Pregnancy - Week 7

You are 6 weeks pregnant or in your 7th week of pregnancy (counting from the first day of your Last Menstrual Period).

Keep in mind that this information is approximate. Each pregnancy is different and growth rates vary.  For variations and details, please talk to your doctor.

Week 6

Week 8

What’s happening to the baby?

• Baby's organ development continues.
• The umbilical cord has formed.
• The arms and legs continue to grow with the arms developing elbows and the legs developing knees. The buds that will become fingers and toes are also growing.
• Eyes continue development, including eyelids and lenses.
• Your baby is about 8 millimetres long.

What’s happening to mom?

• The baby's organs are developing rapidly and of course this will affect you.
• Nausea and vomiting (morning sickness) would have started now. Despite its name, morning sickness can occur at any hour or all day, so don't be surprised if your queasy stomach doesn't pass by noon. Nausea isn't the only thing that has you running to the toilet, though. Hormonal changes and other factors, such as your kidneys working extra hard to flush wastes out of your body, cause you to urinate more frequently, too.
• Along with the developing baby, your body too is undergoing many changes.   Even though people cannot make out that you are pregnant, you might have gained a couple of pounds.  You also may have actually lost weight if you are experiencing morning sickness at this point.  Losing a little weight at this stage is common and in a few weeks, you will start gaining weight.
• You continue to experience early pregnancy symptoms (like fatigue, nausea, tender breasts, constipation/indigestion, dizziness etc.).
• Around this time, you will also notice a darkening of your areolas (area around the nipples in your breasts).  It is said that this helps the baby spot your nipples for breastfeeding. Your body also is busy preparing for the little one.
• With all the hormonal changes, you will notice mood swings.  Many women are sensitive and emotional at this time—over small things, watching movies etc.  Do not worry.  This is normal. Continue to exercise and in general stay active busy.
• Your mucous plug (which seals your cervix) will be in place by now and will stay there till you are very close to labour.

Create your own customized week-by-week pregnancy calendar

Checklist for mom

• Eat healthy and drink lots of water.
• Keep nausea remedies handy (salty crackers, ginger biscuits, lemon wedges etc.) - in the car, in your handbag, in the office and at your bedside. It can strike any time. If nausea has not struck you yet, count yourself lucky.
• Avoid or postpone (until the second trimester in some cases) strong chemical substances (perms, hair colouring, manicures, etc.), because this is a critical time in your baby's organ development. Check with your doctor about this.
• If your nausea is really bad and getting in the way of your work, it might be a good idea to let your boss or close colleagues know that you are pregnant. If not, then you could wait a little (and tell once your doctor’s appointment is over or your first trimester is over).
• Continue your folic acid regimen.
• If you have an older child, decide when you want to communicate the news about the baby. Read Parentree's tips on how to manage this sibling rivalry.

If you have not already:

• By now you should have had or made a doctor's appointment, otherwise you might risk not getting an appointment early.
• If you not already had your first doctor’s appointment, get ready for the first appointment.  Start jotting questions. The doctor will do blood and urine tests to confirm your pregnancy.  There will be internal examination (pap smear etc.) and the doctor will talk to you about your diet and other medical conditions. Here is what you can expect in your first prenatal doctor's visit. Oh yes, make that appointment early in the day because later in the day they could get delayed. Most doctors especially gynaecologists are very busy.

Ideas for dad

• Make sure that mom's first prenatal appointment is on your calendar. Go for that. You can also help her prepare for her first appointment.
• Understand that she might not be up to the typical household chores right now.  You can be a big help to her (and baby) by suggesting she rest while you do some of her chores you don't normally do.
• Certain smells can make mom queasy – Strong smells of coffee, onions frying, even coffee can start nausea.  Try to keep these things away until the morning sickness decreases.
• Keep morning sickness remedies like ginger, lemonade, salty crackers well stocked in the house and keep them handy for mom by the bed and encourage her to eat some BEFORE she gets out of bed.
• Encourage mom to maintain a healthy diet, high in protein and carbohydrates and to drink lots of fluids, especially water.
• Be patient through mom's mood swings. Understand that mom is going through hormonal changes that she has no control over and that her reactions are triggered by these hormones. 
• If you have an older child, decide when you want to communicate the news about the baby. Read Parentree's tips on how to manage this sibling rivalry.

Other tidbits

• Is it safe to carry heavy loads? - It is not safe to carry very heavy loads (like heavy furniture, an older child etc.) any time during pregnancy. Even if you have a low-risk pregnancy, you need to be careful carrying everyday objects like (a toddler, shopping bags) during your delicate first trimester because of the risk of miscarriage. But later it might be okay for you to carry everyday loads.  The risk is not just to your baby but also your back. So here is how you can be careful not to harm your back:
  • Do not bend suddenly
  • Bend from your knees instead of your hips for picking up.
  • Use your thigh muscles instead of your back muscles to get your power.

Useful Parentree articles for this stage of pregnancy

• Morning Sickness
• Miscarriage
• Is it safe? - Common questions during pregnancy
• Common pregnancy discomforts
• How to select a good doctor (gynaecologist)
• Pregnant Indian women - Healthy foods
• Pregnant Indian women - Meal planning
• Exercise (Is it safe)
• Read about doctor's visits, various tests and scans you can expect in Parentree's collection of pregnancy articles
• Sibling rivalry - The older child and the new arrival

Week 6

Week 8