Your Pregnancy at Week 8

by Your Baby Club

Your baby's eyes are developing!

your baby this week:

Did you know that there’s an old wives' tale that suggests a faster beating heart is a sign you may be having a baby girl? Either way, your baby's heart is beating twice as fast as yours and is currently drumming away at around 140-170 bpm. Later in pregnancy, this will drop to between 110-160bpm. However, at the moment, growing a head, arm and leg buds (which are developing at a rapid rate) takes lots of energy. Their tiny heart is working hard to get everything in place.

This week will see the eye colour start to develop, and baby is growing around 1mm per day in size.

your body:

It's safe to assume that by week eight, you are feeling pregnant; and even though your jeans are a bit snugger around the waistline, you probably still don't look it (aside from your breasts being a bit fuller). If your breasts are tender or sore, you're not alone. Pregnancy hormones are preparing your body for lactation, causing you to feel oh, so tired and doing all sorts of distracting things to your body.

Progesterone is to blame for your present fatigue.

And it's still important that you avoid caffeine, even if you are really, really tired. As to what is responsible for any thin, milky vaginal discharge you might be experiencing? That's estrogen. This discharge is called leukorrhea. It protects the birth canal from becoming infected and keeps bacteria at a healthy, balanced level, so it's tremendously important that you avoid douching and washing it away.

By now, 75 percent of expecting moms are familiar with morning sickness, aka "All-the-Time Sickness." The silver lining is in knowing these food and/or smell aversions, the nausea and vomiting, normally tend to subside at the end of this trimester, around week 12, which is right around the corner! Staying hydrated will help. Are you drinking enough? Keep an eye on the color of your urine, which should be lightly colored. If it's dark, you are not getting enough fluid. Remaining hydrated is extremely important during pregnancy, so drink up!!!

And finally, there is no such thing as a stupid question (except for the one not asked!) No matter if this is your first pregnancy or your fifth, share your concerns - about anything - with your midwife or doctor.

Louise Broadbridge - Our Expert Midwife

Hi, my name is Louise, I am a Registered Midwife, founder of Let's Talk Birth and Baby and the face behind Instagram's The Honest Midwife. I have worked in health settings for the past 30 years, the majority of which have been working in children and family settings.

your tips & to do's:

If you have a cat, steer clear of the kitty litter! Changing cat litter may put you at risk for a parasitic disease, called toxoplasmosis, which can cause pregnancy problems and serious birth defects. If there isn’t anyone else to change the litter box for you, wear rubber gloves while you scoop and change it. And when you are done... wash. your. hands.

For managing nausea early in your pregnancy, try ginger ale, ginger candy, or ginger tea. Other things you can try are sea band bracelets (they apply acupressure to your inner wrist to reduce nausea and can be found at your local drugstore), eating six small meals throughout the day instead of three larger "normal-sized" meals, and sucking on a popsicle (a great way to get extra fluids)!

If you find that it's 3 a.m., and there you are, between your nice, clean sheets, trying to sleep, and you. just. can't. sleep., this might be due to how disrupted your circadian rhythm has become from frequent bathroom trips during the midnight hours to empty your bladder. These nighttime trips are a result of the increased blood flow and fluid caused by pregnancy. You should feel more rested during the second trimester but return to sleeplessness in the third trimester, when the extra weight pressing down on your bladder means extra trips to the bathroom. Try playing any type of soothing white noise, propping yourself up with an extra pillow to combat any heartburn, napping during the day, or any other trick you'd try when a newborn needs more sleep. If sleeplessness is interfering with your ability to function during daytime hours, or causing other issues, talk to your midwife or doctor about possible treatment options. Always talk to your doctor before taking any sleep aids.

Even if you are super excited about being pregnant, you may still not be ready to share your news with everyone. To help you prepare for the reveal, think ahead. If your pants are getting too uncomfortable, wear a swingy summer dress. Instead of canceling girls' night out, volunteer to be the designated driver. When you do finally decide to share your news, be prepared for curious questions. You don't have to divulge any information you don't want, or aren't ready, to share. You can be polite or sarcastic.

When are you going to give your parents some grandbabies?

I don't know - do you have any I can steal? (sarcastic)
We're working on it. (polite)

It's truly your choice how you handle the meddlesome folk. Just don't forget to write about it in your pregnancy journal!

your symptoms

Everything is stinky. Everything makes you feel like vomiting. Everything... is different, now that you're eight weeks pregnant. Your body is all sorts of amazing madness. Here are few, but not all, of the pregnancy symptoms you may be experiencing:

Morning sickness, nausea, or vomiting
Food cravings and/or aversions
Heartburn
Cramps or bloating
Frequent urination
Vaginal discharge
Constipation
Headaches
Amplified sense of smell
Crazy pregnancy dreams
Mood swings
Acne

Articles For You to Read This Week

20 Things You Can and Can't do Whilst Pregnant

The dreaded 'do's and don't's' list is here. There's always been some debate over things mums-to-be should avoid whilst pregnant, including things that could affect...

What is Folic Acid and When Do I Take it?

Folic acid is really important for the development of a baby as it can reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida. It is recommended that all women...