The little miracle takes shape

How is your baby growing?

In the 7th week of pregnancy, your baby's head is growing rapidly as the nervous system develops quickly. And slowly your baby is getting a face: the eye sockets and eye cysts are forming, and the first roots of the nostrils and ears are appearing. On the ultrasound, the eyes appear as black dots.

In addition, the spine closes completely and the beginnings of the arms and legs continue to develop.

How is your belly growing?

Do you just want to sleep? Have you ever felt as tired as you do now in the 7th week of pregnancy? The hormone progesterone, which maintains the pregnancy, is responsible for this level of fatigue: it has a calming effect and ensures that your baby is well and can develop properly. So sleep whenever you want, even if it's during the day. Sleeping during the day not only helps you overcome any pregnancy discomforts, such as nausea and dizziness, but also compensates for the increasingly frequent restless nights. This is because your growing uterus can press on your bladder and wake you up at night. In addition, breasts are often sore and sensitive at this stage of pregnancy, making it difficult to lie comfortably on your stomach.  

In the 7th week of pregnancy, your blood volume increases by 30% so that your baby has sufficient nourishment. This increases your resting heart rate to 80 beats per minute, which is about 10 beats more than usual. You may notice this in your blood circulation: excessively high or low blood pressure is often a symptom of pregnancy.  

What makes you grow as a family?

Your pregnancy now determines your life and your daily routine. This is not only unusual and perhaps a little scary, but it is also normal.

A tip from mom Christine:  

You are not sick, but you are pregnant from day one. And not 'a little' pregnant, but pregnant. And you'll be very tired and constantly hungry—so take a nap and enjoy whatever you like. 

You can stimulate your blood circulation with these measures:  

• Alternating showers and cold foot baths
• Exercise in the fresh air
• Avoid prolonged standing and quick movements
• Wear support stockings
• Drink sufficient amounts (2.5 liters/day)