8th Week of Pregnancy
Future mothers love to know the evolution of their pregnancy and the changes their baby will go through. In this article, we’ll describe the process that the baby goes through in the 8th week of pregnancy.
While reading, you should keep in mind that some aspects will depend on each woman and her body.
During this week, the baby will be about 13 millimeters long, about half an inch, which is about the size of a legume. Therefore, you won’t be able to see the baby very well in the mother’s womb. Additionally, the fetus is still inside the pelvis, and you’ll start to notice when they leave it.
Formation of the Fetus During the 8th Week of Pregnancy
External Changes
During the 8th week of pregnancy, the baby will start forming fingers and toes.
However, they’ll start to form their fingers as a single unit and you can’t distinguish between them. You can also differentiate between eyelids and the tip of their nose.
Internal Changes
- Throughout the week, they’ll begin forming breathing tubes and lungs.
- Their spine tends to straighten out, while their head stays inclined forward.
- The nervous cells get longer and develop in order to connect to each other. This way, the first neuron channels begin to form.
- The elbow and knee joints are completely developed, but only in regards to anatomy. The baby still won’t be able to move them.
How Does Your Body Change?
During pregnancy, your body will begin to change, not just physically but also symptomatically. This is because the woman’s body destabilizes and experiences transformations due to the excess production of hormones.
In the 8th week of pregnancy, you can start to notice the belly; however, it’s very small. Therefore, it’s normal that the people around you won’t even notice it. Don’t worry, your uterus will grow drastically very soon.
You can also feel cramps or other disturbances in your body, especially in the lower womb, your sides, and your legs. This symptom depends on the woman and her tolerance for pain since the degree will vary from person to person.
“During the 8th week of pregnancy, the baby will start forming fingers and toes. You can also differentiate between eyelids and the tip of their nose.”
On the other hand, it’s common that from the 8th week of pregnancy on, the woman feels pain from her glutes to her feet.
This is due to the growth of the uterus, which causes pressure in the sciatic nerve. Therefore, this causes the continued pain and cramps in that area.
Tips
During pregnancy, one of the most important aspects that you should control is following a healthy, balanced diet.
This way, your body gets the nutrients and foods necessary to keep you energized. Additionally, it’s very important that you’re careful with what medications you ingest.
Nutrients and Foods You Should Consume
There are nutrients that offer the necessary nourishment that you need to carry out a healthy pregnancy. Some of these nutrients are iron, calcium, iodine, zinc, folic acid, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids.
Therefore, it’s usually recommended that during your pregnancy, you ingest certain foods that give your body these nutrients. Among them are legumes, vegetables, fruits, lean meats, eggs, fish, tree nuts, and dairy.
Dizziness or Nausea
Some women suffer from constant dizziness or nausea during the first trimester of their pregnancy. This doesn’t have a specific reason. This type of symptom is due to distinct hormonal changes that the pregnant woman’s body goes through.
These signs can vary from one pregnancy to another. There is no reason to worry if they don’t appear. Each body reacts differently and in its own way. Therefore, if you passed the first trimester and are still nauseous, don’t worry because this is normal as well.
There are some techniques that you can try to combat this symptom. One of the most common and most recommended is to eat more meals (5 or 6) in smaller portions throughout the day instead of fewer large ones.
Medications
It’s very important that you don’t take any medication during pregnancy, except for light painkillers that are approved by your doctor.
The best idea is for pregnant women to use natural remedies instead of pharmaceuticals. For example, you can drink hot tea or eat certain foods that contain ingredients to help you combat these symptoms.
In any case, don’t live doubtfully. If you notice anything strange in your pregnancy, consult your doctor immediately. They will know the best thing for you.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Goldsmith, L. T., & Weiss, G. (2009). Relaxin in human pregnancy. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1160, 130–135. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2008.03800.x
- Blake, Robert L., and Janna Reimann. “The pregnancy-related dreams of pregnant women.” The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 6.2 (1993): 117-122.
- Ogbechie-Godec, Oluwatobi A., and Nada Elbuluk. “Melasma: an up-to-date comprehensive review.” Dermatology and therapy 7.3 (2017): 305-318.
