7 weeks pregnant: what happens to the fetus and the expectant mother?

7 week of pregnancy for many is not the easiest. There can be no more doubts - pregnancy has come, this fact has been confirmed. Now the everyday life of the expectant mother begins to change rapidly every day. We will tell you more about what happens during this period with the baby and the woman in this article.

How many months is it?

7 week of pregnancy is the obstetric period. For convenience, doctors use a special calculation system - they count from the first day of the last menstruation. Thus, the real term differs from it by about 2 weeks, because in the first 14 days of the cycle it is impossible to get pregnant due to the immaturity of the egg. 7 weeks by obstetric standards is 5 weeks from conception.

The embryonic term is about five weeks if ovulation occurs on time, in the middle of the cycle.

This period may be slightly shorter if ovulation was late. The 6-7 obstetric week, which will be discussed, is almost two obstetric or lunar months of pregnancy (they last 4 weeks each). In more customary calendar terms, the second month of pregnancy began. Three weeks have passed since the start of the delay. The baby is now not just dividing cells, but a full-fledged embryo, and in five weeks in the womb he achieved a lot.

Embryo development

The baby is officially still considered an embryo, but in fact this week begins a new stage for him - the neo-fetal period, which will last another 2 weeks. After 9 weeks, babies are officially called fetuses. These 14 days between 7 and 9 weeks are considered the transition period from embryo to fetus. The most critical period in which no one makes predictions about the child's life and the continuation of pregnancy is coming to an end.

From the seventh week, there are less and less threats to the development and vital activity of the baby, his chances of surviving and being born into this world increase. Many doctors no longer call babies embryos and speak of them as fetuses.

Height and weight

The kid is growing, and so fast that his parameters change daily. All the energy, all the forces of the baby and the mother's body are now thrown into growth. This week, at the very beginning, the growth of embryos averages about 2 centimeters, but by the end of the week it can reach 5 centimeters. The weight of the crumbs this week is less than a gram, the baby will begin to gain weight later.

To visualize what your baby looks like now, it's worth remembering what medium-sized white beans looks like - this is what a child is now.

Nervous system

The largest part of the baby's body this week is the head. And this is not just that, since it is during this period that the brain undergoes the most intensive development. Five bubbles are formed in it - cavities that will correspond to each of the parts of the brain. The brain substance "adds" in weight and volume, the brain is divided into two hemispheres. The neural tube is not yet closed, the nervous system is being formed.

This week begins the development of nerve fibers that will connect the "control centers" - the central nervous system and all internal organs. It depends on how favorable the conditions in which the baby develops at the 7th obstetric week depends on how correctly its nervous system will form and work.

Some congenital chromosomal defects, if the fetus has them, do not allow the brain to form at this time, such babies die. At this time, a woman should remember that it should not be exposed to radiation, toxins, most medicines, because all this can totally and irreparably affect the formation of the child's brain.

Internal organs

Vision begins to form this week. The anterior cerebral bladder begins to bulge somewhat forward. It is he who will give rise to the optic nerves and the retina of the eyes. A woman should remember that at 7 weeks she should not be deficient in vitamin A and folic acidnecessary for the proper development of the organs of vision and the nervous system of the baby.

The biggest changes during this period occur in the baby's digestive system. The intestine, while the only one, is divided into main sections, which will soon be full-fledged esophagus, stomach and pharynx. The midline of the intestine begins to protrude towards the umbilical cord. The back of the intestine these days becomes complicated, forming the urogenital sinus and rectum. The bile ducts appear, the appendix is laid, and the pancreas will begin producing its first insulin this week.

The respiratory organs are so far represented only by the trachea. But the lungs and bronchi are already being laid and growing. But a big "breakthrough" is planned in the cardiovascular system.

The heart becomes four-chambered, now it can pump blood throughout the body of the crumbs. The network of blood vessels expands, grows, and large blood vessels develop.

Floor

At 7 weeks, the so-called genital ridges begin to form at the primary kidney. They are the rudiments of the sex glands. In place of the external genital organs, only the genital tubercle is still being formed, which looks completely identical in both boys and girls.

Sex is predetermined from the moment of conception. The chromosomes in the last pair coincided either as XX, and then a little princess is destined to appear, or as XY, and then a boy will be born. However, it is still impossible to determine the gender by any methods. The gonads of the fetus do not yet produce sex hormones, the external genital organs have not formed.

Appearance

The little creature inside the mother's womb will more and more resemble a person every day. In the meantime, the baby looks like an alien. The eye buds are planted on the sides of the large head. Every day they will gradually "slide" to the center of the face - to where the formation of the nasal rudiments has already begun.

This week, the inner ear is formed and pronounced points with cartilaginous tissue “mark” the places where the auricles are destined to be. At week 7, the rudiments of milk teeth are laid and the jaws begin to form.

The spinal column is growing, this week the first cervical bend appears in the baby. The baby begins to move - while only he can only unbend and bend like a small caterpillar. Spatula-like prototypes of hands and fingers appear on the handles, the nails are not yet formed.

The embryonic tail is approximately halved, after two weeks it will disappear altogether, turning into a tailbone familiar to each of us.

The legs of the fetus develop somewhat more slowly than the arms, until the feet are formed on them, but drop-shaped rudiments have already appeared. This is not the most important thing now. All the powers of the baby and the mother this week are directed towards establishing a connection - the uteroplacental blood flow is formed.

A very young placenta has a thickness of no more than 1 centimeter - it still has to develop for a long time before taking on all the functions of feeding and protecting the child.

What can a kid do?

At 7 weeks old, the baby learns an interesting movement - he learns to move the arms and trains on his own wrists. It is these flexions and extensions of the upper limbs that are essentially the very first hand swings. By the end of the week, movements will be more confident.

What can ultrasound show?

Ultrasound scanning, so beloved by all pregnant women, is not included in the number of recommended examinations at this time. If a woman who is preparing to become a mother is feeling good, nothing bothers her, does not hurt and does not cause fears, there is no need to do an ultrasound. Such a diagnosis can be recommended in the event that if there is a need to clarify whether there is a pregnancy at all, whether it is uterine, whether there is a threat of interruption and other complications.

Often, at 7 weeks, ultrasound is done to expectant mothers, whose pregnancy became possible after the use of assisted reproductive technologies, for example, after IVF or intrauterine insemination, to clarify whether the baby is viable, whether it is one or two or three.

If suddenly at week 7 you have to visit the ultrasound office, then you should not expect that there will be a lot of information.

At this time, the doctor does not determine the sex, does not measure individual parameters, but only specifies how many babies are developing, fixes their viability (heartbeat, movements - sometimes), and also correlates the parameters of the ovum with the obstetric period. For the 7th obstetric week, the following sizes are characteristic:

The average inner diameter of the ovum at 7 weeks of gestation:

The shape of the ovum will also tell a lot: even, oval or round is a variant of the norm, and a deformed egg with uneven fuzzy contours will surely alert the diagnostician.

To clarify the period, the coccyx-parietal size of the fetus can be measured, although it is still so small that not every ultrasound machine is able to fix it. If you are lucky enough to do an ultrasound scan on a good scanner with high resolution, then the CTE for this period is within the following standards.

Parietal-coccygeal size at 7 weeks of gestation:

The yolk sac, which has not yet "transferred" its responsibilities for feeding the child to the placenta, is now determined in the range of 4-4.5 mm. The fetal heart rate is in the range of 129-146 beats per minute. The heart rate may differ from this range, but does not exceed 180 beats per minute and does not fall below 110.

On the monitor of an ultrasound scanner, a woman until she sees her baby in all its glory. Most likely, the doctor will be able to show the expectant mother only a dark point - the ovum and the segment between two points in the dark cavity - CTE.

What does the expectant mother feel?

Everything that is now happening in the body of the expectant mother passes under the influence of hormonal changes. Immediately after fertilization, the production of the hormone progesterone increased, the task of which is to preserve the baby, prevent the uterus from straining and pushing the baby out of its cavity, and also not allowing maternal immunity to "deal" with the embryo, which is only half genetically native to the mother.

In the seventh week, the symptoms and signs of early pregnancy are no longer in doubt. Under the influence of hormones, taste preferences have changed.

Progesterone increases appetite, because its "duties" also include the creation of fat reserves as an important energy reserve for the child and his mother.

Because of the surging hormones, the woman becomes emotionally unstable. Her mood changes from fun to tears in minutes. A woman feels unprotected, vulnerable, vulnerable, she may begin to perceive films and photographs she has seen too sentimentally.

Since all the changes that occur with the baby and in the mother's body require huge energy costs, a woman may start feeling tired right from the morning after waking up. Dizziness, headaches, weakness, nausea are not excluded.

As the uteroplacental blood flow begins to form, the concentration of the hCG hormone increases significantly, which leads to additional symptoms of malaise.

Hormonal changes can cause evening rises in temperature to subfebrile values (above 37.0 degrees). Often women perceive this as symptoms of an incipient cold, but, apart from a slight chill, sensations of "burning cheeks", other signs of the disease are not observed. In the morning, there is no trace of the temperature.

The size of the uterus increased by one and a half times. Now it can be compared to the size of a goose egg or orange. The growth of the uterus is not yet felt by the woman, she has not gone beyond the small pelvis, the feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen does not yet arise.

Changes in a woman's body

Even if a woman's daily work does not require her to concentrate her mental and physical strength, a decrease in working capacity at a given time is obvious. It is more difficult for a woman to concentrate, she is absent-minded, sleepy. This condition is considered completely normal for early gestation.

If a woman's work is associated with high-precision production, then it makes sense to temporarily move to another position. If the work is associated with exposure to harmful substances, varnishes and paints, poisons, then you should inform the employer and switch to an easier and safer job - such an opportunity for pregnant women is provided for by labor legislation.

Blood pressure this week may be below normal, and until a normal uteroplacental message is established, this is normal. Toxicosis, if it starts exactly this week, manifests itself in all its "glory".

Many women, speaking of toxicosis, mean nausea, but it is considered quite normal, and vomiting, especially repeated vomiting, are symptoms that require medical advice.

Severe repeated vomiting can be accompanied by dehydration, which is dangerous for both the mother and her baby. Therefore, toxicosis, accompanied by severe vomiting, which is repeated not only in the morning, but also during the day, necessarily needs medical correction, which can be provided to a woman in the department of gynecology of the hospital, where she will receive a referral.

A woman's skin cannot but respond to hormonal changes. This week, under the influence of hCG, it becomes looser, and therefore acne, rashes, dry fragments of the skin that itch and itch may appear. Dandruff may appear, although it was not previously. Some women complain of vaginal dryness. All these are variants of the maternal organism's reaction to hormonal changes.

The woman's breasts become quite painful. It grows rapidly and increases in size due to the proliferation of glandular tissue, which is activated by progesterone. The nipples and circles around them may darken, and not always evenly - sometimes pigmentation appears with spots with a more intense color. Do not be afraid of this. A comfortable supportive bra can help reduce chest pain.

The intestines and digestive organs of a woman under the influence of progesterone may begin to work differently, and therefore, at week 7, increased gas formation, diarrhea, constipation, and heartburn may appear.

To minimize discomfort and symptoms, you should start eating right now so that the baby does not have a deficiency or excess of certain substances, vitamins, minerals, and the mother's body works more smoothly. Proper nutrition often helps to solve the problem of toxicosis at the same time.

Pain

Small pulling pains on the sides of the uterus, as well as in the lumbar region, are not considered pathological. It's about the ligaments that hold the uterus. The main female reproductive organ grows every minute, this dynamics does not stop, the ligaments are forced to adjust to this growth. This is what causes minor aching pains. Gradually, a woman gets used to them, they are no longer perceived as a cause for concern.

Other abdominal pains cannot be considered normal at 7 weeks. First of all, cramping, severe pains are dangerous, in which the uterus comes in tone. Such a pain syndrome may indicate the threat of termination of pregnancy, because at this time such risks are still very high.

Pain when threatened resembles pain during menstruation, only they are somewhat stronger.

If the lower back pulls, the back hurts, gives into the rectum, the pain intensifies, it is important to consult a doctor, because in most cases, with the timely intervention of the doctor, the pregnancy can be preserved and delivered until the due date, then a completely healthy strong baby is born.

If you have a headache at week 7, it may be due to changes in blood pressure. It is important to monitor it daily, especially if the woman had a definite tendency to hypertension or hypotension before pregnancy. It is necessary to inform the doctor about this in the antenatal clinic, he will teach you how to measure pressure on both hands and keep a pregnancy diary. Pressure drops are fraught with the onset of gestosis, a condition extremely dangerous for the mother and fetus.

There is no cure for chest pains. They should simply endure, since they usually subside by the beginning of the second trimester. The active growth of glandular tissue always occurs in the first third of pregnancy, as nature intended.

In general, various changes, accompanied by pain, can occur with the expectant mother in this obstetric week. If the woman previously had any chronic diseases, right now they can worsen and make themselves felt painful.

Allocations

Discharge that has a light color or milky color, odorless, or with a slight sour smell are considered normal for this period. Any other discharge for a given period will be symptoms that indicate that the pregnancy is proceeding with complications.

The most dangerous are spotting. Blood in any form - from pink, creamy and brown discharge to open pure bleeding, can indicate the threat of interruption, spontaneous miscarriage, placental abruption or ovum.

If a bloody "daub" appears or a liquid, more abundant than just smearing discharge, blood has gone, a woman should immediately call an "ambulance" and go to the hospital.

There are chances of saving the child, but they will rapidly diminish if the woman continues to be at home instead of seeking urgent medical attention.

White thick yeast-like discharge, heterogeneous, with a pronounced sour odor, accompanied by itching and unpleasant sensations in the perineum and anus, may indicate the development of thrush. This ailment is directly related to the changed hormonal background.

In this case, you should definitely undergo treatment, the choice of the drug must be made by the doctor, after all, not all antifungal and antimicrobial agents are allowed for women in an "interesting position."

Green, dark gray, brown, indeterminate color discharge with an unpleasant odor, accompanied by itching, burning is usually a manifestation of genital infections, inflammatory diseases of the genital organs. They must necessarily be treated taking into account the specific pathogen in order to avoid intrauterine infection of the fetus.

Possible problems

Since the 7th obstetric week is still a fairly short period, the likelihood of developing various complications remains high, despite the fact that the main threats to the baby's life have passed.

What problems most expectant mothers face this week, we will tell in more detail.

Retrochorial hematoma

Every fourth pregnant woman can hear such a diagnosis. A hematoma forms in the space between the fetal membrane and the chorion, if there is a detachment. The space is filled with blood, and this area is determined by ultrasound.

In most cases, a woman at 7 weeks finds out about a hematoma not in an ultrasound diagnostic room, but by the first symptoms that make her see a doctor - by the appearance of a brown or pink "daub", slight pulling pains. Despite the frightening symptoms, in most cases the pregnancy can be maintained.

Hematoma can occur due to the fact that a woman is overloading herself physically. - lifts weights, goes in for sports professionally. Often, retrochorial hematoma is the result of a "jump" in hormonal balance, an echo of inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system.

Pathology is quite often recorded in pregnant women who have not said goodbye to bad habits - smoking and alcohol, as well as in women who have problems with blood clotting, exposed to severe stress.

Discharge with hematoma is not a mandatory sign. Sometimes the pathology proceeds without symptoms at all. A brown "daub" with a confirmed pathology is a good sign, meaning that blood is gradually leaving the hematoma.

If a woman has red blood, and the pain intensified, there is a possibility that the hematoma has increased in size and poses a great danger to the child's life.

Favorable forecasts are usually about a hematoma, which does not exceed a quarter of the area of the ovum in area. If the size of the hemorrhage is larger, it all depends on the location and the exact size of the hematoma. Treatment is aimed at stopping bleeding, relaxing the uterine muscles with antispasmodic drugs.

Non-developing pregnancy

A frozen or undeveloped pregnancy is a pregnancy in which the fetus has stopped progressing and died, but continues to remain in the uterus. therefore pathology is sometimes called a failed miscarriage.

There are many reasons why a baby stops developing, and not all of them are thoroughly studied by medicine and science. Among the most likely, experts call the chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus. If a baby “inherited” extra chromosomes at conception or is missing them, if he has a mutated gene that interferes with development and full growth, then the death of the child is inevitable.

In addition to genetic prerequisites, pregnancy can stop developing if the fetus is exposed to toxins, some drugs, poisons, radioactive radiation, infections. Often, the true cause of the death of the crumbs at such an early date remains undetected.

It is possible to detect a frozen pregnancy at 7 weeks mainly only on an ultrasound scan, which will show the absence of a fetal heartbeat and its significant lag from the norms in size.

This week, many women go to the consultation for registration. Suspicion of a frozen pregnancy may appear from an obstetrician-gynecologist, who, at the first visit, conducts a manual examination of the uterus and cervix on a gynecological chair - the uterus will be smaller than the prescribed size.

If the pregnancy has already frozen 2-4 weeks ago, then right now obvious symptoms may appear - smearing brown discharge, indicating the beginning of the rejection of a dead ovum.

A pregnant woman should not be alerted by pain, pain does not accompany fetal death, but a sharp disappearance of pain and signs of pregnancy. If the chest hurt, felt sick, and then abruptly all the symptoms disappeared, the chest stopped hurting, this may indicate that the baby “froze”. This can be determined through ultrasound diagnostics.

Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that takes place outside the natural place - the uterine cavity. The fertilized egg could be implanted 6-8 days after fertilization not in the uterine cavity, but anchored in the tube, in the cervix, outside the uterine cavity. Unfortunately, such a baby is doomed to death, but besides this, there is a great danger for a woman's life.

If the grown fetus leads to rupture of the tube, then the woman may begin massive internal bleeding, which can be fatal.

Some women who have not done an ultrasound until 7 weeks may be in the dark, because all the signs of a normal pregnancy will appear - nausea, dizziness, delayed menstruation, changes in smell, chest pain. At this time, a woman may discover the terrible truth when registering with a antenatal clinic.

A manual examination on a gynecological chair will show the size of the uterus that does not correspond to the obstetric period, and therefore the woman will be urgently sent for an ultrasound scan, where it will be found that there is no ovum in the uterus.

Depending on where exactly the embryo is fixed, the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy by week 7 may already manifest themselves. These are abdominal pains, fever, intestinal disorders, vomiting.

When a sharp cutting pain appears, loss of consciousness is likely to rupture the fallopian tube, the woman should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible at any cost.

If there is no rupture, and an ectopic pregnancy is detected during a routine examination using an ultrasound scan, then the likelihood of keeping the woman part of the reproductive system is quite high. Laparoscopic surgery to extract the fetus from the tube allows you to later become pregnant and carry the baby quite safely. Cervical pregnancy is considered unfavorable, in which it is usually necessary to remove the entire uterus completely.

Anembryony

Approximately 15% of pregnant women are diagnosed with the absence of an embryo inside the ovum - anembryonia. At an earlier date, such a diagnosis is often mistaken, and the next ultrasound scan shows that the baby is developing, his heart is beating. But at the 7th obstetric week, errors in diagnosis are practically excluded - the baby is already large enough, it is almost impossible not to see it and not hear the heartbeat.

A fetal egg with anembryony grows, its size increases, but there is no fruit in it. Experts believe that the pathology of the early embryonic period is to blame - when the implantation took place, but the embryo inside the ovum died.

The most likely reason is called chromosomal genetic pathologies, the impact of negative factors - from a drop in hormonal status to exposure to stress, medications, poor ecology, nicotine and alcohol, drugs, radiation. The reasons for the death of the embryo at the very initial stage of its development usually cannot be established.

If this week the absence of an embryo is detected, this usually causes serious psychological trauma to the woman, especially if the pregnancy is desired and the child is long-awaited. Such mothers, up to 7 weeks, usually have time to choose a name, look after a crib and a stroller, solve the issue of repairs in the nursery, so the news that the child is gone can provoke a serious nervous breakdown in them. A woman may need qualified help from a psychiatrist or psychotherapist.

There is one consolation - after anembryony, most couples become pregnant quite successfully and carry and give birth to a healthy baby without any problems. Cases of repeated anembryonia are very rare.

Risk of miscarriage

This diagnosis in antenatal clinics sounds more often than anyone else. According to medical statistics, about 70% of expectant mothers are pregnant with the threat of termination, most of them are diagnosed in the early stages. The reasons why a pregnancy is at risk of terminating at any time can be very diverse, but for the most part, doctors manage to cope with the problem and help a woman overcome a difficult period while maintaining the pregnancy.

Of course, no one will guarantee anything. Sometimes, despite the best efforts of doctors, a miscarriage still occurs. This usually happens if the child was initially doomed to death due to chromosomal abnormalities, total defects that prevent him from developing normally. Unfortunately, this can only be established posthumously - fetal tissue samples are subject to genetic analysis, which shows the presence of chromosomal abnormalities.

A miscarriage threatens women over the age of 35, in expectant mothers over 40, the probability of an unfavorable outcome is about 40%. At risk are women who have bad habits, work under constant stress, uncontrollably take medications, abuse coffee or strong tea, expectant mothers who are experiencing strong physical exertion.

Often miscarriages are of a habitual nature - they are repeated at approximately the same period. If the previous pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 7 weeks, you should register as early as possible, to meet the "critical" week in the hospital under the round-the-clock supervision of doctors.

The likelihood of a threat in women who have had abortions, including medication, increases. After IVF, a miscarriage at 6-7 weeks and a little later ends in about 25% of all pregnancies. And in women who have an immunological Rh-conflict with the fetus, the probability of a miscarriage is close to 60%.

A threatening condition usually manifests itself pulling pains or a feeling of "petrification" in the lower abdomen, abnormal discharge - bloody, watery, bloody.

Colds, ARVI

Progesterone, which helps maintain pregnancy, weakens the immunity of the expectant mother. That is why various viral and non-infectious diseases so often arise in the early stages. If the flu or ARVI starts at week 7, it can be very dangerous for the baby, because the most important processes of brain formation are now taking place in his body, and a high temperature increases the likelihood of miscarriage tenfold.

The situation is complicated by the fact that a woman cannot use for her treatment the usual drugs that she used in similar cases before pregnancy - many drugs are now contraindicated for her, since they have a teratogenic effect (negatively affect the development of the fetus).

A doctor should be consulted at the first sign of a viral infection or flu. He will be able to tell what drugs can be used, what folk methods of alleviating the condition a woman can use without risking harm to the child.

An infectious disease in such a short period of time as the seventh week of pregnancy, by no means in all cases leads to irreparable consequences, wrong treatment can be much more dangerous, which a woman will resort to without the permission and approval of the treating doctor.

For a cold, a woman can also take quite physiological manifestations of early pregnancy, for example, a runny nose. A stuffy nose in women at 7 weeks is often not due to hypothermia or a viral infection, but because of the action of progesterone on the mucous membranes. Under the action of the hormone, fluid begins to accumulate in the tissues, which leads to rhinitis.

If nasal congestion and difficulty breathing are not accompanied by additional symptoms of acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections, there is nothing to worry about. Such a runny nose does not need treatment and does not harm the child.

Analyzes and examinations

Given that most of the complications of pregnancy at such an early stage occur without pronounced symptoms, it is advisable for a woman to register as early as possible at the antenatal clinic. It is better to do this at 5-6 weeks of pregnancy, but the seventh week is perfect for a complete and detailed examination of the health of the expectant mother and baby.

When visiting the consultation, which can be scheduled for this particular week, you should take your passport and medical insurance policy with you. If a woman has already visited an ultrasound scan on her own initiative, then you should take a doctor's opinion with you.

At the appointment, the doctor will draw up a detailed obstetric history of the woman, assess all risk factors, conduct a manual gynecological examination and issue referrals for tests and examinations, which are mandatory when registering. These analyzes include:

general blood and urine tests;
blood chemistry;
blood test for infections, antibodies to TORCH infections;
blood tests for HIV and syphilis, for hepatitis B and C;
scraping from the cervix and a smear of vaginal secretions for microflora;
colposcopy;
coagulogram (blood test to determine coagulation factors).

In addition, other diagnostic tests may be prescribed to a woman on individual indications. If there is a need to clarify the duration of pregnancy, an ultrasound is performed, if a multiple pregnancy is suspected, a blood test for hCG and ultrasound is performed, tests for the content of hormones - progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones - may be recommended.

When registering, a woman is recommended to visit other doctors who will give their opinions on the likelihood of complications from internal organs and systems - a cardiologist, therapist, dentist, gastroenterologist, ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist.

If a woman has chronic diseases, the appropriate doctor must give written recommendations to the obstetrician-gynecologist about the peculiarities of this pregnancy, taking into account the disease.

Recommendations for the expectant mother

To reduce the risks of complications in the seventh obstetric week, simple and uncomplicated safety measures that are desirable for all pregnant women will help.

Nutrition

If it is 7 weeks, it's time to think about how to establish proper nutrition, which will help the baby to receive all the necessary nutrients, and it is easier for the mother to endure all the hardships of the "interesting situation". Whatever diet a woman adheres to before pregnancy, now it makes sense to make adjustments to it.

A woman should eat fractionally - 5-6 times a day... The portions should become smaller in volume, but more complete in composition and energy value.

You should completely abandon carbonated drinks, mayonnaise, ketchup, smoked meats, sausages and sausages. Salt intake is best reduced to 5 grams per day - this will help to avoid the likelihood of developing preeclampsia with edema.

It is also better to refuse from factory sweets, chocolate, jam and preserves, preferring sweet fruits, natural juices.

The diet should contain fresh vegetables, rich in fiber, which not only supply the mother's body with vitamins, but also contribute to the normalization of the stool and prevent constipation.

Fatty foods are excluded - lard, pork, lamb, large amounts of butter, margarine... It is advisable to minimize the consumption of bread, especially baked from butter or yeast dough. If a woman used to be fond of vegetarianism, now is the time to introduce meat - veal, beef, rabbit, poultry - chicken and turkey into her diet, because without animal protein, the full development of the fetus is very difficult.

To withstand multiple meals, you should buy special food containers that will allow a woman to take food with her to work or school. Be sure to observe the drinking regime - drink at least 1.5 liters of clean water per day.

Sex

If a woman has no complications, pains, pathological discharge, if she is not at risk of miscarriage, then sex at 7 weeks is not only allowed, but also recommended.

A full intimate life has a beneficial effect on the psychological state of the expectant mother. The belly has not yet grown and does not interfere, the movements are not limited, there is no need to protect yourself.

All this makes a woman more relaxed, she can get much more pleasure from making love than before. It is not worth worrying about the child - the intimate life of the parents in no way harms his development, does not interfere with him.

Weight control

Starting this week, you should start controlling your weight. Many pregnant women purchase bathroom scales and at 7 weeks start keeping pregnancy diaries, which indicate not only weight, but also basal temperature, as well as blood pressure.

There is no need to weigh yourself every day; one or two weighings are enough (at the beginning and at the end of this obstetric week). You need to weigh yourself in the morning after using the toilet, emptying the bladder and bowels, before breakfast.

A normal increase is now considered to be 100-300 grams per week.... If a woman has toxicosis, then some weight loss may even be noted.

A pathological increase is considered to be an increase above 0.8-1 kilograms per week. It is imperative to inform the doctor about this in order to exclude the development of dropsy of pregnant women - gestosis.

Travel and flights

Travel, including by air, is not prohibited during week 7. The exceptions are cases of a clear threat of termination of pregnancy and early miscarriages in history, individual contraindications, which include, in particular, problems with blood vessels and heart. Flights in this case are undesirable.

Changes of climatic zones in the early stages are not recommended for all pregnant women. Acclimatization can be quite painful and dangerous in terms of the threat of termination of pregnancy.

Vitamins

You should not prescribe vitamins on your own. Based on the results of a biochemical blood test, the doctor will be able to judge with confidence what substances in the body of the expectant mother are missing. Based on this, one or another vitamin preparation is prescribed.

At 7 weeks, the need for vitamin A increases, as the baby's eyes are forming. It is enough to include in the diet foods rich in retinol, for example, fresh carrot salad or cod liver.

Lifestyle

A woman at 7 weeks must get enough sleep. It's time to forget about working the night shift by asking the management to change the expectant mother's work schedule.

If there are no contraindications, you can and should go in for swimming, walking in the fresh air. Excessive physical activity should now be eliminated, in any case, the exercises on strength machines in the gym are now clearly not shown.

Reviews of pregnant women

Many pregnant women who left feedback about their 7th week of pregnancy on special parenting forums on the Internet claim that it was this week that they first thought about changing their wardrobe, and started with ... shoes. It has become uncomfortable to wear high-heeled shoes and boots - the legs get tired, and in the evening there are pains in the lower back and back. The consequences can be more serious, because the uterus with a changed center of gravity often comes in tone.