8 weeks pregnant

Your baby at 8 weeks is the size of a raspberry now. While it is 8 weeks of your pregnancy, the gestational age of your baby is 6 weeks.

8 Weeks Pregnant Belly & Baby Development

Tummy works - During the 8th week of pregnancy, the extremities aren't the only things developing, the middle is making strides too. As the intestines form, a middle loop moves into the umbilical cord because there's not enough room for it in the abdomen. Even at this early stage of the first trimester, the intestines are working to carry waste away from the body. A month from now, when there's more room in your little one's belly, the intestines will move out of the cord and back into the abdomen.

Live wire. If you could poke your little one's body, you'd see it react with a jerk. The developing nervous system is already communicating with the muscles.

You would also notice your clothes getting a little tighter, while you gradually gain a few pounds. Your 8 weeks pregnant belly and uterus are expanding to accommodate the growing baby.

Pregnancy Symptoms At 8 Weeks Pregnant

With each passing week of the pregnancy, your symptoms might change. However, some of them would be the same with more intensity.

8 weeks pregnant symptoms include

1. Fatigue:

You might feel tired all the time while you are 8 weeks pregnant. This is because at this time you will have a lot of hormone fluctuations and increased blood production for the baby. It also means that your blood sugar level and blood pressure drops down than normal, leading to fatigue and tiredness. To fight this, get as much as sleep as you can. Go to bed early or take small naps in the day between your daily chores to keep fatigue during pregnancy at bay.

2. Nausea and vomiting:

You could feel morning sickness more often now. Though it is very normal, it might trouble you a lot. Try having ginger items like ginger candies, ginger ale or ginger cookies. Ginger is known to give relief from nausea. You can also try peppermint.

3. Weird dreams:

Don't get worried if you have started getting strange or weird dreams, because it is completely normal. It might be because of the anxiety and a range of different emotions you are experiencing now days.

4. Heightened sense of smell:

During this time, a whiff of an offensive odour that was very normal earlier could trigger nausea. Avoid the smells that you have become sensitive to. You might also experience a strong sense of smell or new likes and dislikes for food and drinks. Maintain a healthy diet during pregnancy journey, while coping with these aversions.

Apart from these, in this week you might also experience other 8 weeks pregnant symptoms like bloating and gas, constipation and increased vaginal discharge. This increase in vaginal discharge during pregnancy has nothing to be worried about as it is necessary to keep you away from any kind of infection.

Ultrasound At 8th Week Of Pregnancy

Shaping up - In the 8 weeks pregnant ultrasound, you would be able to look at your baby's body parts taking shape.

At 8 weeks pregnant, hands and feet are forming tiny webbed fingers and toes. The tail your little one has been sporting starts to disappear. Right now the embryo's shape is more cubical than round. Get ready to be overwhelmed when you see your baby's tiny hands and feet moving during the 8 weeks pregnant ultrasound.

8 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist

1. Getting good care

- It's time for your first visit with your healthcare provider, so if you haven't chosen a provider, do this now. Women who start receiving prenatal care in the first three months have smoother pregnancies and healthier babies than those who don't receive early care. Whether you pick an OB-GYN, a family physician, a nurse practitioner, or a midwife, it's important that you're comfortable with his or her philosophy and practices.

2. Calendar watch

- Your visits are usually scheduled once a month until the last two months of your pregnancy when they will become more frequent until birth. Saving these dates for the antenatal appointments in your pregnancy calendar is necessary. These regular checkups give you the perfect opportunity to ask questions and bring up concerns, so come prepared!

3. When to tell. It's a subject of much debate

- When should you share your exciting news with the rest of the world? Some couples tell close friends and family right away. Others choose to wait until they're past the first trimester when the risk of miscarriage is much lower. Some women prefer to wait until they're showing.

Quick tip: If you're experiencing morning sickness, try keeping crackers at your bedside to eat before you get up and aim for five or six small meals a day, rather than three large meals. You can also explore quick tips to avoid morning sickness during pregnancy when 8 weeks pregnant.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. 8 Weeks Pregnant is How Many Months?

You will be 2 months pregnant when you are 8 weeks pregnant.

2. What can a fetus do at 8 weeks?

Your baby at 8 weeks has developed his nervous system and might jerk if you poke it. It has started developing its body parts like arms and legs, fingers, toes, bones and muscles. You might not be able to feel it yet, but your little one has started moving within its space now.

3. What should you eat at 8 weeks pregnant?

You should be strictly on a healthy diet now, cutting all kinds of toxic food like caffeine, tobacco or alcohol. Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetable and avoid packed food. You should eat more of dairy products like milk, cheese, yoghurt, curd etc. Also make sure to include important vitamins and folic acid in the form of green leafy vegetables, lentils, pulses and cereals. Include a lot of water and juices in your diet as well.

Precautions & Tips At 8th Week Of Pregnancy

• Find a physician, nurse practitioner, or midwife you like and trust

• Once you've chosen a provider, schedule your monthly prenatal care appointments. Get week-by-week expert tips on pregnancy to keep track of your baby’s development & to ensure the well-being of both you & your baby during the entire nine months journey!

• With your partner, plan how you’ll share the big news with family and friends. Here are some of the fun ideas for pregnancy announcement to inspire both you & your partner.

• Start wearing comfortable clothes including maternity bras for adequate support to your tender breasts

• Also, keep a close check on your diet plan and never miss your prenatal vitamins and medicines.