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.
Highlights at 8 Weeks Pregnant
Your eighth week of pregnancy is here, and we’ve got some exciting and important highlights for you to check out:
Your little one is starting to develop tiny fingers and toes!
You’ll likely have a prenatal appointment with your healthcare provider this week, or in the coming weeks—the perfect time to bring up questions.
Start thinking about when (and how) you’d like to share the big news! The end of the first trimester is on the horizon, which is when many people tell others that they are pregnant.
Be prepared for some new symptoms, like pain in the lower back. The muscles are working harder to support your growing uterus.
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.
How Big Is a Pregnant Belly at 8 Weeks?
Can you start showing at 8 weeks? Every pregnancy is unique, but it’s safe to say that you probably won’t see any difference in your belly’s size (even when pregnant with twins) at 8 weeks. Remember, your little one is only the size of a raspberry! If you’re experiencing slight bloating around your abdomen at 8 weeks pregnant, you might notice what appears to be a small belly. You may not have a true baby bump around week 12 to 16, as your uterus becomes too big to fit into your pelvis area.
What Does 8 Weeks Pregnant Look Like?
To get a better idea of what your belly might look like around 8 weeks pregnant, when you’re in your second month of pregnancy, check out the image below.
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.
How Many Months Is 8 Weeks Pregnant?
Though it’s more common to refer to your pregnancy in weeks, it’s sometimes easier to envision it in months. There is not a single, standard way to group the 40 weeks of pregnancy into months, but at 8 weeks pregnant, you could be nearing the end of your second month of pregnancy, even if you haven’t noticed any belly bump or symptoms!
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: Things to Consider
As you round out the second month in your pregnancy journey, there are plenty of important things to do and think about in the coming weeks, from brushing up on pregnancy symptoms to researching baby names. Check out our list below.
You might want to add a few pieces of stretchy clothing to your wardrobe that will grow with you. Your clothes might be feeling tight by now, and you'll want to avoid tight pants from here on out. Don't forget to get fitted for the correct bra size throughout your pregnancy as your breasts grow.
Take care of yourself by exercising. If you were fairly active before your pregnancy, it’s usually considered safe to continue the activities you enjoyed (just confirm with your healthcare provider to be sure).
Getting good care is important! It’s time for your first visit with your healthcare provider, so if you haven’t chosen a provider, now is a good time. Your options may depend on where you live and your insurance coverage, but whomever you choose, it’s important that you’re comfortable with this person's philosophy and practices.
Should you tell your boss you’re pregnant at 8 weeks? How about family and friends? When to tell people you’re pregnant is the subject of much debate: Some choose to tell close friends and family right away. Others wait until they’re past the first trimester, when the risk of miscarriage is much lower. In the end, it’s totally up to you!
If you have a little spare time this week, take a moment to read up on some of the pregnancy warning signs you shouldn’t ignore. Being aware of the symptoms of potential complications might help you feel confident about what may be normal and what may not be. Remember, your healthcare provider is the expert, though, so if you’re ever in doubt or have concerns, contact them right away.
It’s still early and you won’t yet know the biological sex of your baby, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun thinking about baby names. Start making a list of names—you may even like to add them to your pregnancy memory book, if you have one, so in the years to come your child can look back at the names you were considering. You can keep adding to your short list before eventually making your choice—no pressure though, as you still have many months to decide.
Connect with other parents who are due around the same time as you, or other parents in your area. There may be a social media group you can find, or perhaps a community support group you can reach out to. Parents with babies or young children in your neighborhood can be a wealth of information and support.
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.
8 Weeks Pregnant: Questions for Your Healthcare Provider
Eight weeks is a good time for your first prenatal visit. Prenatal care appointments typically occur once a month until the last two months of your pregnancy, becoming more frequent before you give birth. These checkups give you the perfect opportunity to ask any questions you might have. As you prepare for your appointment, consider the following questions to ask your healthcare provider.
What are some ways to get a better night’s sleep?
Is it normal to be having more vivid dreams during pregnancy?
Is traveling while pregnant safe? If so, when is the best time to take a trip and when should I stop traveling?
When and how should I contact the provider if I have questions or concerns between appointments?
What types of prenatal tests are needed or recommended, and when should they be scheduled?
Frequently Asked Questions
You will be 2 months pregnant when you are 8 weeks pregnant.
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.
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