9 Weeks Pregnant

By the ninth week of pregnancy, medically the baby has been called an embryo is now called a fetus. The baby is now about 13 and 17mm and weighs about one gram. In this stage of pregnancy, the baby starts to look like a baby. When you see a sonogram picture, you can make out a baby. New moms to be may start to experience more indigestion and heartburn due to their bodies making the adjustments to the growing baby.

By the ninth week of pregnancy, you should be gaining some weight. It is best to gain weight gradually rather than all at once. The morning sickness if you are one of the unlucky ones will start to decrease. You also may see an increase of mood changes and you will feel more bloated. The best way to alleviate these symptoms is to sleep on your side. Sleeping on your sides will also promote better circulation and better digestion.

As you progress into the pregnancy, it will become harder and harder to sleep on your back. Doctors recommend sleeping on your side and if you experience some discomfort, try placing a pillow in between your knees. Most baby stores sell a pillow designed for this situation or you can use a regular pillow as well.

Baby’s Development

The baby is still continuing to develop at a quick pace. The baby has all of the features of a human being but still small in size. As the weeks progress, the baby will continue to grow bigger and bigger. The baby’s eyelids are now 100% fully formed and are tightly shut, once you enter into the 28th week of pregnancy, you will see the baby’s eyes open. By now, the baby’s sex can be determined but you will have a hard time seeing it on the sonogram until about the 20th week or so.

8 Weeks Pregnant

Congratulations! You are at the end of the second month of pregnancy. You are now half way through the first trimester. If you are having morning sickness, the end is in sight. You still won’t be showing baby yet, but there will be a slight weight gain that may show. As the baby grows, so will you. All new mothers are told that the changes for miscarriage are reducing as the weeks go on.

The uterus is now the size of a grapefruit so the baby is growing at a great pace. As the baby grows you may experience indigestion and heartburn this is caused by the acid because of the water retention from the baby. Consult your doctor before taking any over the counter medication that you would normally use for indigestion. You have to be very careful what kind of medicines you are putting into your body.

As you come to the end of the second month, some women experience more severe cases of morning sickness. Consult your doctor if the morning sickness is getting worse. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, morning sickness lasts usually up to the first trimester. Try to follow an exercise plan with a diet pattern that is easy to follow. You now have to try to cut out fried foods and most unhealthy foods.

Baby’s Development

By the end of the second month the baby has all of the human beings have. Their facial features to the internal organs, bones and muscles all are formed. The baby’s fingers are toes are formed but they are webbed at this stage. The eyelids are developing more and more and even the baby’s tip of the nose can be seen.

By the eight week of pregnancy, the baby’s sex is confirmed but it won’t be noticeable in a sonogram until the 4th or 5th month. The baby’s body frame consists of cartilage and starting from day 47, the baby’s first bone cells will take over from the cartilage. The baby’s face and jaw line are forming and baby will start to develop teeth and facial muscles too. Though the baby is small, the weight should be about 3 grams.

As the weeks progress, you will see more changes in your baby’s development. Each time you have a sonogram, you can take a look back at the very first one and see all of the progress that your baby has made. These changes only get more amazing as time goes on.

Changes With Your Body

Now you may be able to see some outer physical changes as well as more inner changes. Your blood volume has increased quite significantly in the eighth week of pregnancy. It has increased about 40% to 50%. As for physical changes, the breast will still be tender and sore because the body is preparing for lactation. You may notice darker veins around the breasts area, this happens because of the increased blood flow. You may want to get a more supportive bra or a more comfortable bra. This will take the uneasiness from the breast and it will make you feel much better.

If you start to experience lower abdominal pain, there is nothing to worry about. This is the uterus growing; as the baby grows you will start to feel more pressure in that area. It is perfectly normal. You may experience some tightening or contractions in the uterus. You may also feel a pain in the legs this is called the sciatica nerve and it is very common in pregnancy. By reading the baby books, you will have a more in-depth idea of what each month is bringing you.

What To Expect

If you are one of the women who have lost weight in the pregnancy, now would be the time for the weight to come back. The baby has adjusted to their internal changes and the morning sickness may start to subside. You are getting ready for your next doctors appointment. You will have a physical to make sure that your blood pressure and weight is doing. The doctor will check your urine to make sure that your body’s levels are all on target.

You will have to go through some testing such as the HIV Test; this test is required by law. You will have to take an Rh factor test, a blood test to determine your blood type and other tests such as the glucose tests. Also at this time, the doctor will sit down with you to discuss any precautions they may want you to take.

They will talk about medications, sickness you may come down with while pregnant. They will cover any emergencies that may come up. Pretty much at this point you will have all of your questions answered.

Tips/Advice

By now, your body should be adjusting very nicely to the baby. You will start to see some symptoms subside and others increase. You should be on or formulating a plan to stay healthy. Perhaps make a schedule of the best times to exercise and if you have chosen to eat more meals during the day then you can create a schedule of the times where you want to eat.

Try to plan those meals at least an hour before you lie down. By lying down after a meal it may cause nausea as well as indigestion. Try to eat the heavier meals during the day and keep the lighter meals for nighttime. Staying healthy is the most important for you and the baby.

But staying healthy physically is just the start. If you are having any concerns or any thoughts about the pregnancy, it is always a good idea to discuss them with your significant other. You will feel better if you keep the lines of communication open. Sometimes, significant others may have mixed feelings and they really can’t understand what pregnancy is like because they can’t carry the baby. So share as much of your experience with them.

7 Weeks Pregnant

In week seven of pregnancy, you may not see any changes in your physical appearance yet but the baby continues to grow and develop at a nice pace. If you haven’t done so already, you may be itching to start telling family and friends about the pregnancy. Keeping it a secret it can be stressful but exciting so when you finally tell people, you know they are going to be happy.

The baby is about the size of a pea now, the baby is growing quickly and this is where you need to start keeping up your strength and eat healthy. Continue to take your prenatal vitamins and get plenty of rest. If your body is well rested it will help keep the baby healthy. By stressing out and getting upset, it won’t be healthy for the baby.

As you move further along, you will be able to look forward to hearing the heartbeat and knowing what sex the baby is going to be. As the baby grows you will be able to see what the baby looks like through a 3D Sonogram. You probably have to wait until the seventh month or so before the doctor will offer that type of sonogram.

Baby’s Development

At week seven of pregnancy, the baby should be about 0.44 to 0.52 inches. In this week of pregnancy, the baby will start developing hair, nipple follicles as well as the eyelids and tongue. You will start to see the little elbows and toes starting to take shape. The placenta starts to become visible by now. The internal organs are already forming and the heart has started beating so on the sonogram you may be able to hear it.

The baby is now able to float around through the amniotic sac and the umbilical cord is starting to grow as well. The baby’s nerves and muscles will start forming and the reflexes are starting to show. The lungs are developing more and more everyday. These are great changes and developments but the baby can only grow with your help. Stay on the right path, eat right, take your vitamins and get plenty of sleep.

As the weeks go on, you will start to see the grow and the development of the baby and that is due in part to your good eating habits and also in the way you have been taking care of yourself.

Changes with your body

The wonderful changes that you are experiencing may not feel so great but they are well worth the end result. By looking at you, others may not be able to tell whether or not you are pregnant just yet. Since every woman s different, some will gain weight in this time and others may lose weight. Don’t be alarmed at losing weight; your doctor has been monitoring your weight from the start.

The body’s weight gain or loss is just your body’s way of adjusting to the growth of the baby. You may have increased morning sickness but that should be disappearing soon. You may notice that the breast will feel tenderer and the areolas will change in color due to the hormonal change.

You may also start getting headaches, mood swings, frequent urination, constipation and indigestion. Consult your doctor before taking any over the counter medications, it is very important at this time that you watch what you are putting into your body.

You will also be craving a lot more different types of food now. It is ok to give into your cravings, just be careful not to over do it all at once. Some women may feel their cravings decrease but every woman is different. The doctor is monitoring your weight every month, so if you have any concerns always ask.

What To Expect

If you are still experiencing morning sickness it is likely to subside in the next few weeks. A lot of the nausea comes from uneasiness in your stomach; try eating smaller but more meals. Experts suggest smelling lemons if you start to feel nauseous. Watermelon is said to be a great reliever of morning sickness. Try not to lay down after big meals and try to get plenty of naps.

If the morning sickness gets worse, consult your doctor and see if they may another reason why the nausea is getting worse. Try to stay hydrated throughout the bouts of morning sickness. If the morning sickness persists, you may have to be hospitalized or the doctor may prescribe bed rest. Ask your doctor for any thing that they can recommend to help with the nausea.

The key is to stay healthy during your pregnancy. If you feel something is not right and symptoms like morning sickness are becoming more severe, contact the doctor. Even if it is nothing, it is best to be safe than sorry. Especially when it comes to the health of your baby.

Tips/Advice

You are still able to do everything you are doing now. There are really no restrictions at this stage of pregnancy. You will be getting ready for the next doctors visit. There will be blood tests that have to be performed to help monitor your pregnancy and your health.

Remember that your health and the health of the baby comes first. If you need to slow down and work less or sit down and eat a complete meal, then do so. Take your vitamins and drink plenty of fluids. Try to stay away from coffee or drinks with a lot of caffeine. Juices and flavored waters are ok. Cut back on snacking on heavy salted food like potato chips, they can actually contribute to the nausea.

If you need help in developing a meal plan or you want to know what are the right kind of snacks to eat. Ask your doctor to help you; there are plenty of websites online that can help you create your own plan if that is easier for you to stick to.