- Preparing for Pregnancy
- Diet and Exercise
- Emotional Wellbeing
- Health
- Antenatal Care
- Preganancy at 1-3 Weeks
- Preganancy at 4 Weeks
- Preganancy at 5 Weeks
- Preganancy at 6 Weeks
- Preganancy at 7 Weeks
- Preganancy at 8 Weeks
- Preganancy at 9 Weeks
- Preganancy at 10 Weeks
- Preganancy at 11 Weeks
- Preganancy at 12 Weeks
- Preganancy at 13 Weeks
- Preganancy at 14 Weeks
- Preganancy at 15 Weeks
- Preganancy at 16 Weeks
- Preganancy at 17 Weeks
- Preganancy at 18 Weeks
- Preganancy at 19 Weeks
- Preganancy at 20 Weeks
- Preganancy at 21 Weeks
- Preganancy at 22 Weeks
- Preganancy at 23 Weeks
- Preganancy at 24 Weeks
- Preganancy at 25 Weeks
- Preganancy at 26 Weeks
- Preganancy at 27 Weeks
- Preganancy at 28 Weeks
- Preganancy at 29 Weeks
- Preganancy at 30 Weeks
- Preganancy at 31 Weeks
- Preganancy at 32 Weeks
- Preganancy at 33 Weeks
- Preganancy at 34 Weeks
- Preganancy at 35 Weeks
- Preganancy at 36 Weeks
- Preganancy at 37 Weeks
- Preganancy at 38 Weeks
- Preganancy at 39 Weeks
- Preganancy at 40 Weeks
- Labour and Birth
- The First Few Days
Pregnancy at 7 Weeks
By now you will probably be more aware of being pregnant because of the hormones rushing around your body, in particular progesterone, oestrogen, HPL and HCG. Your body is still working incredibly hard, and you will feel tired. It is during this week and the next that the tiny embryo that is your baby will be transformed into a human-looking fetus.
Development
The heart now has four clearly defined chambers and, although it is still simple, it has a regular beat.The lungs are developing, the muscles and bones are forming, and the limbs are beginning to take shape.The head and brain are growing rapidly, with ridges defining the three areas of the brain.
These areas will develop into:
- The forebrain, which controls memory and thinking.
- The midbrain, which is responsible for co-ordinating messages.
- The hindbrain, which regulates the heart, breathing and movements of muscles in the body.
Appearance
The limb buds are now developing into more recognizable, paddle-shaped arms and legs. A neck is starting to separate the relatively large head from the body. There is a dark tinge where the eyes are forming, and eyelids are also developing. In profile, the tip of the nose is present. Your baby even has lips and a tongue, even though it is only the size of a baked bean!
Movement
Your baby will start to make tiny'twitching'movements that may be detected by sensitive ultrasound eguipment. However, you will not be able to feel any movements until approximately 18 weeks of pregnancy. The sex glands are now developing, although, at this stage, it is impossible to tell the sex by ultrasound scan.