Hey there, moms and dads-to-be! Because it’s been 10 years since my last pregnancy, I’ve found myself walking down memory lane, reminiscing about each of my prior pregnancies. I’ve wondered how this one will be different, especially since I am older now. Whether you’re having your first child or your sixth (like me), these past seven (or fewer) weeks will likely seem surreal. I’d know, because it’s that way for me at this moment.

7 Weeks Pregnant: Recurring Symptoms

7 Weeks Pregnant: Common Symptoms

Pregnancy Acne

Has the acne from your teenage years returned with a vengeance? Pregnancy hormones increase the amount of oil secretions on your skin, which works wonders for creating your pregnancy glow. These hormones, though, can also increase your risks of getting acne outbreaks. I’ve been able to stay away from these breakouts by resisting the urge to touch my face (it’s so hard!) and washing my face frequently, especially after exercise. Acne removal should be treated with caution during pregnancy, so talk to your doctor about your skin care routine.

Will my Breasts Grow During Pregnancy?

In the same way that your baby is preparing for life outside the womb, your breasts are preparing — and growing — in order to provide milk for your newborn baby. During my prior pregnancies, I did notice that my breasts grew slightly. Pregnant women can expect their breasts to grow up to three cup sizes, so it is definitely a good idea to purchase some comfortable yet cheap maternity bras. I recommend buying nursing bras and using these during your pregnancy since they can serve you for the long term. In addition to breast growth during pregnancy, many women also experience breast tenderness during the first trimester which often subsides during the second trimester.

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Stages of Fetal Development: Baby Growth & Size at 7 Weeks

At week 7, your baby weighs less than .04 ounces and is .5 inches long, about the size of a blueberry. If you begin to feel your clothes stretch, that is with good reason. Since your baby implanted itself in your uterus at the beginning of week 4, your baby has approximately grown 10,000 times its size! WOW! Talk about a growth spurt. If you were worried about your baby’s tail, you can breathe a sigh of relief. By week 7, that tail should have left the scene.

Just like your baby’s overall body, your baby’s brain is embarking upon a growth spurt. In the time it’s taken you to read this section about your baby (probably close to a minute), your baby’s brain has added 100 new cells. That’s about 144,000 new brain cells a day.

Perhaps the weirdest development of the week revolves around your baby’s intestines. Your baby’s intestines have rapidly run out of room to grow in the abdomen. To make some space for the other growing abdominal organs, the intestines have begun to extend into the umbilical cord, where they will stay until your baby’s abdominal cavity has enough room for it to occupy. Um . . . how odd! 

My Pregnant Belly Progression

As you can see, I’m still not sporting a visible bump. I think that’s partially because I’m so tall and my babies historically have been relatively small. I’ve definitely gotten a touch fuller in my jeans over the past few weeks, but it’s hard to notice here. The pregnancy bump varies greatly from expecting mother to mother, so don’t worry if your bump looks bigger or smaller than what you might have expected. Some women show a lot more at 7 weeks, while some don’t show very much at all. There’s a huge range of normal. The lack of bump means that I can continue to exercise as usual, but that hasn’t solved the problem of my extreme fatigue. I’m definitely testing the limits of my internal motivation. Check out my 7 weeks pregnant belly!

Hyperemesis Gravidarum – Morning Sickness to the Extreme

When I first heard about this condition, I thought I was reading some spell from Harry Potter that would turn my hair blue (not my pregnancy hair!). Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a condition that appears early in the first trimester in about 1-2% of all pregnancies. The condition causes excessive (and I mean excessive) vomiting to the point of malnutrition, dehydration, and weight loss.

Most women are diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum around week 9 of pregnancy, so be on the lookout for those symptoms. You are at an increased risk of contracting hyperemesis gravidarum if you have very high hCG levels, are pregnant with more than one baby, or have a molar pregnancy, an abnormal implantation of a non-viable egg which will fail to come to term. 

Your Pregnancy at 7 Weeks: Prenatal Appointments

You most likely will not have a regular doctor’s visit at 7 weeks of pregnancy but you might do a home pregnancy test or a pregnancy blood test.

Week by Week Pregnancy Food Guide: Healthy Foods for You & Baby

Try to make sure that everything you eat is packed with the nutrients you and your baby need! Check out Week 4 and Week 5 for a complete pregnancy food guide, and visit each week for a new healthy pregnancy recipe.

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How Many Months Is 7 Weeks?

Seven weeks in months means you are at the end of your second month of pregnancy. At 8 weeks of pregnancy, you will be around 2 months pregnant.

Week 7 Pregnancy Checklist

Resources

• What to Expect & What to Expect When You’re Expecting – 5th Edition (2016)
• The Bump
• Baby List
• Parents.com
• Healthline.com
• WebMD
• The Mama Natural Week to Week Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth (2017)
• Mayo Clinic’s Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy – Second Edition (2018)
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists