7 weeks pregnant
At 7 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a blueberry: around 1.3 cm crown to rump and lighter than 1 g. Arm and leg buds are sprouting, and the brain is growing quickly.
Your baby at 7 weeks
Arm and leg buds are sprouting, and the brain is growing quickly.
| Size | About the size of a blueberry |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.3 cm crown to rump |
| Weight | under 1 g |
Your baby is about 1 cm long and has a small tail that will disappear in a few weeks. The hands and feet look like tiny paddles. The umbilical cord has formed, linking your baby to the developing placenta, and the kidneys, liver and gut are taking shape. The brain is growing so fast that the head looks large compared with the body.
How far along are you at 7 weeks?
At 7 weeks pregnant you are in the second month of your pregnancy and the first trimester. You have about 33 weeks to go until your due date. Doctors count pregnancy from the first day of your last period, not from conception, so at 7 weeks your baby has been growing for about 5 weeks. Not sure of your dates? Use our due date calculator.
Your body at 7 weeks
Nausea often peaks around now. Small, frequent meals and dry crackers in the morning can help. Smells may feel much stronger.
Common symptoms at 7 weeks
Every pregnancy is different, and you may have some, all or none of these.
- Nausea at its worst. Many women feel sickest between weeks 7 and 10.
- Extra saliva. Some women make much more saliva than usual. Chewing gum or sucking on mints can help.
- Spots and oily skin. Hormone changes can bring back teenage-style breakouts.
- Thin, white discharge. More discharge is normal. Itching, a strong smell or a change in colour is not, so tell your doctor.
- Mood changes. Feeling up and down is very common, especially when you are tired and sick.
- Bloating and wind. Your digestion has slowed right down.
Your checklist for week 7
- Prepare for your booking appointment: list your medicines, past pregnancies and any family health conditions.
- Ask about screening for thalassaemia and sickle cell. Thalassaemia is especially common in families from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and the Middle East.
- Avoid self-medicating. Paracetamol at the lowest dose is usually considered safe; avoid ibuprofen and aspirin unless your doctor advises them.
- Rest whenever you can, even a 20-minute lie-down helps.
- Keep up your folic acid and vitamin D.
Tip of the week: Beating constipation
Aim for two litres of fluid a day, more in hot weather. Add fibre with wholemeal roti, oats, lentils (daal), chickpeas, fruit and vegetables. A short walk after meals gets things moving. If your doctor later prescribes iron, it can make constipation worse, so mention it if it does.
For your partner
Nausea is real and can last all day.
- Keep crackers and water by the bed
- Handle strong-smelling chores like the bin
- Don't take mood swings personally
When to call your doctor at 7 weeks
Contact your doctor, midwife or maternity unit the same day if you have:
- Burning or stinging when you wee, or needing to go urgently with a fever. Urine infections need treating promptly in pregnancy.
- Bleeding or tummy pain.
Call your doctor or hospital straight away for bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, severe headache or vision changes.
Questions about 7 weeks pregnant
Is it safe to have sex at 7 weeks pregnant?
For most women, yes. Sex will not harm your baby, who is protected by the womb and amniotic fluid. Your doctor may advise avoiding it if you have bleeding, a history of miscarriage they are monitoring, or later on, a low-lying placenta.
What tests happen at the booking appointment?
Usually your blood pressure, weight and height, a urine test, and blood tests for your blood group, anaemia, infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis, and, depending on your background, thalassaemia and sickle cell. You'll also talk about screening for conditions such as Down's syndrome.
Is it normal to cry a lot in early pregnancy?
Yes. Rapid hormone changes, tiredness and sickness make many women feel emotional. If you feel low most of the time, can't enjoy anything or feel anxious all the time, talk to your doctor. Support is available and it is nothing to be ashamed of.