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First Trimester

Second Trimester

Third Trimester

7 Weeks Pregnant

Length of baby: 1.3cm (13mm)
At week 7, the embryo is generating six thousand brain cells per hour, and the baby’s hands and feet are growing nicely though at this stage it looks like paddles.

7 WEEKS PREGNANT

Feeling the stress of carrying a little one and not having to let anyone know about it? We feel you, mummy! 

The Chinese superstition calls for not revealing your pregnancy until you’ve successfully reached your second trimester. 

7 weeks in and you’re about there! So hang in there with that little secret of yours! 

 

7 WEEKS BABY SIZE

How big is baby at 7 weeks? Your baby doubled in size since last week, and is now the size of a blueberry, or about 13mm (1.3cm).

 

7 WEEKS PREGNANT WEIGHT GAIN

You are still in your first trimester, so you do not need to gain much weight. By the end of the first trimester (week 12), you should be expected to gain anywhere between 0.5kg to 2kg. 

 

7 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS

The news of you being a Mum should have sunk in being 7 weeks pregnant and if not, do take some time to let that sink in.

For some the pregnancy symptoms are especially tough to get through, while for some they are a lot easier.

Being 7 weeks pregnant, here are some signs and symptom that your body might be experiencing:

  • Morning Sickness. At week 7, you might be facing bouts of nausea for a good amount of time. Hang in there, you are half way through the first trimester. Morning sickness is usually only more severe in the first trimester when your pregnancy hormones are in full force. In most cases it would decrease or disappear altogether during the second trimester. It is advisable to find a good routine to help you cope, such as eating lemon (sour) sweets or peppermint products.
  • Acne breakout. Due to the hormonal changes in your body, some women do get acne breakouts. If you are thinking of taking oral medication (or even OTC acne cream) to fight your acne, do consult your doctor to see if it is safe to do so.
  • Mood Swings. Your hormonal changes, coupled with the idea that you are going to be a mummy, might make you suffer from mood swings. You might find yourself sad one moment and happy the next. It is all normal so do take things in your stride.
  • Frequent Urination. You might already be getting used to the frequent pee trips to the toilet. This is thanks to your increasing blood volume (By now you should have ten percent more blood in your body to meet the demands of the baby) and the extra fluid being processed by your kidneys. Also as your uterus grows to accommodate the growing baby, this will create pressure on the bladder sending you to the bathroom multiple times throughout the course of the day. Do not worry, as research has shown the volume and frequency of urine will probably decrease over the course of your pregnancy.
  • Food Cravings and Food Aversion. You might find that you have strong cravings for certain foods at odd hours of the day (make your hubby go for those food runs, after all, you’re carrying the baby). On the other hand, you develop a strong food aversion to certain foods – even foods that you were comfortable with prior to your pregnancy. Food aversion usually goes hand in hand with morning sickness, and is possibly due to the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

For the very lucky minority, you might not have any week 7 pregnancy symptoms at all. This does not mean that there is a problem with your pregnancy as different women experience pregnancy differently. So fret not!

However should you have a concern, do tell your Doctor about it.

 

Next week will be your first prenatal appointment. Do remember to write down the list of questions to ask your doctor on your first visit!

 

7 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

At week 7, you are constantly checking yourself in the mirror to see if the baby bump has yet developed. Don’t worry we did it too!

Usually the baby bump will only show when the uterus has outgrown the pelvis. However it is still not time and you would probably not see a baby bump just as yet.

 

HOW IS MY BABY AT 7 WEEKS PREGNANT?

Both hemispheres of your baby’s brain is growing nicely, and amazingly the embryo is generating six thousand brain cells per hour.

The liver is currently producing red blood cells until the bone marrow forms to take over this role.

Your baby’s growing intestines is starting to become connected to the umbilical cord which now has formed blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from the body.

Your baby also still has somewhat of a tiny tail, which is an extension of her tailbone, and it will disappear in the weeks to come.

The hands and feet are growing nicely from the development of arms and legs, although at this stage they resemble more of  paddles.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST PRENATAL APPOINTMENT

You should be excited as you are preparing for your first prenatal appointment in Singapore, which should happen in the next week or two.

You will be offered a range of tests to determine if you and the baby are healthy. Some tests include simple blood tests, while others are slightly more invasive.

First trimester screening will let you know the odds of your baby having Down Syndrome and other conditions. The Doctor will also check your blood type if it is Rhesus (Rh) positive or negative (because if you are negative and the baby is positive, you will need medication).

In addition, your hormone levels and red and white blood cell count will also be screened. To ensure you are healthy, the doctor will also check for Hepatitis B, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV and certain immunities.

Furthermore, your doctor will also give you a pap smear to check for infections and other abnormalities.

Many tests are only done for screening purposes and will give you a sense of the risk for certain conditions. Should the tests be found to contain high risk, you will then have to proceed for a more invasive diagnostic test.

Never be shy about asking should you be unsure about the tests that are conducted on you. Afterall, you’re the mummy and you have every right to know about anything concerning you and your little one.

 

WHAT TO DO AT 7 WEEKS PREGNANT

Reminders for the week:

  • Prepare all the questions you need and want to ask your OBGYN Doctor, for your first appointment should be sometime within the next week.
  • Prepare a list of all the medication you are currently on, whether oral or over the counter, so that your Doctor can tell you if it is safe to continue consuming.
  • Trace back the first day of your last period, so that your Doctor can estimate your baby’s due date (the due date will be confirmed via ultrasound later on).
  • Start taking belly photos! In fact, take a photo of your babybump every week so that you track your pregnancy progress.