7 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Belly Size & Ultrasound

Find out what to expect when you’re 7 weeks pregnant. Find out whether you can feel baby yet and what your uterus looks like. What size is a 7-week-pregnant uterus? What are the 7th week symptoms? When does baby start to move?

Your baby at week 7 of pregnancy

This is another big week for your wee one. Early in week 7, the embryo still looks like a tadpole, but by the end of the week it will have transformed into a tiny being that’s distinctly human-like. Its body is continuing to lengthen, the arms begin to bend at the elbows and curve around the heart, which is beating even more rhythmically now.

By the end of this week the embryo’s whole skeleton—made of bendable cartilage, like a shark—will be fully formed. (To be replaced by bone soon enough.) The baby has a digestive system now, as well as kidneys, liver, heart, spleen, and even an appendix.

Your placenta has sprouted hundreds of minute hair-like projections (called villi), making it look like a fuzzy ball. The villi have the important job of carrying nutrients and oxygen from your bloodstream to your growing baby.

7 weeks pregnant is how many months?

When you are 7 weeks pregnant, you are officially in 2 months of your pregnancy. Just another 7 months to go! Congratulations, you’ve already made great progress!

How big is your baby at 7 weeks pregnant?

The embryo’s total length is roughly 10 mm by week 7. Crown-rump length is the term used to describe this dimension. Since brain development is progressing swiftly, the size of the head is increasing at a higher rate than the rest of the body. The embryo’s eyes and ears are still in the process of developing, and its prominent forehead shows this.

7 weeks pregnant: baby’s development

Neurons, the cells that make up the brain, are already interconnected. Brain waves are generated by networks of neurons and have been recorded as early as 6 1/2 weeks after conception. Unprompted wriggling of the unborn child’s limbs is observed. The embryo can hiccup, as shown by ultrasound recordings. 9

In the seventh week, the cartilage begins to solidify and transform into bone. Collar bones and jaw bones are the first to develop in the embryo.

Seeing the eyes develop over the course of their first few weeks is a lot like tuning an orchestra. An eye’s many different cell types and tissues all develop at once and work swiftly to prepare to work together to form a fully functional organ. At around the 17th day following conception, the eye begins to form. The cornea and lens originate from the ectoderm and mesoderm. At the same time, a thick cord-like structure extends from the developing brain and becomes the rear of the eye. The lens, iris, and the important neurological link between the eye and the back of the brain are all clearly visible as early as six weeks after conception. Eyelids begin to take shape and the muscles that move them continue to develop this week.

Your body at 7 weeks pregnant

While your fetus no longer looks like frogspawn, you’re may be feeling pretty green around the gills this week. That’s because the placenta—that glorious, ruby red organ that is a lifeline to your baby—is growing rapidly and its cells are releasing large amounts of the pregnancy hormone (hCG) into your bloodstream.

Even if you don’t know it, you have a love-hate relationship with hCG. The rise in hCG levels is a sign of a healthy pregnancy, but it’s also what’s making you cringe at the smell of your mother-in-law’s perfume or clutch your stomach every time you pass a food court. Along with the nausea, mood swings, frequent trips to the bathroom, and extreme fatigue are still a fact of life.

(Growing an entire human being in your body is exhausting!) If you’re not feeling these symptoms acutely, no worries! Every woman’s body responds to pregnancy differently and you may be one of the lucky ones who breezes through the first three months.

7 weeks pregnant: possible symptoms

The first trimester (0 to 12 weeks) of pregnancy is different for every woman, and every pregnancy. According to the Office on Women’s Health, one of the most common early signs is a missed menstrual period.

Common signs and symptoms

The most common early signs and symptoms of pregnancy might include:

Spotting or light spotting (also called implantation bleeding). Implantation bleeding, in women who experience it, can be a confusing symptom of pregnancy. When the embryo implants into the uterine wall, some blood may be released. However, only about 20 to 30 percent of women experience this bleeding, which is really more like a pink or very light red discharge of blood. Any bleeding that is not your period should be discussed with your doctor.
Cramping.Mild cramping during pregnancy is common during week 7. As your baby grows, your uterus and other tissues around it will grow as well. It’s important to see a doctor right away if you experience discomfort that’s worse than period cramps, especially if it’s followed by a high temperature or diarrhea.
Morning sickness. This could be the week that morning sickness finally hits you if it hasn’t already. Nausea that usually occurs in the morning can strike at any moment. It could be set off by anything, including certain motions, odors, an empty stomach, or perhaps nothing at all. Keep some crackers or other simple starchy snacks on hand for those unexpected spells of nausea.
Exhaustion. It’s normal to feel wiped out from pregnancy exhaustion. Naps may assist when your progesterone levels rise and cause you to feel increasingly sleepy, and some women report that modest exercise and small meals help, too. Too little iron can lead to anemia, which in turn can make you feel weary all the time.

Moodiness.The surge of hormones that occur during pregnancy can cause a woman to experience an outpouring of feelings, including sadness and even tears. Additionally, it is not uncommon to notice shifts in one’s mood.
Frequent urination. It is also typical to have to use the restroom more frequently than usual during this time. Your kidneys are putting in extra hours of effort in order to handle the more fluid that is currently in your body.
Mood swings. The remainder of your pregnancy could be rife with emotional ups and downs. The first trimester is when mood swings are most likely, the second is when they tend to lessen, and the third is when they can return. You can quickly and easily feel better by doing things like eating healthy, talking to friends, sleeping, and doing modest exercise.
Constipation. When your hormones change, your digestive system slows down, causing constipation.

Food aversions. It’s possible that you will become more sensitive to certain odors and tastes when you’re pregnant. Hormonal changes can explain these food preferences, as well as most other pregnancy symptoms.
Nasal congestion. A rise in hormone levels and blood production can cause your mucous membranes to swell, dry out, and bleed easily. As a result, you may feel stuffy or have a runny nose.
No symptoms week 7 pregnant. That’s right, it’s possible to be seven weeks pregnant with no symptoms whatsoever! Every pregnancy and every woman is different. For example, some women never experience morning sickness, so if you’re one of the lucky few, enjoy these nausea-free days without worry.

Satisfying Flavors
While researchers don’t know why pregnant women crave certain foods, they do know that women share some common favorite flavors.

Salt: Pickles, saltines, potato chips—they’re all packed with salt and can be oh-so-gratifying during pregnancy. Dr. Camann points out that with your body’s increased blood volume during pregnancy, your body may need additional sodium to pump up blood production.

Sour: Pickles, lemons, and fruits have tart flavors that may ward off morning sickness and ensure that you eat enough fruits to provide nutrients for your growing baby-to-be.

Bitter: Early in your pregnancy you may find that you have an aversion to bitter tastes. Researchers theorize that this may have evolutionary origins. Poisonous foods often have bitter flavors, so if you can’t stand the taste, you may avoid harm.

When to Be Concerned
Cravings are usually not a problem during pregnancy—in fact, they can be amusing and maybe a fine excuse to send your partner scrambling for ice cream at midnight.

Though uncommon, some women experience unusual, even bizarre yearnings called pica cravings. Women with this condition long to eat non-food substances like sand, dirt, bleach, even cigarettes. Doctors still don’t know why women would have these kind of cravings. Dr. Camann says there’s speculation that women’s bodies may be trying to supplement certain nutritional needs, but no one knows for sure. These cravings can be dangerous to you and your unborn baby if you act on them. If you find yourself yearning to munch on the sandbox, let your healthcare provider know; he or she may refer you to a specialist who can help you sort out these dangerous desires.

7 weeks pregnant belly size

The first ultrasound is referred to as a “dating” or “viability” ultrasound. It’s usually done between 7 and 8 weeks to confirm your due date, look for a fetal heartbeat, and measure the baby’s length from “crown to rump.” This ultrasound will also reveal whether you are expecting a single baby, twins, or multiples!

7 weeks pregnant ultrasound

A 7-week ultrasound is typically done, giving the mother her first real glimpse of her unborn child. An ultrasound at 7 weeks of pregnancy, often known as a dating scan, not only confirms the presence and development of the baby, but also helps to rule out potential problems with the pregnancy.

Can you see a baby at 7 weeks on an ultrasound?

A 7-week ultrasound reveals the baby’s crown-to-rump length, which can be used to estimate the fetus’s age. The gestational sac, which is fluid-filled, surrounds the fetus. This ultrasound will not allow you to count your fingers and toes since the embryo is simply too little to allow for the detection of clear images.

Doctors measure the crown-rump length to estimate the fetus’s age. This is the distance from the top of the head to the point where, if you were standing up, the bottom of your spine would be. Then, physicians will compare this reading to reference graphs that show how far along a pregnancy is at various crown-rump lengths.

Preparing for Pregnancy

Start your pregnancy out on the right foot by taking prenatal vitamins, consuming enough of orange juice (which is a good source of folic acid), and engaging in regular physical activity. Do not drink alcohol, use drugs, or smoke cigarettes if you are trying to conceive; you may not know when you became pregnant. Talk to your doctor about whether or not any medications, including those you use regularly, pose any risk to your unborn child.

The importance of prenatal vitamins during pregnancy

During pregnancy, you need a greater amount of folic acid and iron. Why? Here are some reasons:

Folic acid prevents neural tube defects. These defects affect the fetal brain and spinal cord in a significant way. Preferably, you should begin taking extra folic acid three months before you become pregnant.
The placenta and baby require iron to develop. The body uses iron to make blood to supply oxygen to the baby. Additionally, iron helps prevent anemia, a condition in which the blood lacks healthy red blood cells

It’s important to consult your doctor or healthcare provider to find out which are the best prenatal vitamins to take before pregnancy, and how to calculate your expected delivery date.