7 Weeks

  

C & W's Baby in Week 7 of Pregnancy

The baby is now about the size of a blueberry (and about 10,000 times bigger than he was at conception). Most of that growth is concentrated in the head as new brain cells are generated at the rate of 100 per minute. The baby's mouth and tongue are forming as arm and leg buds sprout, and those little kidneys are getting ready to do their job (pee production and excretion).

Week 7 Pregnancy Symptoms

Oh my gosh!  This list is loooooooong.  Lucky me, I'm really not experiencing too many of these.  Feeling blessed!

Frequent urination: Between the nausea and the need to pee, you’re still spending a lot of time in the bathroom these days. The pregnancy hormone hCG is increasing the blood flow to your pelvic area (that’s good news if you’re up for having sex), and that in turn affects the other flow. Don’t cut back on liquids, though (but you may want to cut back on coffee, which is a diuretic). Your body (and baby!) needs a steady supply of fluids during pregnancy.
Really only experiencing this because I drink SO much water.  At minimum, I drink 100oz/day, but most days, it's closer to 120oz.  : )

Fatigue: Of course you’re tired — you’re still engaged in the Herculean task of manufacturing the placenta (your baby’s life-support system) as well as getting used to all those conflicting emotions you’re experiencing. One way to fight fatigue is by eating smaller meals more often. (It’ll help your queasy stomach, too). Eating six mini meals will keep your blood sugar on an even keel, and that in turn will help your energy level. Just make most of those mini meals healthy ones!
This has totally been my biggest symptom of all.  I typically tend to be good during the day, but early evening is the hardest.  I usually end up falling asleep for 30 minutes or so around 9pm, wake up, take my evening meds and then to bed for the night.  Zzzzzz.

Breast tenderness and changes: Are your breasts sprouting blue veins that are beginning to make them look like an interstate highway map? In fact, these veins do act like highways: They transport the nutrients and fluids from you to your baby after he (or she) is born. To minimize sagging and stretch marks later on, invest in a good bra now (maybe even a maternity one that will give you more support).
Not really any "changes", but definitely tender, especially once I take my bra off.

Nausea and vomiting: Don’t choose the nursery colors just yet, but studies do show that moms-to-be who are severely nauseated in the first trimester tend to be carrying girls, thanks to the interplay of hormones produced by you and the female fetus. But regardless of your baby’s gender and how sick you feel, you’ll still want to keep some food down. Stick to foods that appeal to you, even if you’re only eating fruit salads for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (Your baby’s nutritional needs are tiny at this point, so no worries.)
Luckily, still no vomiting, but definitely some nausea and some days are worse than others.  It's a little stronger in the morning, but as long as I keep something in my stomach, it's definitely a bit easier.

Excessive saliva: No issues with this one.

Food cravings and aversions: Stuck eating the same thing night after night because very few foods appeal to your picky palate now? Don’t worry — you’re not robbing your baby of precious nutrients by eating the same (healthy) thing over and over. If cravings are driving you crazy, give in to them once in a while — then eat well for the rest of the day.
This baby loves starches.  Potatoes, pasta, bread and sandwiches.  I have been eating a lot of soup too.

Heartburn and indigestion: No issues with this so far.  Let's hope it holds off a while longer or doesn't even rear it's ugly head at all.  ; )

Constipation: If pregnancy has clogged up the works for you, you’re not alone. The muscles in your bowels have relaxed so the food you eat can stay around your system longer. That’s good for your baby — more nutrients for her (or him) — and bad for you since sluggish bowels can leave you feeling, well, sluggish too. A good way to get things moving is to get your fill of the good bacteria found in probiotics. Find yogurts that contain active cultures and eat one a day (or take a probiotics supplement after checking with your practitioner). Probiotics will stimulate the intestinal bacteria to break down food better and help your digestive track keep things moving.
I've had a couple of episodes with this, but just make sure to add some extra oatmeal and keeping my water intake high to be able to help with this.