During week 8, your baby is starting to move! You can't really feel it yet, though, because your baby is still pretty small. At this point, your baby is a little over half an inch long, or the size of a lima bean.
During week 8, you may have your first prenatal doctor's appointment. This appointment will probably be relatively long, since there's a lot to do. You and your doctor will probably go over your personal and family medical history. Give your doctor as much information as you can since this will be used to give you the best care possible. Your doctor will also probably perform several tests. A physical exam, including a pelvic exam and a Pap test, will be done to check your overall health. Other tests, including blood tests, urine tests, and possibly genetic screenings, may be done. You and your doctor will then determine your due date and discuss the healthy habits you should be following at this point, including eating a balanced diet, getting enough exercise, and taking a prenatal vitamin. If you have any other questions about prenatal care at this point, now is a great time to ask your doctor.
By week 8 of pregnancy, you may be experiencing some uncomfortable symptoms of pregnancy. At this point, many women feel fatigued. This is probably due to a combination of hormonal changes, morning sickness, and possibly a lack of sleep. You may also be feeling some abdominal cramping or pain in your lower back or buttocks. Both of these problems are caused by your growing uterus, and they are not usually signs of any serious issues. If you are concerned about how you are feeling during week 8, talk to your doctor.
During week 8 of pregnancy, you're continuing to experience changes. This week, you'll probably still feel some of the more negative effects of pregnancy like extreme fatigue, abdominal cramping, and pain in your lower back or buttocks. You may also notice a bit of weight gain (though nothing significant in the first trimester), or perhaps weight loss due to morning sickness. Either way, your physical appearance probably won't change, but you'll definitely notice subtle changes in how you feel. This is because your uterus has already grown to about the size of a grapefruit! Your breasts are also growing and probably becoming very tender or sore.
Week 8 is still pretty early in your pregnancy, so you probably won't look too different. Some women may start to notice subtle changes in their body, like weight gain around their waists. However, most women only gain about five pounds in the first trimester, so weight gain should not be significant at this point. In fact, some women actually lose weight as a result of the nausea of morning sickness. Either way, you will probably start to feel a difference in your abdomen since your uterus is now the size of a grapefruit. By week 8, many women also notice that their breasts are becoming noticeably larger.
In week 8, you may be seeing your doctor for your first prenatal appointment. At the appointment, your doctor will go over a lot of information with you. You will talk about your personal and family medical history, and you will probably undergo several tests including a physical exam, pelvic exam, blood tests, and urine tests. Your doctor will also help you determine your due date and go over any questions you may have. Don't be afraid to ask about anything you are curious about, from diet to exercise to emotional issues.
Week 8 is an exciting week for you and your baby. At this point, your baby is starting to move. It's still only the size of a bean so you won't be able to feel anything, but it should be exciting to know that your baby is starting to move and shift around. You may still be going through uncomfortable effects of pregnancy - many women in week 8 are still having symptoms like morning sickness, frequent urination, and fatigue. Fortunately, the morning sickness will likely go away in a few weeks. Other symptoms may last throughout pregnancy, but you may be able to relieve them. To relieve breast soreness, consider buying a new maternity bra or wear a sports bra regularly. If you have any lower back or buttocks pain, you may want to lie on your side for a while. Remember that even though you may not be feeling your best, you should keep focusing on eating well and exercising as much as you can. If you have any questions about week 8 of your pregnancy, talk to your doctor.
In week 8, your doctor will remind you at your first prenatal appointment that you should keep paying attention to your lifestyle choices that may affect your baby. Nutrition is especially important at this point since you may be getting fewer nutrients than necessary because of the vomiting and nausea of morning sickness. Eat lots of fruit, vegetables, and lean proteins, and eat small, frequent meals throughout the day if that helps you keep food down. Taking supplements can help you make sure you're getting the proper vitamins -especially calcium, iron, and folic acid - but remember that supplements can't replace food. Get your nutrients from healthy food sources like green leafy vegetables, eggs, nuts, dried beans and peas, and whole-grain products. If you have questions about how a particular activity may affect your baby during week 8, talk to your doctor.