You are 7 weeks pregnant

Your baby
You may have heard the term “crown to rump” mentioned when referring to your baby’s size. Doctors measure length this way early in pregnancy - based on the span between the top of his teeny head...Read more

Your body
Clothes starting to feel a little snug? By this week, you may find it tougher to button your favourite jeans. Time to go shopping! You won’t need to hit the maternity department just yet, but it’...Read more

Your life right now
Chances are your first big prenatal check-up is coming up - and you’ve got to be feeling both excited and nervous. (After all, there’s nothing you want more in the world right now than for everyt...Read more

Mums like me
"Spotting is normal, and brown spotting is OK. Brown spotting means the blood is old. Check in with your doctor anytime you’re worried about anything – that’s what we pay them for!" – cl-sammy...Read more

You may have heard the term “crown to rump” mentioned when referring to your baby’s size. Doctors measure length this way early in pregnancy - based on the span between the top of his teeny head to his bottom, rather than head to toe - because it’s easier and more accurate than trying to guess how long the little guy’s curled-up body is. So crown to rump, right now your baby is about the size of a black bean. Also by this week, your baby’s heart has developed a right and left chamber, and the oesophagus and trachea are changing and differentiating into separate tubes, with lungs positioned on either side. Facial features are becoming more defined, and at this stage tiny nostrils are visible and there’s colour in the irises of the eyes. Hands and feet are also forming on the ends of what just a couple of weeks ago were only the very beginnings of small arm and leg buds. The umbilical cord, your baby’s life line to you, is beginning to take shape.

Clothes starting to feel a little snug? By this week, you may find it tougher to button your favourite jeans. Time to go shopping! You won’t need to hit the maternity department just yet, but it’s worth picking up at least a few key items that are a size bigger than you usually wear - for comfort’s sake more than anything else. All the extra hormones in your body may begin to affect the way your skin looks, as well. This may be a good thing for you - clearer skin, that dewy “pregnancy glow” you always hear about. Or, um, maybe not. Your skin may appear duller and you may find yourself breaking out more. If excess oil is your problem (thank you, hormones) washing your face twice a day with a good, gentle cleanser, using an oil-free moisturizer and drinking plenty of water may help. It’s very common to develop cravings and food aversions during the first trimester. As with other symptoms like morning sickness, they tend to disappear as you near your fourth month of pregnancy. But at the moment, certain foods you loved before - a good burger and fries, Thai food - may now seem totally disgusting. And all you may want to eat is, oh, say, buttered pasta and yogurt. Or chicken salad sandwiches. Despite what you may have heard, craving certain foods doesn’t necessarily indicate that your body needs that particular item (or, more specifically, the nutrients it contains). Is it OK to indulge your cravings? Of course! Spooning your way through a couple of pints of Ben & Jerry’s each day isn’t a great idea, but in moderation, pretty much anything you want to eat you can have. Plus, it may feel like a major coup just to find something that tastes good and that you can actually keep down. Bottom line: Aim for a healthy overall diet and enjoy!

Chances are your first big prenatal check-up is coming up - and you’ve got to be feeling both excited and nervous. (After all, there’s nothing you want more in the world right now than for everything to go just perfectly.) The initial visit will be a long one, so it’s worth some advance prep work to make sure you’ve got all the info the doctor will need, and a list of questions you’d like answered, as well. What you can expect: Your GP will take your medical history, check your vitals (weight, blood pressure, etc.) and do a physical exam. She may also perform blood and urine tests, and an ultrasound to check the baby’s size and give you a more accurate due date. If you didn’t get the rundown of pregnancy dos and don’ts before - what you should eat, what you should avoid, the scoop on exercise - you’ll get those details now. Be sure to jot down any concerns or queries you have. And don’t be shy to ask about weird or unpleasant symptoms you may be experiencing. Trust us - docs have heard and seen it all. So speak up!

"Spotting is normal, and brown spotting is OK. Brown spotting means the blood is old. Check in with your doctor anytime you’re worried about anything – that’s what we pay them for!" – cl-sammyj1987