8 Weeks Pregnant

A mother’s joy begins when new life is stirring inside… when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone.

– Unknown

Although you might not have a baby bump in your eighth week of pregnancy, being pregnant is most definitely beginning to feel natural to you. By now, you might have booked your first prenatal appointment with your OB around this time. An ultrasound would be done during this appointment to assess how far along you are. You will also be able to hear and see the baby’s pulse or heartbeat!  Also, you will get all your doubts cleared and can be free of your worries. The time has definitely come to announce to your close family members and share that sonogram you have of your little one.

What to Expect in the Eighth Week?

The Size of The Baby in the Eighth Week

During the eighth week of your pregnancy, your baby is the size of a Raspberry, and weighs approximately 0.04 ounces, and spans approximately 0.63 inches. Per day, the child grows about a millimeter.

The Monthly Equivalent for the Eighth Week of Pregnancy

In your eighth week of pregnancy, you have completed your two months of pregnancy. Though doctors usually refer to pregnancy in weeks rather than months.

Symptoms

You will have a strong sense of smell in your eighth week of pregnancy, which worsens nausea. There is a slew of pregnancy signs you may be experiencing at being eight weeks pregnant, along with a set of bizarre pregnancy dreams, including:

• Sore breasts. Your breasts can appear larger, heavier, and pretty sensitive or sore. This happens because of the fact that the milk-producing lobules in your breasts are beginning to expand. But do not worry, it is nothing to be alarmed about. They are preparing your body to breastfeed your baby.
• In the eighth week of your pregnancy, napping is a real challenge. Your body produces more blood for the baby as your hormones fluctuate, and your blood pressure and blood sugar may be lower than they were pre-pregnancy. Your body is busy supplying energy to your fetus. The best solution is to increase your sleep hours. And it sounds easier than it is, so try getting to bed early or squeezing in a nap or more on weekends. Sleeping and resting should be your top priority right now.
• Morning sickness. Nausea can be serious during the eighth week due to the pregnancy hormones once again and because you are approaching this symptom’s peak. Drink lots of water and enjoy nutritious snacks during the day. It can be difficult to hold food down, let alone eat well, if you are having extreme pregnancy nausea at eight weeks, so discovering foods you can handle is important. To cope with morning sickness, some expectant mothers swear by ginger, Vitamin B6, and acupressure wristbands—all of which are worth a try.
• Heightened sense of smell. Another strange symptom that comes with morning sickness is an uncanny sense of smell. Getting a hint of an unpleasant odor even if it is completely harmless or has never disturbed you before can cause nausea and vomiting, so try to minimize being near strong smells and smells you have become sensitive to.
• Pregnancy cramps. Cramping is expected in the eighth week of your pregnancy. This is due to the fact that when your uterus expands, the ligaments in your abdomen stretch. Inform the doctor if your cramping is serious or if you are concerned about it due to something unusual.
• Constipation: You are not alone if you are having trouble going to the toilet. Around half of pregnant women suffer from constipation. Drink plenty of water, eat plenty of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, stop constipating foods like white grains and potatoes, and go on walks often. If you are still having problems, speak to the doctor about other options.
• Weird dreams. You might be getting some really intense and weird dreams. They are completely natural during pregnancy. It is unknown what triggers these dreams; they may be caused by new thoughts and anxieties and since you might have a lot on your mind these days.
• Spotting. It is concerning to discover you are bleeding at eight weeks pregnant because blood may indicate a miscarriage. Spotting in the first trimester can be caused by a variety of factors, including sex, as your cervix may be a little more sensitive these days. Inform the doctor so that any future conditions can be ruled out.

You may feel extra sleepy and nauseous if you are in the eighth week of your pregnancy with twins since you will obviously have a higher level of pregnancy hormones which is required to make two babies.

Remember: Whether you are feeling queasy, hungry, or sleepy, it is because your baby’s developing quickly in your body, and your body is still adapting to all those hormone shifts. Remind yourself that it would be worthwhile. This is particularly true as you enter the second trimester when most expectant mothers recover their energy.

This is also crucial to keep in mind that having no pregnancy symptoms in the eighth week of your pregnancy is completely normal. Don’t be surprised if you are not feeling any different from before just yet. You will start experiencing your pregnancy symptoms, be it physical or emotional, soon.

While it is true that you will feel the pregnancy symptoms throughout your pregnancy in some or the other way, the good news is that as your pregnancy progresses and your belly and baby develop, those signs will improve, and some will disappear. The second trimester typically relieves the worst of the sickness, and you will experience a return to stamina when you get closer to the end of your pregnancy. If you are already symptom-free during the eighth week of your pregnancy, then “no symptoms” could quickly transform into a slew of them.

Also, it is normal if you are tired of this pregnancy thing already. And it is reasonable to wonder how you will get through the next eight months of relentless fatigue and nausea, an achy eight-week pregnant belly, and hormonal mood swings that will not end. Do not fret if you are feeling this way. When the beautiful second trimester starts in about a month, things might start to feel better. Take it easy and try to be patient with yourself before then. It takes a lot of effort to develop a child, so reward your body by eating nutritious food and getting proper rest.

Changes in Your Body in the Eighth Week.

You might have a baby bump by now. It is natural to show a little in the eighth week of your pregnancy, but it is also normal not to show at all. Remember every mother and child are different. Know that your baby is growing inside your eight-week pregnant abdomen, but it will take a little longer for it to “show” on the outside. It might be easier to tell if you are pregnant with twins in the eighth week than it is to tell if you are pregnant with a singleton at this stage.

Your OB will most likely start weighing your pregnant belly in the second trimester, so size does not matter right now.

You could have only gained a few pounds in your eighth week of pregnancy due to the healthy weight gain of one to five pounds in the first trimester.  However, if you have been recovering from morning sickness, you might have gained very little weight—and that is good, too. To assist with nausea, women’s diets and eating habits will change dramatically in the first trimester, resulting in weight gain or loss. That is fine. Your doctor will have an eye on it and check for long-term weight gain as well. If you are worried about your weight gain or belly size, talk to your doctor.

Medical Care in the Eighth Week of Pregnancy

Ultrasound

You might have your first pregnancy check-up around this time (also known as an eighth-week maternity appointment), and if so, you may be able to see your eight-week-old fetus on the ultrasound. You may be stunned to see the baby’s arms and legs move about in there like s/he is dancing. While you cannot feel it yet, but it is definitely happening.

In the eighth week of your pregnancy, the baby’s fingers and toes are still partially webbed, and their tail (yes, there was one) has disappeared. The baby’s taste buds are already developing.

Your blood will most likely be taken at your first prenatal appointment so that the doctor can run tests. Your doctor would like to know your blood type and whether you are Rh-positive or negative (because if you are negative and your baby is positive, you will take treatment to stop complications). Your hormone levels, as well as your red and white blood cell counts, will be tested to ensure they are normal. Your blood samples will also be tested for Hepatitis B, STDs, HIV, and a few immunity tests.

A pap smear can also be performed to screen for infections and anomalies. Prepare to pee in a cup, and you will be asked to have a urine sample at this appointment and probably every appointment to screen for symptoms of a UTI and to monitor protein in your urine if you are at risk of developing preeclampsia.

After the appointment, you can get your baby’s ultrasound images from the first consultation and surprise your family with them.

Growth of Your Baby in The Eighth Week of Pregnancy

You will finally be able to see your little one. During the eighth week of your pregnancy, you will get your first ultrasound if you have not already. And you are expected to get your first look at your baby this week or next. You will be able to look at your baby’s little arms, legs, fingertips, and toes, which are getting more defined. And he or she will be less rolled up, allowing you to see their frequent little twitches and bounces. There is now a distinct nose and upper lip, as well as tiny eyelids and ears. So, you can finally see why your body was so exhausted. Also, do not forget to address your concerns with the OB.

Suggestions to Follow During the Eighth Week of Pregnancy

• Make sure to eat nutritious meals when you can.

For the next few weeks, you can alternate between feeling like you want to puke out everything and wanting to eat everything there is in the fridge. When you do feel hungry, consume balanced, nutritious meals as they can be difficult to swallow when nausea hits you again.

• Rest to get rid of headaches.

Since your blood volume has increased, you can develop headaches. Rest and drink lots of water are two things you should do. If you cannot get rid of the headaches on your own, see your doctor about taking acetaminophen as it is safer during pregnancy than aspirin or ibuprofen.

• Use Sunscreen

Getting outdoors and going on a thirty-minute walk every day is a fantastic workout, and it also helps with other pregnancy symptoms. Unfortunately, whether your pregnancy symptoms include skin changes such as chloasma or melasma, sun exposure will aggravate the dark spots. Wear an SPF 30+ sunscreen and a cap every day to cover the skin and avoid worsening the patches.

• Do not hold in your pee.

You will constantly have an urge to pee a lot, which is natural. Please do not hold your pee in for long times. Since you are more likely to get a UTI when pregnant, make sure you pee when you need to, empty your bladder properly, and clean gently to avoid infection. Also, do not avoid drinking water due to frequent urination. You need to stay hydrated.

To-Do List in Your Eighth Week of Pregnancy.

• Get an appointment for your twelfth week of the prenatal visit.
• Find more about non-invasive pregnancy testing.
• Consider interesting and creative ways to share the good news with your family.

Week By Week Pregnancy

Select your week