7 week of pregnancy: what happens to mom and baby

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The first trimester of pregnancy is a very important stage in which the baby develops actively. It is during this period that a woman should be very careful because of the high risk of miscarriage. In addition, any stress or a common cold can cause some deviations from the norm in the development of crumbs. Therefore, every mother should know what is happening to her at the 7th week of pregnancy in order to correctly respond to the changes taking place. We will give readers comprehensive information about how the baby develops and what to expect at this time. We will also look at what happens to the mother at 7 weeks of pregnancy, and what symptoms should alert her.

Term of pregnancy: real and obstetric

A photo of a girl taken at 7 weeks of pregnancy will not show any significant changes in her figure and appearance. And this is quite natural, given the fact that the expectant mother is at the very beginning of her term andall visible changes in her future. We can say that the 7th week of pregnancy is obstetric, which means that about five real weeks have passed since the conception of your crumbs.

If you want more accurate calculations, you need to take into account that this period also means three weeks from the moment of the delay of menstruation. Usually, after ten days of delay, women begin to apply for tests and make an appointment with a doctor. Therefore, by the time we are describing, they no longer have any doubts about their position.

Keep in mind that no matter how you plan to track your pregnancy, you will need to give your obstetric due date for medical procedures or regular doctor visits. More precisely, he will be put on an ultrasound examination, which will be prescribed by an obstetrician in a antenatal clinic after the first visit with suspicions of pregnancy.

In our article we will also talk about the 7th obstetric week of pregnancy, so do not forget that it is counted from the first day of the last menstruation.

Baby size

Usually, moms are very interested in exactly how their baby looks at a given time, and what it can be compared with in size. Naturally, at 7 weeks pregnant, the size of the baby is quite small, despite the fact that the uterus has already doubled in size during this time interval.

Experts usually say that the baby in the stomach is very reminiscent of a white bean. Its size does not exceed thirteen millimeters, and often fluctuates withinfive millimeters. Interestingly, the very shape of the body of the crumbs is similar to beans. It is slightly curved and the head is half the size of the body.

Baby at 7 weeks pregnant weighs close to one gram, and his appearance bears little resemblance to the cute and rosy-cheeked baby he will be at the end of nine months.

Summary of child development rates

The development of the fetus at 7 weeks of pregnancy, and this is how doctors begin to name the embryo from this period, is proceeding at a rapid pace. Literally every day, metamorphoses occur with the baby and new organs are laid. The most important of them - the heart and brain are already fully formed and in the future they will only increase in size and develop. It is noteworthy that even in this state, the brain is able to send commands to the rudiments of the muscular system. As a result, the baby begins to try to make the very first movements. However, this does not affect the mother's feelings at 7 weeks of pregnancy in any way. The way the baby moves, she will feel only after a few weeks. Depending on the physique of the pregnant woman, this will be noticeable at approximately thirteen to eighteen weeks.

We already wrote that the baby looks like a bean. Between the head and the body, the future neck is just beginning to form, and the eyes look like two black beads without eyelids. They are translucent leathery folds. After a while, they will become denser and the fetus will be able to close and open its eyes.

It is noteworthy that development at 7 weekspregnancy is characterized by the presence of gills. At this stage, they are already barely distinguishable, and soon they will disappear altogether. The baby also has a small tail. It is made up of coccygeal vertebrae and will become part of the spine as the fetus develops.

7th week of pregnancy: what happens to the baby

The baby's skeleton at this time is completely made up of cartilage tissue, it improves and develops every day. Gradually, the hands, forearms and joints begin to take shape. Soon they will become clearly distinguishable, and the baby will begin to move actively. The fingers on the handles that have appeared are still fused together, but after a certain time they will separate. But the legs of the fetus will acquire their usual shape much later than the hands. The legs during this period of pregnancy are more like small fins.

Faces of the fetus are barely visible at this stage. At 7 weeks of pregnancy, the rudiments of the nose, upper lip and ears are only formed. The kid will gradually acquire his own features, similar to his mother's or father's.

Despite the fact that the brain and heart have already started their work, the organs are gradually complicating their work. The heart becomes four-chambered, the brain is divided into sections and hemispheres. The trachea of the baby becomes wider, in parallel, the formation of what will later become the bronchi occurs. The fetus has an appendix, esophagus, large intestine and liver. This tiny organ is already able to produce its own blood cells.

If we make some generalizations, we can conclude that at the 7th obstetric weekpregnancy, the internal organs of the baby are already almost fully formed and are becoming more developed every day.

Circulatory system: exchange between mother and child

What happens to the baby at 7 weeks pregnant yet? Doctors call this period very important, since right now the circulatory system is being established, which will connect mother and child throughout pregnancy.

The fact is that in the very first weeks the nutrition of the embryo was provided by the yolk sac. It also produces the necessary amount of hormones that keep the baby alive. However, at 7 weeks of pregnancy (we will place a photo of the embryo just below), the placenta takes over the listed functions. The formed umbilical cord begins to supply the baby with everything necessary, forming the uteroplacental flow. From that moment, mother and child become even more closely connected until the baby is born.

Obstetricians note that at this stage of pregnancy, a woman should not be nervous and overstrain. After all, stress will interfere with the proper formation of the placenta and its attachment to the walls of the uterus. This situation can lead to fetal death and miscarriage.

Changes in mom's appearance

What happens at 7 weeks pregnant with mom? A woman expecting a baby at this time can observe a lot of changes in her appearance and well-being. However, it is rather difficult for strangers to notice them, since the stomach at 7 weeks of pregnancy does not yet protrude from under the clothes. But severalexpectant mothers, standing in front of the mirror, note that the lower part has become slightly convex. But other women with a dense physique may not see any changes in the figure at all until five months of pregnancy.

At this time, expectant mothers complain of swelling of the mammary glands, which in turn cause an increase in breast volume. Many people go shopping to buy underwear in larger sizes. Otherwise, a small bra will slow down blood circulation in the vessels and squeeze the chest.

Do not forget that the hormonal background at the specified time is constantly changing. And it causes a lot of skin problems. In some mothers, they are expressed in acne, while others suffer from age spots. Also, many note that the structure of the skin has also changed. Previously elastic skin has turned into looser and softer. This is due to the fact that in the future she will have to stretch several times.

Often, women experience sinus congestion. At the same time, when trying to clean them, mucus does not come out. This fact is also associated with hormonal changes in the body and in the future the condition stabilizes.

A certain part of expectant mothers has a dark line on their stomach. It starts at the navel and extends to the pubis. After childbirth, it becomes lighter and then disappears altogether.

Feeling pregnant

It is rare that a woman manages at seven weeks of pregnancy without discomfort, but if they still passed you, then we cancongratulations - you have excellent he alth. But still, most of the expectant mothers by this period begin to suffer from various problems.

Naturally, the most unpleasant of all symptoms is toxicosis. Nausea can be caused by any smell or taste and accompany a pregnant woman throughout the first trimester. Toxicosis is explained by the production of certain hormones necessary in order to save the baby, which at first is perceived by the body as a foreign body. The increased hormonal background makes it possible for the baby to stay in the mother's body and fully develop. However, the mother herself can suffer seriously from such a situation. Many even begin to lose weight, which negatively affects pregnancy. To alleviate toxicosis, you need to follow a few rules:

• since nausea is usually most severe in the morning, you need to eat before getting out of bed;
• choose the foods your body accepts by trial method;
• Working mothers-to-be should always carry drinking water, a cookie or an apple with them, and a plastic bag in case of vomiting.

In some cases, at the seventh week of pregnancy, toxicosis can take a severe form. Women cannot eat a single piece of food due to constant vomiting, and if some food enters the stomach, then it is not absorbed in it. As a result, the pregnant woman develops anemia, which adversely affects her he alth and the development of the baby. In such situations, it will be difficult to manage without the help of doctors. However, this form of toxicityoccurs in very few women.

Almost every expectant mother notes her unstable emotional state. She may want to laugh and cry at the same time, and any trouble can cause panic.

Pregnant women often complain of severe weakness, inability to concentrate, drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness and nagging back pain. The growing uterus begins to put pressure on the bladder, so women have to constantly run to the toilet. Sometimes it happens literally in thirty minutes. Naturally, this situation gives women a lot of inconvenience. However, do not worry, after a while the body will get used to the growing uterus and urination will become more rare.

At the seventh week of pregnancy, many feel a lack of oxygen. The sense of smell is aggravated and plays a cruel joke with women, they complain of intrusive odors, and those aromas that previously seemed pleasant now cause irritation.

Medical examination

Seven weeks is when it's time to register with an antenatal clinic, if you haven't already done so. The doctor will examine the pregnant woman and prescribe a number of examinations and tests that must be taken as soon as possible. Even if you feel well, do not neglect a visit to the hospital. After all, you may not be aware of existing problems that for the time being do not make themselves felt.

First of all, the doctor will want to know your weight in order toin the future, count the kilograms gained from it. During your first visit, he will write you a referral for a blood test. Moreover, it will be several tests that will show not only your general condition, but also the presence or absence of genital infections. At the same time, a vaginal swab is taken.

The doctor necessarily measures the growth of the pregnant woman and determines the size of the pelvis. This is important for future births. Sometimes an ultrasound is also prescribed. At 7 weeks of pregnancy, such an examination is not often done, usually it is carried out much later - closer to the fourteenth week. At the time we describe, ultrasound will help rule out an ectopic pregnancy and provide information on how many embryos are in the uterine cavity.

Discharge at 7 weeks pregnant

Don't be afraid of vaginal discharge, which is completely natural. If everything is fine with your he alth, then they will have a transparent color and a slightly viscous consistency. Within the normal range and the selection of a whitish color, turning into light sand. They should not have a pronounced smell.

But the appearance of brownish, yellowish or greenish discharge with a sharp unpleasant odor should alert any pregnant woman. This is an indirect sign of the presence of any infection. It is necessary to get rid of it as soon as possible so that it does not have time to harm the baby.

The threat of pregnancy is most often accompanied by scarlet, dark brown or pink discharge. Their appearance should be the reason forimmediate medical attention. Otherwise, you face serious problems that can lead to the death of the fetus:

• Placental abruption. In the case when this happens, the baby can die in just a few tens of minutes. But if you go to the doctor in time, then there is every chance, following the recommendations, to report the pregnancy.
• Hematoma. Sometimes during pregnancy, hematomas form in the uterus. They are accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and spotting.
• Uterine tone. An increase in the tone of the uterus, if you do not pay attention to it, will lead to a miscarriage. This problem is usually expressed in brown discharge and pulling girdle pain. In this case, the doctor will send the pregnant woman for hospitalization. In the process of treatment, she will be injected with special drugs. At home, you will have to avoid stress, heavy lifting and any work that involves bending over and standing upright for a long time.
• Missed pregnancy. The problem of this nature excludes a successful outcome. Women learn about a missed pregnancy after being referred for an ultrasound scan, in which case the fetus has already died, and the doctors will not be able to help.
• Ectopic pregnancy. A small percentage of pregnancies end this way. The embryo does not reach the uterus and stops in the tube, in the process of development it increases and can break it. This causes bleeding and can even be fatal for the woman.
• Miscarriage. If you notice profuse bloody discharge with clots, accompanied by pain and increasedfever, seek medical attention immediately.

Keep in mind that with any discharge resembling blood and unpleasant symptoms, it is better not to hope for chance and call an ambulance.

A few words about nutrition

By the seventh week of pregnancy, women should understand that some products for them fall into the category of prohibited. But others can be eaten in large quantities and be sure that they will only bring benefits.

Expectant mothers who have to deal with toxicosis must also adhere to a certain weight. You should not assume that now you can eat for two, eating a huge amount of food every day. As a result, excess weight will be gained very quickly and will interfere with the pregnant woman at the very early stages.

The menu should include foods fortified with calcium, as well as fish and eggs. They are necessary for the formation of the skeleton and teeth of the baby. If he does not have enough calcium, then he will begin to take it from the mother's body.

To avoid constipation and other unpleasant digestive problems, be sure to eat vegetables, fruits and any greens. They contain fiber, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the intestines.

Many pregnant women experience iron deficiency anemia, to prevent it, you need to eat red meat, steamed or baked.

From your diet at the earliest possible date, you should completely exclude pickles, smoked meats, fast food, alcohol and starchy foods. They are of no usemother or baby. In addition, such food can cause all sorts of problems with the digestive tract.