at this point in your pregnancy. If you’re having morning sickness, you may be finding it more difficult to eat. If you notice that you’re losing weight, speak with your doctor.
Week 7 is an exciting and important time during your pregnancy. As your body continues to prepare for nourishing a growing baby, there are some symptoms you may start to notice, like nausea and feeling extra tired.
It’s also a good time to take some healthy steps to get ready for the coming months, including scheduling doctor appointments, starting a prenatal exercise routine, and quitting smoking.
