You're now two months pregnant! Only one more month to go and you'll be in your second trimester. You might feel like time is flying, or you might feel like it's going by so slowly! Either way, we've got all the info you'll need right here about being eight weeks pregnant. Read on to find out more!
Key Points
- You'll more than likely be noticing pregnancy symptoms at this stage. Swollen, tender breasts, acne, nausea, and extreme fatigue can all be things you'll experience at this stage.
- Your baby's legs and arms are starting to partition into knees, elbows, shoulders, and other parts!
- It's important that you set up an OB visit if you haven't.
Body Changes at Eight Weeks Pregnant
When you are eight weeks pregnant, your uterus is now the size of an orange. You may have early pregnancy symptoms such as acne, tender, swollen breasts, nausea, and extreme fatigue.
Indigestion and bloating are common complaints of pregnancy. A slowed digestive process causes these symptoms and allows your bloodstream to better absorb nutrients that are then passed on to your baby. Try wearing loose-fitting clothes, eating small, frequent meals, chewing your food thoroughly and avoiding high fat foods. This discomfort is completely harmless to your baby.
Once you have confirmation of your pregnancy from a home pregnancy test or blood or urine test at the doctor's office, you should call and schedule your first prenatal visit, if you haven't already.
What to expect at the first visit:
- Urine Sample (to check for protein, hCG, etc.)
- Blood Pressure (baseline)
- Weight (baseline)
- Pelvic Exam (size of uterus, cysts, coloring of cervix)
- Pap Smear (some practitioners do this now, others wait)
- Blood (Rh factor, iron levels, immunities, specifically rubella)
- Family History (complications that may be predictable)
Be sure to ask any questions that have you have. Your care provider should always be your primary source of answers for your pregnancy questions.
Your Baby's Growth and Development at Eight Weeks Pregnant
During your eighth week of pregnancy, your baby will likely begin developing webbed fingers and toes. This week your baby's gonads will become either testes or ovaries.
Elbows appear and the process of ossification (hardening of the bones) begins. The leg buds divide into thigh, leg, and foot units and the arm buds divide into hand, arm, elbow, and shoulder units. Your baby's arms and legs will begin to move spontaneously.
In week eight of pregnancy, the baby's eyelids begin to form, the ears, upper lip, and tip of the nose become recognizable, and the tongue begins to develop. Teeth are developing under the gums.
Is There Anything Special I Need to Do At Eight Weeks Pregnant?
You definitely want your baby to be healthy and to develop properly. Given that, you'll likely be wondering if there's anything special you should be doing at this stage.
The most important thing, like we talked about earlier, is to keep all of your prenatal appointments throughout your pregnancy. Your doctor is your greatest ally right now, and should be your go-to for any questions or concerns. They'll guide you throughout the process and tell you about all you need to know and do.
Eating appropriately is important at this stage. Your baby needs a lot of nutrients so that it can develop correctly. You also need an appropriate amount of nutrients to function okay and to be healthy. It's important, however, that you don't overeat. Overeating can lead to excessive weight gain, which can cause problems both during and after pregnancy.
You also need to absolutely make sure you're avoiding alcohol, recreational drugs, and smoking. These are all very detrimental to your baby and can cause severe developmental complications. Your doctor may make adjustments to any prescription medications you're taking to protect your baby.
Low impact exercise is fine, but anything beyond this won't be possible until after your baby is born. Simple exercises can keep you and your baby healthy, so make sure to engage in them under the guidance of your doctor. Avoid anything that's overly stressful if you can, and set boundaries with your relationships as needed.
Aside from these things, there isn't much you need to do! Again, always consult your doctor about what you need to be doing to have a healthy pregnancy. If there's anything that they feel you need to do differently, they'll tell you. Make sure you're not buying into any myths or urban legends- these can range from neutral in effect to dangerous for you and your baby. If you encounter any myths you'd like to check over with your doctor, you can always call them or ask on your next visit. They'll be happy to address it.
Conclusion
Being eight weeks pregnant is an exciting thing! Your pregnancy is well on its way by this point, and you've likely noticed some exciting changes going on. As long as you do what you need to and listen to your doctor, you should be fine. Complications can arise and miscarriages can happen, but there are some steps you can take to mitigate these risks.
If you want to learn more about what you'll experience throughout your pregnancy, we have plenty of articles for that! We've got you covered from birth to college, so feel free to take a look around our site and peruse the articles you find interesting or helpful! Of course, if you have any further questions or concerns about being eight weeks pregnant, be sure to consult your doctor.
The information in this article should not be taken as professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of a doctor for any medical questions or concerns. Moms Who Think is not responsible for any outcomes that may arise as a result of actions taken based on information we provide. It is your responsibility to do your own research and to take the appropriate measures to protect your health.