What is happening in week 7
Doctors count pregnancy weeks from the first day of your last period, so week 7 sits in the first trimester (up to the end of week 13). That is about 33 weeks to go until week 40, and about 1.6 months by a rough conversion. Around week 7 the baby is about 10mm long, roughly the size of a grape, with a fast-growing brain.
Your baby
According to the NHS guide the embryo measures about 10mm from head to bottom. The brain is growing faster than the rest of the body, which gives a large forehead, and arm buds are lengthening with flattened ends that will become hands. The NHS says the brain makes around 100 new cells every minute.
Your body
Your blood volume rises during pregnancy (the NHS says by up to 50%), which can make you feel thirsty. Nausea, tiredness and mood swings are the commonest symptoms now. First-time mothers often do not look pregnant until around week 12.
This week’s to-do
- Drink plenty of fluids through the day; the NHS suggests about 8 medium glasses.
- Ask your doctor whether you should take any vitamins, including folic acid.
- Tell your doctor about any long-term condition or regular medication, and do not stop medication without medical advice.
When to call
Call your doctor or hospital if you have bleeding, strange symptoms such as itching all over, or low mood that is not lifting.
Chaitanya Hospital in Kadapa, near RTC Bus Stand, Simhapuri Colony, provides delivery and emergency care 24/7. Our antenatal check-ups team can answer questions about your own pregnancy.
Use the week-by-week guide to jump to your week, or the due date calculator to work out your dates. Timings for scans and tests come from NHS guidance in the UK and can differ from your doctor’s schedule, so always follow your own doctor’s advice. This page is educational and not a substitute for a doctor.
Sources
Text on this page is paraphrased from the sources above. Sizes are averages and vary between babies.