Having learned about her new status, the woman tries to listen to the slightest changes in her health. Since her sensations change every week, she needs to understand which symptoms and for how long are normal, and which are a signal to see a doctor.
Baby at 8 weeks pregnant: fetal size
During this period, the embryo already has a growth of 10-15 mm. The baby's weight has already reached 3.4-4.5 g. So that a woman can clearly understand what size the fetus is at 8 weeks of gestation, you need to pick up a small hazelnut.
Embryo development
During this period, the expectant mother does not yet feel the baby moving. But the size of the fetus of the 8th obstetric week of pregnancy is quite small, so that he actively moves in the womb. At this time, the internal organs of the embryo continue to develop intensively:
- The rudiments of the palate and tongue are formed, and taste buds also begin to form.
- The tail of the embryo is significantly reduced in size. Photos of the fetus 8 weeks of gestation are confirmation of this.
- Limbs and torso are stretched, but outwardly he still looks a little like a child. His legs are 3 times shorter than his hands, and his fingers are still connected by membranes.
- The formation of elbow, wrist and shoulder structures is nearing completion. Now the child can unbend and bend his arms.
- Active development of the buds of future lungs. They become like the crown of a tree, representing branching bronchi.
- The heart becomes four-chamber. like all mammals, and is already reduced at a speed of 110-130 beats per minute.
- The primary is replaced by the formation of real kidneys. Their development will occur throughout pregnancy, the final stage of formation will occur after birth.
- The baby's stomach moves into the abdominal cavity and begins to produce gastric juice.
- Small tubercles appear on the sides of the head, which can be seen in the photo of the fetus 7-8 weeks of pregnancy. Their size is small, but the inner ear is already forming inside.
- On the face of the child, the outlines of the lips, nose with tiny nostrils and chin appear. This is evidenced by an ultrasound photo of the fetus of 8 weeks of pregnancy. The size of the eyes is large, but they look like two black dots, although the pigment responsible for their color is already embedded in them.
- The internal genital organs are formed. But apparently it is still impossible to distinguish a boy from a girl.
- Bones and cartilage develop. The final formation will end after birth at about 25 years old.
- The placenta is actively developing and is already participating in the nutrition of the baby, but the yellow bag still helps her.
Hormonal changes
Pregnancy at 8 weeks proceeds under the influence of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin. The concentration of hormones increases several times, as they preserve and support pregnancy, and also prepare the woman's circulatory system for an increase in the amount of blood. Therefore, her main arteries increase in volume.
The corpus luteum begins to produce the hormone relaxin, which relaxes the muscles of the uterine cervix and the ligamentous apparatus of the uterus. This is due to the ever-increasing size of the fetus at 8 weeks of gestation. The concentration of relaxin increases every month and by the time of birth reaches a maximum for normal discrepancy of the pelvic bones.
Weight gain
The size of the fetus at 8 weeks of gestation increases, which affects the wardrobe of a woman. The average weight gain over 2 months is an average of 1 kg. Pregnant adds about 0.2-0.5 kg per week. The amount of weight gained will depend on the presence of toxicosis and the constitution of the body. Slim women will gain less weight than women who are inclined to be overweight.
Mom's belly
The size of the fetus increases at 8 weeks of gestation, therefore, the uterus also increases. At this time, it becomes the diameter of a small lemon, while the abdomen becomes larger by an average of 3-5 cm. Since at the age of 7-8 weeks of pregnancy, the size of the fetus has increased significantly, others begin to notice the "interesting position" of the woman.
Due to the constant stretching of the uterus, her stomach may hurt. For the first trimester of pregnancy, this is normal. Painful symptoms appear due to sprains that connect the bones. Unpleasant sensations appear most often on the right side, since the embryo stretches the uterus in this direction. To alleviate the condition, a warm bath and a lying position on her side will help a woman. With severe, increasing, sharp pain, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Woman's feelings
In addition to changes in the size of the fetus at 8 weeks of gestation, the well-being of the expectant mother changes. During this period, she may feel:
- Change in diet. Special taste preferences may appear that were not there before. In one pregnant woman, appetite increases, and in another, it may disappear or become noticeably dull.
- The increase in the number of trips to the toilet. This is due to the growing pressure of the uterus on the bladder.
- Discoloration of the skin. The face may become pale, become covered with age spots or acne, and sometimes vice versa - become more smooth and matte. Such changes are associated with an excess of growth hormone, somatotropin, in the woman’s body.
- Breast is poured. She is preparing for future lactation. To alleviate the condition, you need to wear a bra made of natural fabric.
Toxicosis
At a period of 8 weeks, nausea reaches its peak, then gradually decreases. Toxicosis can be accompanied by such unpleasant signs as: heartburn, belching, a change in taste preferences, loss of appetite. Usually it appears rarely and does not affect the course of pregnancy. But severe toxicosis can deplete a woman's body.
Urgent need to go to the hospital if:
- vomiting occurs more than 2 times a day;
- the woman has lost weight;
- food is not digested throughout the day;
- there is constant weakness.
Vitamins
At the age of 8 weeks of pregnancy, the size of the fetus increases, which requires a large amount of nutrients for its growth and development. The diet of a pregnant woman should consist of products containing a large amount of B vitamins. Their deficiency leads to malformations of the embryo and anemia. You can replenish the necessary substances by eating oranges, nuts, beans, strawberries, broccoli, and spinach. Do not forget about folic acid and vitamins A, C, B, E and iodine.
Nutrition at 8 weeks of gestation
The expectant mother is obliged to monitor her diet. Food should be of high quality. You should remove from the menu drinks with a high content of caffeine, as well as fried, fatty, salty, preservatives and fast food. Replace them with dietary meat, kefir, cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables.
Visit doctor
At a period of 8 weeks, pregnancy is usually already confirmed, and the expectant mother during this period is registered in the antenatal clinic. The doctor will conduct an examination that will identify possible problems, which will help prevent further complications. A pregnant woman will take urine, blood and vaginal smear tests.
Analyzes will help to find out:
- the presence of sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, AIDS;
- hemoglobin, sugar and blood cell levels;
- blood group and Rh factor.
During the reception, the gynecologist will measure the height, weight and width of the woman's pelvis. After that, the pregnant woman will have to undergo such narrow specialists: an ENT specialist, a dentist, a venereologist, an ophthalmologist, and a general practitioner. This is necessary to reveal the overall picture of a woman’s health. If the expectant mother works in harmful conditions, she must tell the doctor this, then she should be transferred to another position. If she lives with a seriously ill person, then he will also need to undergo a medical examination.
Sex at 8 weeks pregnant
Proximity at this time is possible if there is no threat of miscarriage and infectious processes in the body of the expectant mother. But you should adhere to some restrictions:
- It is necessary to choose the position in which the pregnant woman will not feel discomfort.
- The actions of future parents should be smooth, without sudden shocks. Because they can cause a miscarriage. It is necessary to refrain from any experiments.
- It is not advisable for a woman to lie on her back, even for such a short period. This is due to increased pressure on the vena cava, which is responsible for the supply of oxygen to the embryo.
Sex has a beneficial psychological effect on the course of pregnancy. The woman has a feeling of unity with the father of the child. She feels herself loved and desired.
Physiologically, sex has a beneficial effect on the hormonal background of the expectant mother. Proximity throughout pregnancy helps to avoid breaks during labor.
Ultrasound at 8 weeks of gestation
At this time, an ultrasound examination is not prescribed. A referral is issued to confirm pregnancy, in case of threatened miscarriage or suspected ectopic pregnancy. A woman can receive such information for a period of 8 weeks of pregnancy:
- ultrasound photo;
- fetal size;
- the presence of multiple pregnancy.
A future mother will be able to consider her baby, but this will depend on his position in the womb and the quality of the device itself. The negative impact of ultrasound has not been proven, but it should not be done without a doctor’s prescription. Above is a photo of an ultrasound of 8 weeks of pregnancy. The size of the fetus allows him to constantly travel in the womb, so getting a clear picture is quite difficult.
Discharge
They should not have a pungent odor, flakes and any impregnations. The discharge may be light in color with a moderate sour smell. Any deviations may be a sign of infection. The most dangerous are brown spotting, which is accompanied by pulling pain in the lower abdomen, as well as weakness and dizziness. The presence of one or more signs at the same time may indicate the detachment of the fetal egg from the walls of the uterus. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Temperature at 8 weeks of gestation
At this time, a woman can have a little more than 37 degrees. Due to the increase in fetal size at 8–9 weeks of gestation, metabolic processes are accelerated. This can affect the temperature increase by several degrees. But if at the same time a woman feels a general deterioration in well-being, you should consult a doctor.
A temperature of about 38 degrees can be a sign of an inflammatory process. It can adversely affect the development of the child. Therefore, do not postpone a trip to a specialist. After all, prolonged temperature leads to damage to the tissues of the embryo, provokes fading and termination of pregnancy.
Categorically you can not take aspirin to expectant mothers. It affects blood coagulability, therefore, it can provoke bleeding. To bring down the temperature, it is necessary to apply compresses before going to the doctor. Then he will prescribe the necessary treatment, based on the "interesting position" of the woman.
Bearing difficulties
At the 8th week of pregnancy, some problems may occur. The main ones include:
- Toxicosis. At this time, it should be moderate, since it can lead to dehydration of the woman's body.
- Miscarriage. At week 8, there is a risk of spontaneous abortion. This can happen due to increased uterine tone, low viability of the embryo, rejection of the mother as a foreign body, severe stress, trauma, hormonal disruptions. It is urgent to consult a doctor in the presence of acute pulling pains in the abdomen and lower back, as well as the appearance of spotting.
- Detachment of the placenta. Pathology is accompanied by bleeding and sharp, pulling pains in the abdomen and back. In this case, it is possible to save the life of a child if you consult a doctor in time.
- Non-developing pregnancy. In the first trimester, the likelihood of developing a pathology is much higher than in others. Fading of the fetus leads to his death and further miscarriage. The causes of the pathology are: infectious diseases, bleeding disorders, bad habits, stress, taking medications, heavy physical exertion. Symptoms of an undeveloped pregnancy: a decrease in the level of hCG hormone, pain in the lower back and abdomen, chills, fever, the appearance of bloody discharge.
- Ectopic pregnancy. In this case, the attachment and development of the embryo occurs outside the uterus. This can occur in the abdominal cavity, on the ovaries, in the fallopian tubes. An ectopic pregnancy poses a serious threat to the health and life of a woman, as she ruptures the organ in which she grows. Pathology is diagnosed with a blood test for hCG. The risk group includes women who have previously had an abortion, under the age of 18 and over 35 years old, with abnormalities in the structure of the uterus and fallopian tubes.
- Rubella and Toxoplasmosis. These infectious diseases are dangerous both during the initial infection and during pregnancy. They relate to indications for abortion, as they lead to abnormalities in the development of the embryo. To reduce the risk of infection, you need to be vaccinated six months before planning a pregnancy.
So, at this time, the woman becomes slightly noticeable belly. This is due to an increase in the size of the fetus. At 8 weeks of gestation, the embryo can be compared to hazelnut. It is actively developing, but still does not look much like a person. A woman in this period may be disturbed by toxicosis, discomfort in the abdomen, heartburn, and a slightly elevated temperature. If the pregnant woman has not yet been registered, now is the time to do it.