8 Weeks Pregnant

-Time for Formation of Four Chambers in Your Baby’s Heart!

Now that you are 8 weeks pregnant, you have one whole inch of a baby inside your womb.

Yes, the little embryo by now will have reached the one-inch mark.

You have not gained significant weight but you are surely growing.

Your breasts grow bigger and your waist will grow accordingly.

Here are the changes that happen to you and the baby inside you during this week.

8th week of pregnancy symptoms and physical changes that occur in your body

Digestive process slows down

Do you feel bloated? Bloating, heartburn and indigestion are the most common problems during pregnancy.

A sluggish digestive process leads to these symptoms, thus making your bloodstream less likely to absorb the nutrients, and allowing them to be passed to your baby.

If the heartburn becomes annoying and makes it difficult for you to eat properly, then visit your doctor.

He/she may recommend you an antacid but the best way to deal with it is to drink lots of water and eat in small quantities

8 weeks pregnant pictures

Annoying skin issues

By the end of 8th week of pregnancy, your waistline slightly expands. There is a chance for pimples to appear and some skin problems to arise.

Uterus growth and related changes

Your uterus is expanding and you can feel it if you slightly press your abdomen. The changes are more visible at the women experiencing their second pregnancy because the abdominal wall is thinner in their case.

You will experience mild cramping during the mid of first trimester and this will continue for some weeks. When you are 8 weeks pregnant, cramping is usually mild and it does not cause any harm to you.

During this period, your fetus stretches and causes some discomfort over time. If you experience any cramping along with bleeding, make sure to contact your health care provider immediately.

The debut of pregnancy back pain

By this time, you will also experience lower back pain. This is one of the most common 8 weeks pregnant symptoms in almost all pregnant women and it is due to the pressure of the uterus on the lower part of the spine.

Once in a while, you may get a sharp pain in the buttocks and the side of your thighs. This is because of the pressure of the uterus on the sciatic nerve, which stimulates the buttocks and your leg sides. If you feel any trouble due to this, then you need to take plenty of rest and physical therapy.

Feeling sleepy and nauseated

You will feel increasingly tired and because of your blood stream increasing, your need for nutrients grows too.

It’s very likely that a large number of cravings will be associated with continuous nausea but do your best to eat and keep food in by not stressing your stomach.

Water retention is also something that might appear during this week.

Make sure you start considering comfortable footwear as well as clothing for they will help you feel better.

Dealing with the Uneasiness at 8 Weeks Pregnancy

Care you need to take when you are 8 weeks pregnant

  • Wear loose fitting clothes as much as you can. You will get great relief from this.
  • Eat small and frequent meals.
  • Chew the food thoroughly and avoid consuming high fat foods.
  • Do not try to take any medication without your doctor’s prescription.
  • Purchase a supportive maternity bra if you are having a tough time with your sore breasts in week 8 pregnancy.
  • Take plenty of rest and stay off your feet to get relief from abdominal cramping.
  • Make sure you do not forget about taking your prenatal vitamins and keep them close, so you don’t skip them not even for a day.

Changes that occur in the fetus when you are in week 8 of pregnancy

Brain formation and nerve development

Your baby’s head becomes slightly big because of the rapid brain development. The neural tube is now completely closed and the brain forms distinct regions with some of the nerves being visible during an 8 weeks pregnant ultrasound.

4 chambers heart

The heart of the 8 week fetus starts to break into four chambers and beats with 150 beats /minute, almost twice yours does. The blood circulation is increasing exponentially during this week inside the body of the little one.

Beginning of the arms and legs

Upper limbs are similar to the paddles. The arms divide in two segments and the elbow is visible too. The foot plates, with the slight beginning of toe rays, form within the next few days. By the end of this week, external ears will also appear.

Internal organs

The formation of intestines also takes place within the umbilical cord. Later they will migrate into the abdominal cavity. The tubes, which are primary from the throat to the lungs, start to develop branches.

During an 8 weeks pregnancy, the cells, which become either ovaries or testes, will develop. However, there will not be any visible sign of gender yet but you have to be aware that this is the week deciding the sex of your baby.

Muscle contractions

The contractions of the muscles start, but these premature movements are not yet noticeable. By the time you are 8 weeks pregnant, the lungs also work hard towards maturing and small respiratory areas appear starting lung formation.

When you are 8 weeks pregnant you should be aware that each baby has its very own rhythm of development, so each growth process is unique.

Healthy and safety tips for pregnancy week 8

Good prenatal care is very much essential for the health and safe delivery of your baby. So, make sure that the prenatal appointments are your top priority.

Be aware of environmental factors, which lead to miscarriages, as they have a great influence in carrying the pregnancy to term. Therefore, you need to do everything that you can to avoid exposure to harmful toxins and environmental hazards.

Prenatal tests

When you are in 8th week of pregnancy, you will be probably required to go through several prenatal tests. Your doctor will perhaps advise you to consider all of them but be aware of the consequences and make sure you request all the information before agreeing to any of them.

Indeed some of the tests can determine possible issues that may occur to the baby but remember that some of them increase the risk for abortion, especially in case of mothers over 35.

Want to know what happens next week? Here’s what to expect when you are 9 weeks pregnant.

Image source: iampregnant

pregnancy week by week

8 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

10 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here