Guide to Being Eight Weeks Pregnant
Guess what? That little guy is moving in there. But you still won't feel it for a few more weeks.
Enjoy that boost to your looks right now, if you can get your mind off the nausea long enough. Your bra size might be bigger, but your belly is still the same.
You probably already know to be careful about eating fish and drinking alcohol. As long as you're not really hungry, it's time to think about avoiding some other foods that could contain bacteria as well: herbal teas (they can cause contractions), unwashed produce, meat and eggs that aren't well-cooked, deli meats, and any unpasteurized milk or juice. Let's look at a few more things you can expect during week eight of your pregnancy.
What You Might Be Feeling
This may be the first week you feel your clothes start to tighten as your breasts and belly expand. You won't be visibly pregnant, but even if you're partial to form-fitting attire, those relaxed fits might find their way to the front of the closet.
You can sort out all that stuff with the wardrobe, of course, if you can stay awake long enough.
At this point, you're probably tired. Really tired. The baby-making hormones are pulling a number on you. And, of course, all that puking and peeing can take quite a toll.
What's Going On in Your Body
Believe it or not, your baby is the size of a raspberry and is growing at the rate of about 1 millimeter per day. That might not sound like much, but when it's happening every day, it adds up.
The baby's tiny little fingers and toes are forming, and the eyes are developing color. The beginnings of the baby's genitals are there now, but it's still impossible to tell whether it's a boy or a girl just by looking.
One of the most important developments is that the baby will start to move this week, but he's still too tiny to feel.
What Your Partner Should Know
One word: Boobs.
Two words: Don't touch.
So that growth spurt last week has already given you a shape you've never seen, and your partner might be paying extra special attention to you and those expanding body parts. The problem, though, is that they hurt. They really hurt. And they might just be a hands-free zone for at least a few more weeks.
You can think of this as perhaps the first of many ways in which you will become less available in the next few years. But you don't have to tell him about that. Not yet.
Some Things to Consider
Each week of your pregnancy brings some new considerations, and here are a few for your eighth week:
- In your quest for friendly food, try some fruit. It has great nutritional qualities, and it doesn't produce those horrible cooking smells.
- In general, whether it's fruit, crackers or plain noodles, you might want to focus on foods you don't have to cook, at least for a few weeks.
- You might become light-headed or faint. Your body doesn't have enough blood right now because it's preparing to feed the baby. So be alert to bouts of light-headedness, and prepare to take a rest if the faintness comes on.
Don't Worry If...
Even if you're puking day and night, it's not hurting the baby.
If you can only tolerate a very limited menu, it's OK to eat those items over and over. Some experts recommend products with ginger, such as ginger cookies, to help with nausea. Another suggestion: Take prenatal vitamins with meals rather than on an empty stomach. And keep your portion sizes small.
The Mayo Clinic Web site recommends that you see a doctor if the vomiting is so severe that you can't keep down water, the vomit contains blood or vomiting causes you to become dizzy and faint.
If you want to try alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, check with your doctor first to be on the safe side.
In general, think of nausea as a good sign. Extensive medical research has shown that women who have morning sickness are less likely to miscarry.