Your Pregnancy Fetal Development: Week 8
Your growing baby is now six weeks old, thanks to the fuzzy math of pregnancy. Yep, you were "pregnant" for two weeks before you even did the deed because the first day of your last period was considered day 1 of your 280 day pregnancy (wrap your brain around that one!). If only you'd known then what you know now you'd have been demanding foot rubs and ice cream from the get-go!
What You're Thinking: "If I have to smell my coworker's tuna salad sandwich for one more second, I am going to lose my cookies. Wait, did someone say cookies?"
Your Baby
This week, your little tadpole is starting to look a little bit more human. Other exciting developments include:
- Your baby's eyelids, ears, upper lip and the tip of his soon-to-be adorable button nose are forming.
- Junior will also sprout webbed fingers and toes this week—which you'll be well aware of in a few months, as baby starts early gymnastics classes inside you.
- Baby's tiny heart has separated into four distinct chambers and is really ticking now—at a rate of 150 beats per minute. That's more than twice your resting heart rate (even when Brad Pitt is on the screen).
- Your baby is now a little more than 1/2 inch long, about the size of the rock in Eva Longoria's engagement ring, and is about as heavy as the check Tony Parker wrote to pay for it.
Your Body
You know you need to take your prenatal vitamins in order to assure proper growth and nutrition for your little one, yet every time you swallow the thing, it comes right back up thanks to your woozy stomach. Don't panic:
- First, try popping prenatal vitamins at night or with food. Having something in your stomach to help absorb those horse pills can sometimes help.
- Iron is important, but it's also a common cause of nausea. Ask your doc about a vitamin with less iron, or try a liquid or chewable form that might help with the queasiness.
- If you're still barfing after that, check and see if your obstetrician can prescribe you a vitamin that is specifically formulated for women with severe nausea.
Your Life
- Start to think about lining up the medical professionals that are going to help you through this experience: your gynecologist or OB, doula, midwife or lay midwife. This is one of the most important decisions you'll make, so do your research and take your time interviewing.
- While you're seeking professional help, why not consider finding a prenatal yoga or fitness class, or a nutrition class that specializes in prenatal noshing.
- Schedule a prenatal massage or a facial now. If you love it, consider buying a package deal. You can often get a discount when you book several at once—and then use them up throughout your pregnancy.
More for Your Pregnancy & Fetal Development:
report abuse
Submit!
