7 Weeks Pregnant: What to Expect

You’ve recently discovered that you are pregnant, and you must be ecstatic. In week 7, you must be experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy, such as morning sickness, nausea, and more, but you don’t quite look pregnant yet. Your baby is growing rapidly inside your 7 weeks pregnant body. This is the period of major developmental changes for you and your baby. Your body will start preparing itself to nurture the growing foetus. This is also when you have to be very careful about what you eat and avoid and how you take care of yourself. If you have any doubts, we recommend reading this article to learn how your little one is developing and what changes you can expect in your body during this week.

Your Baby’s Growth During Pregnancy – Week 7

Your baby’s legs and arms will begin to emerge by this time. The umbilical cord has formed and your baby will have a small tail, which is more like an extension of the tailbone (1). However, this will disappear as the pregnancy progresses. The foetus has almost doubled in size in the past week. Your baby will experience rapid developmental changes. Both the hemispheres of the brain will start forming now. The tiny liver will begin to function by forming red blood cells till the bone marrow is formed. The eyelids, limb buds, and digestive organs like the pancreas and appendix start to form, too (2). At this stage, your baby may technically be called an embryo.

What Is the Size of the Baby?

Your baby is approximately the size of blueberry or a grape by this time. The 7 weeks pregnant baby size is almost an inch according to the American Pregnancy Association (3). There has been tremendous development from the time of conception as your baby has grown a lot since then and will continue to grow and develop as they should. At this time, the growth is mostly concentrated in the generation of brain cells.

Common Bodily Changes

You may not look pregnant, but several changes are happening inside your body. You can expect the following changes at around 7 weeks of your pregnancy (4).

• Nausea and food aversions: You may experience nausea and food aversions by this time. Some odours or smells may trigger nausea. On the other hand, you may also find yourself craving for foods such as pickles.
• Excess formation of saliva: You may notice the formation of excess saliva in your mouth. Try chewing sugarless gum to avoid the pooling of excess saliva in your mouth.
• Changes in the breasts: Your breast size may increase this week. This is due to the increase in blood flow and fat build up around your breast.
• More frequent bathroom visits: There is an increase in blood flow around your pelvic region because of the hCG hormone, resulting in frequent urination.
• Skin breakouts or acne: You may also notice acne on your face. This is due to the hormonal changes happening in your body (5).

7 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

Wondering what the seven weeks pregnancy symptoms are? Well, there may not be evident physical signs by 7 weeks of pregnancy, but you may notice the following symptoms this week (6):

• You may start to feel sick in the mornings (nausea and vomiting), experience headaches and other pains, and notice fatigue and lethargy.
• Your breasts may become tender, and the areoles will become darker than usual.
• You may crave certain food items and develop an aversion to some.
• You may not fit too well into your favourite pants or jeans. This is not due to weight gain but due to bloating.
• You may also experience mild pelvic cramping. There might be occasional spotting, too.
• One of the important developments in your body during this time is the development of your mucous plug. The mucous plug helps seal the cervix and protects the opening of the uterus till the birth of your baby.
• You may find yourself battling with changing moods. This is due to the changing hormones in the body.

Belly at 7 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your belly at 7 weeks won’t give away that you are pregnant even though you might be experiencing a lot of changes in your body. So, you will have to wait for some time to be able to flaunt your baby bump. All that you feel is bloating around your belly by week 7 of your pregnancy. Most mothers-to-be start to show the baby bump by the middle of their second trimester. However, if you are carrying twins or more babies, then your belly may start to show earlier than the standard time.

Ultrasound at 7 Weeks of Pregnancy

By week 7, you may be ready for your first ultrasound scan, though many doctors may wait till 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy for the scan. Your doctor will ask about your medical history and your doctor’s recommendation. An ultrasound will help the doctor take various measurements of your baby and determine the development of the foetus. Though your baby is too tiny for you to spot in the 7-week ultrasound scan, the embryo is generating almost one hundred brain cells per minute. The embryo is developing its heart, kidneys, arms and leg joints. If you are carrying twins, the scan will show two gestational sacs in the ultrasound scan. You will also be required to give urine and blood samples for various tests.

The blood samples of the mother carrying twins or multiple babies may show increased levels of hCG hormone, this increased levels of hormone may result in morning sickness.

What to Eat?

It is very important for you to eat a healthy and balanced diet in pregnancy. Your 7th-week pregnancy food should include the following (7):

• A healthy mix of green, red, yellow and orange vegetables is a must include in pregnancy diet. Have 3 to 5 serving of vegetables in day. Spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, red peppers, pumpkin, carrots, yellow peppers and corn are some of the fresh vegetables you may include in your diet.
• It is suggested to opt for fresh fruits over canned or preserved food as preserved food may contain harmful bacteria which can be harmful to you and the baby. You should take 3 to 4 servings of fresh fruits in a day.

• Consume milk, cheese, yoghurt and other milk products to meet the calcium demands of your body. Around 3 servings a day is recommended.
• You should include 2 to 3 serving of protein in the form of eggs, meat and poultry in your diet. Lentils, beans, seeds and nuts are excellent sources of protein for the vegetarian moms-to-be.
• You should opt for whole grains instead of refined food products. Whole grains provide fibre to your body. It is suggested to have 3 serving of whole grain food items in a day.

Tips & Care

Morning sickness and nausea can take a serious toll on your health during this time. Here are some dos dos and don’ts that you should stick to for a healthy pregnancy:

Dos

• Eat bland food and eat often as it is easier to digest.
• Keep yourself hydrated.
• Drink lemonade or eat watermelon to ease nausea.
• Take adequate rest throughout the day.
• Wear a good bra to ease breast soreness.
• Take prescribed vitamin supplements.

Don’ts

• Avoid spicy food.
• Strictly skip alcohol and smoking.
• Avoid skipping meals.

What You Need to Shop For?

Your shopping list at 7 weeks of pregnancy should include the following:

• A Pregnancy Journal: To note down your feelings and emotions during pregnancy.
• Good Lotions: You can buy good lotions or oils to moisturize your skin as it may become drier than before.
• A Comfortable Brassier: Now that your breasts are tender and swollen, wearing a comfortable bra may be helpful.

• Comfortable Bottom Wear: A must, might we say. It is recommended to opt for stretchable fabric as your size will constantly be changing in the coming months.
• Good Pregnancy Books: You may buy good pregnancy books to know more about pregnancy.

FAQs

1. Is it safe to eat processed foods like instant noodles to ease cravings during pregnancy?

All processed foods have a very negligible amount of nutrition, including instant noodles, due to the presence of low-quality ingredients, food colours, preservatives, additives, and flavour enhancers. All these are harmful for a pregnant woman if she eats them frequently. However, eating instant noodles once in a blue moon won’t harm much, but that, too, should be in moderate quantity. It is important to be aware of high sodium levels in processed foods, which could jeopardise a pregnant woman’s health. Therefore, pregnant women are advised to have healthy snacks, like carrot sticks, whole-wheat buns, homemade pasta or noodles, etc., if they have intense food cravings.

2. What is the usual “feeling” of being 7 weeks pregnant?

It is possible to probably feel nothing to some pregnancy symptoms, like bloating, cramps, mood swings, and fatigue, when you are seven weeks pregnant.

3. How does your tummy feel when you are 7 weeks pregnant?

If you’re dealing with morning sickness in the 7th week of pregnancy, it’s common for it to peak during the end of your first trimester. You might also have some gastrointestinal discomfort that makes your stomach feel unsettled.

4. Can pregnancy symptoms subside at 7 weeks of pregnancy?

Your body will undergo a lot of changes in the 7th week of your pregnancy. But it’s just the beginning. You may feel nauseous, fatigued and lethargic. Things will get better in the second trimester, and morning sickness and nausea may return in the third trimester. But by staying positive and following a healthy lifestyle, you can have a healthy pregnancy. If you experience any discomfort, connect with a doctor immediately.

References/Resources:

1. Week 7; Nemours KidsHealth; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/week7.html

2. Week 7; NHS; https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/pregnancy/week-by-week-guide-to-pregnancy/1st-trimester/week-7/#look-like

3. 7 Weeks Pregnant; American Pregnancy Association; https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/week-by-week/7-weeks-pregnant/

4. 1st trimester pregnancy: What to expect; Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20047208

5. Skin Conditions During Pregnancy; ACOG; https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/skin-conditions-during-pregnancy?utm_source=redirect&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=otn

6. Pregnancy at week 7; Pregnancy Birth & Baby; https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/pregnancy-at-week-7

7. Nutrition During Pregnancy: Foods To Include and Foods To Avoid; Cleveland Clinic; https://health.clevelandclinic.org/pregnancy-diet; November 2023

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