Week 7 of Pregnancy Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms
Welcome to your Guide to Pregnancy Week 7.
Fact: Your baby has grown 10,000 times its size in the last 7 weeks! Amazing, right? Your little one is measuring about the size of a raspberry now. This week your baby is starting to sport his arm and leg buds which look a little more like paddles now but soon will develop into pudgy little toes and fingers.
Every pregnancy and woman is different. You may experience some or all or none of these symptoms. You may be losing some symptoms while a whole new set may be coming on.
Some of the symptoms you may be experiencing are:
- Aversions to smells and foodor you may be craving foods that you never thought twice about
- White vaginal discharge
- Bloating and flatulence. Many women mistake this for "showing" but unfortunately it is more likely that you are bloated
- Excess saliva
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Fatigue and/or lack of motivation
- PMS-like symptoms such as weepiness, mood swings and irritability
- Disbelief that there is actually a baby growing in your body
One of the common signs of pregnancy, even early on are food aversions and cravings. Yes, the old myth that pregnant women love ice cream and pickles may not be that far stretched. Most pregnant women do develop a craving for at least one food and an aversion to somethingwhether it is food or just the scent of something. Often perfumes and after-shaves become a nauseating smell to a pregnant woman. One theory around cravings and aversions is that they are actually signs your body id trying to communicate with you. A craving for ice cream may indeed be your body telling you it needs more calcium or protein. Perhaps you pour your spouse a glass of wine and it smells like vinegar to you your body telling you "don't even think about taking a sip".
Experiencing the belly bump one day and the flat abs the next? You're are not going crazy and no there is no problem with the baby. Most likely it is bloating and gasnot as fun as the baby bump but indeed here to stay. Think of it as practice for when your real belly bump decides to make its presence.
How much weight should you gain? Most experts agree that 20-35lbs should be the goal. A gradual weight gain is best for both you and baby. Your baby needs a steady supply of nutrients and calories so gradually adding weight should reflect what is going on on the inside too. That does not mean that the 30lbs you gain will be evenly distributed over 40 weeks in fact, the majority of your weight will come about in the last 12-15 weeks of your pregnancy. Keeping within your doctor's recommended weight gain guidelines not only is good for you and baby during pregnancy but makes losing the weight after pregnancy that much easier.
For your free Week-by-Week Pregnancy Guide.
