7 weeks pregnant
Your Baby’s Development
When women are in their seventh week of pregnancy, their baby is in the process of developing most of its body parts and organs. This includes the hair on its head, eyelids, and the tongue. Its head continues to grow, and is relatively larger than the rest of the body. At the same, the umbilical cord continues grow during this time, therefore, allowing the baby some movement in the womb. The baby may just be about the weight of a small tablet this time.
Other developments in the baby include functioning of its nerves. Its abdomen and thorax develop fully by the seventh week. The baby is able to open its mouth. Its lungs also are in the process of developing.
How Your Body Changes
Even though the baby grows at a rapid rate during this time, women do not seem ‘pregnant’. Some women may gain weight, while others may lose it. This varies with women and their respective pregnancies, and is perfectly normal. Symptoms such as morning sickness, nausea, dizziness, mood swings, and frequent urination may continue. The tenderness in the breasts persists, with the areolas becoming darker in color. This is due to the hormonal changes occurring inside the body. Some women may experience constipation during this time. They are advised to drink lots of water.
What to Do
Doctors advise women to eat small, frequent meals throughout the day. According to them, symptoms such as nausea can be relieved by eating watermelons or sniffing lemons. It is important that women suffering from nausea avoid oily or fried food.
In some cases, the bouts of vomiting become severe. This condition is called ‘Hyperemesis Gravidarum’. Women tend to experience weight loss also during this condition. While most cases can be normalized by prescribing antacids, in more severe cases, women have to be hospitalized.
The Stages of pregnancy
