Your Baby’s Development at 7 Weeks
At 7 weeks, a baby is a little more than 1/3 of an inch long (about 1 centimeter). That’s about the size of a standard blueberry. Which Trimester? First trimester How Many Weeks to Go? 33 weeks Still so tiny, by the end of this week your baby-to-be will be about doubled the size of last week. Body systems and physical features continue to develop.
While the development of the baby’s mouth, nostrils, ears, and eyes kicked into high gear last week, this week they are starting to look more and more defined. The eyelids and tongue are beginning to form. The umbilical cord is taking shape. This lifeline connects the baby to the placenta to carry oxygenated blood and nutrients to your baby while taking away waste. Your embryo is likely on their second set of kidneys. Babies go through three sets or stages of kidney development while in the womb.
Explore a few of your baby’s week 7 milestones in this interactive experience.
Your Common Symptoms This Week
As for you, morning sickness and frequent urination may continue or begin this week. Along with these symptoms, you may also notice changes in your skin, vaginal discharge, and sense of smell. Remember, every person and every pregnancy are different. You may experience one, some, many, or all of these symptoms.
Cervical Changes
Your cervix gets a lot of attention at the end of pregnancy when you’re waiting for it to efface and dilate. But, there’s actually a lot happening in this area right now. The uptick in hormones and blood flow during pregnancy increases the production of cervical mucus, dubbed leukorrhea. You may notice it as a thin, milky-white, odorless discharge. This cervical mucus gathers and clumps together to become your mucus plug. It is exactly what you think it is: a plug made of mucus. Its job is to seal the opening of the cervix to protect you and your growing baby by preventing bacteria from getting into the uterus.
Pregnancy Glow
You know that famed pregnancy glow people are always talking about? That might be your only outward sign of pregnancy right now. More blood flowing to your face can give you a rosy glow while pregnancy hormones can make your skin more oily and shiny than before.
Constipation
While that telltale baby bump has yet to arrive, you might be feeling bigger than normal thanks to gas, bloating, and constipation. You can credit the increase of progesterone for that. Progesterone relaxes smooth muscle cells, making the small and large intestines move more slowly resulting in more water absorption and firmer stools. —Robin Evans, MD
Super Sense of Smell
Pregnancy can turn your sense of smell into a superpower. It’s an interesting symptom that some believe helps an expectant mom avoid danger. But, it can be trouble if you’re struggling with morning sickness and the slightest whiff of an offending odor can send you running to the bathroom.
Self-Care Tips
Eating well (or doing your best to while managing nausea), drinking enough fluids, resting, and taking some time for yourself are constants on the list every week. In addition, this week you may want give your skin and digestive tract some extra attention.
Get Ahead of Constipation
To help deflate your distended belly and ease discomfort, continue to drink plenty of water, get a little exercise, and eat more insoluble fiber, such as whole wheat, flax, fruit with skins, vegetables, brown rice, and lentils.
Care for Your Skin
The pregnancy glow may be due to the increase in blood flow, but pregnancy hormones may also have a hand in it. Hormones might be causing the glands on your skin to pump out more oil. Oil can give you a sheen, but it can also lead to prenatal acne. —Dana Angelo White, MS, RD If your glow goes the way of acne, care for your skin by washing with a gentle cleanser every day and using an oil-free moisturizer. Some topical treatments such as benzoyl-peroxide and certain antibiotic creams or solutions are considered safe, but salicylic acid, Retin-A (tretinoin), Accutane (isotretinoin), and others are not. Your best bet is to check with your healthcare provider before treating breakouts.
Advice for Partners
It’s natural for a pregnant parent-to-be to feel out of place in their own skin right about now. They’re expecting, but they don’t look like it yet, and they may feel bigger even though there’s no baby bump to speak of. Meanwhile, their breasts and skin are experiencing changes, too. You—perhaps the only one who is aware of the pregnancy—might want to show that you notice the little changes. But be gentle. Know that even well-intended positive comments can make your pregnant partner feel self-conscious and anxious. Listen to your partner and how they are speaking of the pregnancy and their body so you can offer the best support.
Special Considerations
Nausea and vomiting are common in 70% to 80% of pregnancies. Severe nausea and vomiting are much less common but can be dangerous for an expecting parent and developing baby. After your first prenatal visit, you typically see your health care provider for prenatal check-ups about once a month until 28 weeks (7 months). Then, you will go more often.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Hyperemesis gravidarum is prolonged, extreme nausea with uncontrollable vomiting that can lead to dehydration and weight loss. It affects up to 2.3% of pregnancies. The symptoms typically begin early in pregnancy, peak around week 9, and subside by week 20. If you suspect you may have hyperemesis gravidarum, talk to your healthcare provider.
A Word From Verywell
During week 7 of your pregnancy, you may be dealing with a full set of early pregnancy symptoms. Just remember that it’s just as normal to have a lot of symptoms as it is to only to have a few, and it’s always OK to call your doctor to ask about any symptoms if you’re worried. Your early pregnancy discomforts continue next week, along with the rapid growth and development of your baby. During week 8, your tiny embryo is beginning to look more and more like a little human.
