7 Weeks Pregnant

During week 7 of pregnancy, you should have confirmed that you are pregnant at this point and are looking forward to your first prenatal doctor visit. At this point in your pregnancy, your baby is a teeny tiny 0.2 to 0.52 inches long. It is about the size of a marble and weighs just about 0.03 ounces. To put this size and weight into perspective, think about the top of a pencil eraser in regards to size and an aspirin tablet in regards to the weight.

Some of the symptoms that you may be experiencing during this time include constipation, morning sickness/nausea, excess saliva and an increased vaginal discharge. You will notice that your waistline is expanding and your clothing is probably getting too tight even if your pregnancy is not yet showing.

It is at this point of your pregnancy that you will develop your mucus plug. This plug forms in the cervix, at the opening of the cervical canal. It seals the uterus to protect it and keep it as good environment for your baby to grow. As your cervix dilates when your body is preparing for labor, you will lose this plug which is often one of the first indications of the onset of labor.

Though your baby is very tiny at this point, a lot is going on as far as development is concerned. The heart becomes fully formed during this time and the limb buds emerge. The arms have a paddle like appearance. The eyes appear as dark spots and the tongue begins to form. The eyelid folds are also forming during this time. Your baby’s body becomes more elongated and it straightens. Organs such as permanent kidneys, spleen and liver ducts and the stomach are beginning to form. The cerebral cortex becomes visible. This is the part of the brain that controls motor activity and intellect. Also in the brain, the pituitary gland is forming in the middle of the brain. The intestines are becoming more elongated and the esophagus is beginning to form. At this time the umbilical cord is visible. The umbilical cord links the baby and the placenta which is connected to the mother.

At this point in your pregnancy, your body may provide you with a few clues regarding how many fetuses you may be carrying. There are no hard, fast rules that act as a neon sign to tell you that you are carrying twins, triplets - or more, but there are a few things you may experience that may clue you in. A faster weight gain that includes an increased size of your abdomen (you may experience increased itching in this area as well), a heavy feeling in your pelvis or vagina (it may feel heavy, congested or even like pressure), greater tendency to retain water or increased swelling, varicose veins and increased fatigue. At this time, a woman who is carrying multiple fetuses will often have extra high hCG levels. This is measured in the pregnancy blood test that your doctor orders at your first prenatal visit.