Are you on the look out for your "bump at 7 weeks pregnant?" If you are like most newly pregnant women, you are probably spending a lot of time standing in front of the mirror, trying to spot your pregnancy bump. Though it will be weeks before you start showing, you may notice a tiny pooch or belly in your lower abdomen at pregnancy week 7. (It will resemble your belly when it bloats during PMS).
Pants Getting a Little Tight?
Some women may also find that their waists feel a bit thicker. At this early week of pregnancy, you will not need to buy maternity clothes yet. If your regular pants or jeans feel uncomfortable, you may want to stick to a looser pair of jeans or pants made with stretchable fabrics. You can also hook a rubber band around your button and loop it through the hole, and this will stretch the waist of your jeans a bit. You can also purchase maternity belts (called belly belts), which will allow you to wear your regular apparel throughout pregnancy.
Once your belly finally pops out and you "show," you may want to invest in some stylish maternity apparel. Most women will get by without buying maternity clothes until they are well into their second trimester.
Most pregnant women find that they don't actually look pregnant until the four month of pregnancy (or the second trimester). Women who have been pregnant before tend to show earlier, sometimes as early as pregnancy week 8 or 10! This is due to their abdominal muscles being more relaxed due to previous pregnancies. You will also show earlier if you are expecting twins or triplets.
Weight Gain During Pregnancy - Week 7
Your pregnancy weight gain at 7 weeks pregnant is probably one or two pounds. It is still early in your pregnancy week by week, but important changes are occurring in your womb.
Fetal Development at 7 Weeks Pregnant During pregnancy week 7, your baby's vital organs continue to develop. This week, your little one is around 0.5 inches long from crown to rump-almost the size of a macadamia nut. That's a huge improvement over last week, when your baby was only the size of a small apple seed.
Your baby's placenta continues to develop, but it is not yet ready to supply your baby with its nutrients. The yolk sac still supplies nutrients to your developing baby, though it is shrinking in size.
During pregnancy week 7, more facial development continues. Your baby's mouth and tongue may begin to form this week. Your baby's eye buds are becoming more distinct, including his or her retina and lens. The nose is in its earliest stage. Shallow pits have appeared on the tip of the face, and these pits will eventually become your baby's nostrils.
Last week, your baby's heart started to beat. In week 7 of pregnancy, the heart is now starting to pump blood that will circulate throughout the body. The heart continues to mature and develop as the weeks of pregnancy pass. This is also the week that your baby's liver starts to make blood cells.
At 7 weeks pregnant, your baby's muscles are beginning to form. It won't be long before you start to feel your baby kicking inside you - usually in the middle of the second trimester, or around pregnancy week 20. It's not uncommon for babies to move rather sporadically in utero. He or she can move, flip and flop, and you may not feel anything.
Frequent Urination & Excessive Salivation By pregnancy week 7, you may have noticed that you produce more saliva in your mouth than normal. Although this may seem alarming, it is a normal pregnancy symptom. Called "ptyalism," this condition is often accompanied with morning sickness - nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. This excessive salivation is very common in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness).
Causes of Ptyalism
Researchers do not know what triggers this condition. It may be due to the increased levels of pregnancy hormones. It is also possible that because pregnant women are more prone to heartburn (another symptom of pregnancy), they produce more saliva to neutralize the gastric acid in their body. Saliva contains bicarbonate, which is an alkaline that will neutralize the gastric acid.
Ptyalism is more common in the first trimester, though some women may experience it throughout the entire pregnancy.
Taking a lot of Bathroom Breaks?
Along with excessive salivation, you may notice that you have the frequent need to urinate. Unfortunately, this is another common side effect of pregnancy. It may feel like your bladder has suddenly shrunk. You might have to go to the bathroom every ten minutes to urinate!
In the first trimester, because you have more blood being pumped through your kidneys, you will produce more urine than normal. Later in the pregnancy, as your uterus grows larger, it will place pressure on your bladder, so you will feel the urge to urinate, even though your bladder may be nearly empty!
Urinary Tract Infections
Though having to go to the bathroom often is annoying, it shouldn't concern you unless you develop pain or stinging when urinating. This can be a sign of a urinary tract infection, which is a very common problem in pregnant women.
Signs of a urinary tract infection include pain or discomfort when you urinate, blood or mucus in your urine, pain during sexual intercourse, urine that looks cloudy and has a strong smell, pain or tenderness around your bladder, and cramps or pain in your lower belly. Call your doctor immediately if you think you might have a urinary tract infection.
To reduce your risk of getting a urinary tract infection, you should drink plenty of water, wipe from the front to back, urinate immediately after having sex, and avoid douching and other feminine hygiene products (such as sprays and powders).
If you have a urinary tract infection, you should get treated as soon as possible to avoid any complications.
Eating Disorders and Pregnancy As you progress through your pregnancy week by week, you may embrace your growing pregnant body. After all, pregnant women are indeed beautiful! However, other women may hate their growing belly. They may feel "fat" as they watch your belly expand. Being called "huge" in the last trimester does not help with body image issues either.
Because our society tells us that skinny women are "beautiful," doctors and healthcare providers must pay attention to eating disorders during pregnancy. The average size woman will gain between 25-35 pounds during pregnancy, but to the anorexic or bulimic, this weight gain sounds frightening! Please keep in mind that your body needs this weight gain to support the growth and development of your baby. Your baby gets all of his or her nutrients from you, therefore it's important you that continue healthy eating habits and you achieve a healthy weight gain during pregnancy.
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia
Women with Anorexia Nervosa are already very skinny, and when they become pregnant, they may not gain enough weight due to their illness. They are at high risk of miscarriage. If they don't lose the baby, they face risks of giving birth to an abnormally low birth weight baby, and their baby will also face health problems due to lack of nutrients in utero.
For bulimics, who continue to purge throughout pregnancy, they may suffer dehydration, chemical imbalances, and even cardiac problems. Their baby also faces premature birth, low birth weight, respiratory problems, and other health complications.
If you have an eating disorder, it is important that you seek help from a therapist or another healthcare provider. More importantly, try to learn to love your pregnant body. Change your mindset about your pregnant body.
How to Cope with Your Growing Belly
Some tips to help you cope with your growing and beautiful belly:
Find at least one thing that you like about your body. Focus on this, and you may start to feel better. For example, some women love that their breasts grow larger in pregnancy.
Focus on the growing baby inside you. Just think, that despite the weight you're gaining or how big your belly is getting, that little guy or girl in your uterus is definitely worth it! You are carrying the miracle of life inside you, and pretty soon, he or she will be in your arms.
Exercising during pregnancy can help you feel better about your body. Going for a walk or jog every morning can help clear your mind and refresh you. Prenatal yoga is another great idea.
Educate yourself on all aspects of pregnancy. Know what to expect at every stage of pregnancy. This will help you feel more in control over what's happening in your body.
Have open communication with your partner. Don't bottle up your feelings. This will only make you feel worse.
Keep in mind that you won't be pregnant forever, only for 40 weeks or so. With hard work, exercise, and healthy eating habits, you can go back to your pre-pregnancy size.
In the meanwhile, focus on the positives and enjoy your pregnancy. It's only a few more weeks before you hear your baby's heartbeat for the first time. Trust us - that will make pregnancy worthwhile!
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