At 8 weeks pregnant, your tiny tot might already be half an inch long and growing at a rate of a millimeter a day. The majority of women experience morning sickness in week 8 pregnancy, although it will still be a few weeks before they start to look pregnant. Explore our comprehensive 8 week pregnancy symptoms guide to learn more about your baby’s growth and development.
8 Weeks Pregnant: All You Need To Know
Congratulations on wrapping up your second month of pregnancy! With all the physical and emotional changes, you might be starting to feel the baby very real. Also, it’s likely you’ll have your first gynecologist visit to confirm the pregnancy at 8 weeks pregnant, see your little munchkin in ultrasound and hear the telltale thump of their tiny heart.
Many questions about the impending changes you will probably experience might be lingering on your mind during your first visit. But we’ve got your back if you want to acquire some knowledge before your doctor’s appointment, or already met your doctor but forgot something, or still have a few unanswered queries.
So, whether you want to know the size of a baby at 8 weeks, understand their development, or simply looking for some safety tips, this article will cover almost everything you need to know at 8 weeks pregnant.
Baby’s Development at 8 Weeks
By the eighth week of pregnancy, your baby’s facial features begin to develop, all set to resemble the infant you’ll bring home from the hospital. The embryonic tail should be gone by now, and tiny arms, legs, knees, elbows, bones, and muscles should begin to sprout out of their body.
By now, their toes and fingers should have also developed, and they are no longer webbed together like a baby duckling. Your baby even has eyelids that now partially cover their eyes, but the eyes will remain shut for about 20 more weeks.
Moreover, your little angel is constantly moving in your womb, although you won’t experience it yet. Guess what? Not only is there physical growth, but also other changes. The nerve cells in your baby’s brain are also developing, thereby giving your tiny tot the sense of smell.
Also, the size of a baby at 8 weeks is roughly the size of a kidney bean. Around this time, the average fetus weighs about 0.04 ounces. From head to tail, the baby is about 1.2 cm long by the end of eight weeks. Moreover, your baby grows about a millimeter each day. Furthermore, your uterus is now almost the size of a grapefruit.
8 Week Pregnancy Symptoms: About Your Body
You’ve probably already experienced quite a few pregnancy symptoms by this time. However, here are some of the new symptoms you may be experiencing by 8 weeks pregnant.
1. Morning Sickness
During the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, there is a surge of progesterone in your body, thereby causing nausea and vomiting each morning. Some moms even experience nausea throughout the day. Furthermore, you might also experience aversions to certain smells.
2. Bloating
It is due to progesterone that you may also feel very bloated all the time when you are eight weeks pregnant. This hormone causes digestion to slow down, thereby contributing to many other pregnancy symptoms, including nausea.
3. Diarrhea or Constipation
Some expectant moms can even face truckloads of digestive problems, including diarrhea or constipation. However, these 8 weeks symptoms usually improve when you are in the second trimester of your pregnancy.
4. Abdominal Cramping
Due to the continuous growth of your uterus, you might even experience some abdominal cramping at 8 weeks pregnant. However, if the cramping is severe, call your ob-gyn or midwife straight away.
5. Heartburn
Heartburn is another common pregnancy symptom that is brought on by hormonal changes. A small amount of stomach acid may also come up your esophagus as a result of the growing baby pressing against your stomach.
6. Food Cravings or Distaste
Not all pregnant moms have specific food cravings or distaste at 8 weeks pregnant, but many of them do. However, by this time, you are sure to experience a change in your food preferences. Sometimes, you might even experience a loss of appetite.
7. Breast Changes
By this week, your breasts may start to grow or get more sensitive. Sometimes, you might also experience slight pain, tenderness, soreness, itching or dryness in your breasts due to the stretching skin. Furthermore, your nipples might also change their shape and become larger and more pronounced. The areola may even become darker.
8. Fatigue
Fatigue is a common symptom in the 8th week of pregnancy. Even though your baby is too small to feel right now, a lot is happening inside your body, thereby leading to fatigue and exhaustion. The rising levels of progesterone especially contribute to your fatigue. Make sure you take plenty of rest and take a break whenever needed.
9. Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain generally begins to arise by the eighth week of pregnancy. This is a result of the back muscles having to work harder than usual to accommodate your expanding uterus.
10. Frequent Urination
Due to the physiological and hormonal changes occurring in your body during pregnancy, frequent urination is one of the most common 8 weeks symptoms and is totally normal. The pregnancy hormone hCG stimulates your kidneys to grow and produce more urine by increasing blood flow to them. Furthermore, your growing uterus puts pressure on your bladder, increasing your urge to pee more frequently than usual.
11. Increased Vaginal Discharge
To help any type of infections traveling up from the vagina to the womb, vaginal discharge significantly increases for an 8 weeks pregnant mother. Biologically, this happens due to an increase in estrogen production.
However, if you have green, yellow, foul-smelling or thick cheese-like discharge, you should consult your gynecologist or midwife. Additionally, if your vaginal area is red, scratchy, or irritated, you should inform your doctor, as these symptoms could indicate signs of an infection or problem.
12. Light Spotting
Some expectant moms may experience a few drops of blood (normal spotting) during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. As soon as it is very light, spotting can be normal. This is usually caused when the fertilized egg implants itself in the lining of the uterus. However, if you are unsure of how much blood is considered normal, feel free to share your concerns with your healthcare provider.
13. Difficulty Sleeping
Due to fatigue, you may have trouble falling asleep or wake up frequently at night. The hormone surges, frequent urination, heartburn, lower back pain, nausea, or digestive issues can further contribute to difficulty sleeping during pregnancy.
14. Weird Pregnancy Dreams
Pregnancy dreams can be really vivid, confusing, silly, and sometimes even scary. They usually reflect the excitement or anxiousness you feel about becoming a parent.
8 Weeks Pregnant With Twins? Here’s What To Expect
Twin development at week 8 is slightly different from a single baby. By the end of week eight, both your babies will measure nearly half an inch long. At present, your twins are embryos and will become fetuses after this week of pregnancy.
However, you can still see them both on ultrasound and even hear their heartbeats. Moreover, their cells multiply quickly and differentiate into various body parts and organs. Because you are carrying twins, you will require even more nutrients, such as calcium, folic acid, iron, and protein.
Here are some significant twin baby developments that take place at 8 weeks:
1. Body Systems
Your twin babies’ hearts and lungs have started to develop. Their hearts have divided into right and left chambers and are pumping blood. Soon, they will develop all four chambers. The heart is already beating twice as quickly as the average human’s heartbeat or roughly 150 beats per minute. Furthermore, the “neural tube” has also begun to take shape. It is responsible for the formation of their developing brains and spinal cords.
2. Face
This is just like that of a single baby. Your twins have started to develop similar yet uniquely distinct facial features by now. Their ears are developing externally as well as internally.
3. Fingers and Toes
Your babies’ hands and feet are no longer small buds. They now feature webbed fingers and toes just like a duckling, sprouting out from their developing limbs.
4. Placenta
Villi, which resemble tiny microscopic hair-like protrusions, will start to emerge from the placenta this week. They will expand into your uterine wall. Blood flow between you and your children will be made possible by the blood vessels that emerge from each embryo and pass via the umbilical cords and into these villi. Soon, the placenta will serve as the body’s main source of nutrients and oxygen.
5. Amniotic Sacs
Your babies now float in the amniotic fluid and are encased in amniotic sacs. The amniotic sac and amniotic fluid give both your babies the space to grow and protect them.
6. Exception – Twin Placentas And Amniotic Sacs
Both babies typically have their own placenta and amniotic sac during a twin pregnancy. However, in some rare cases, twin babies may share one placenta. Furthermore, in even rarer instances, twin fetuses can share one placenta and one amniotic sac.
Week 8 Pregnancy – Things To Do (W.R.T Physical and Mental Health)
Here are a few important things you should do during your 8th week of pregnancy:
- Schedule your first prenatal medical visit.
- Make a list of important questions to ask your doctor.
- Exercise regularly.
- Have a healthy diet.
- Stay away from eating anything your doctor warns against.
- Avoid consuming alcohol and smoking.
Here are some clothing tips to make your pregnancy easier and more comfortable:
- Add more stretchy, comfortable clothes to your wardrobe to let the baby grow with you.
- Avoid tight pants from this week.
- Don’t forget to purchase the correct bra size to support your growing breasts.
You want to consider the following things to make your pregnancy easier physically
- Take care of yourself by walking regularly or doing pregnancy-safe exercises.
- If you were physically active or an athlete before your pregnancy, find the pregnancy-safe versions of the strenuous exercises and activities you did.
To make your pregnancy mentally easy for you, here are some of our top suggestions:
- If you feel anxious, start meditating to relax your mind.
- Focus on getting good, deep sleep by establishing a bedtime routine and blocking disturbing sources in your bedroom.
Here are a few things to do to make your pregnancy more fun and exciting:
- Although it’s still early to know the gender of your baby, you can still shortlist a few baby names.
- Look for a nursery theme as per your style preferences, availability of space, etc.
- Search for baby gear, furniture, nursery décor pieces, etc.
- You can even start making your baby registry list.
- Connect with other expecting parents who are due around the same time as you to share similar experiences and concerns.
What To Ask Your Doctor At 8 Weeks Pregnancy?
If you haven’t already made an appointment with an OB-GYN or midwife for your first prenatal checkup, do so right away. You’ll probably be asked to provide a urine sample to confirm the pregnancy at the consultation. Your medical professional could also ask for your medical history and conduct a pelvic examination.
In order to measure your baby’s growth, find their heart rate and determine their due date, your doctor may even order an early ultrasound. However, to discuss your thoughts and concerns, here are some things you can ask your doctor.
- What medications or supplements should I take for a healthy pregnancy?
- What types of exercises can I perform safely during pregnancy?
- Are there any food items I should avoid?
- Are there any specific activities that I should not indulge in?
- Is my pregnancy safe and normal or considered high-risk?
- How can I sleep better at night?
- When can I travel, and is it safe?
- What tests need to be done throughout my pregnancy?
- How should I respond if I feel that something is wrong?
What to Avoid at 8 Weeks of Pregnancy?
Here are a few things you should avoid by 8 weeks of being pregnant:
- Don’t skip meals, or else your blood sugar can drop significantly.
- You might have food aversions from the healthiest food items, fruits or vegetables. Don’t make yourself eat something you cannot tolerate just because you think it’s healthy.
- If you smoke or drink, limit your consumption.
- Also, avoid consuming too much caffeine to avoid any harm to the fetus and stay hydrated.
- If you love going to amusement parks, do not ride on rides that may start or stop suddenly, for example, roller coasters.
- If you have a cat at home, avoid changing the litter box to be safe from toxins and certain parasites.
The Bottom Line
With all the necessary information we could compile, we hope you found this 8 weeks pregnancy guide insightful. Voila! You’re now 32 weeks to meet your little munchkin. Trust us, the time will pass by in a splash! Aren’t the first 8 weeks of pregnancy too overwhelming to describe physically, emotionally and mentally? We hope your journey is safe, smooth and healthy.
Moreover, maintain a healthy diet and sleep schedule, engage in safe exercise, and refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol. Although it is not necessary, consider keeping a journal and jotting down your pregnancy experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions About Being 8 Weeks Pregnant
If you still have some doubts or confusion about your 8 weeks pregnant belly, here are our answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the same.
Can you look pregnant at 8 weeks?
Most first-time pregnancies don’t show at 8 weeks. However, if you’ve had previous pregnancies, you might look pregnant by the end of the first trimester due to stretching of the muscles in your uterus and belly.
How does an 8 week pregnant belly feel?
An 8-week pregnant belly doesn’t generally show, but sometimes, you may feel very bloated due to hormonal changes.
How can I make sure I don’t miscarry?
To ensure you don’t have a miscarriage, here are a few crucial steps you can take:
- Stay moderately active
- Manage stress and meditate
- Have a healthy diet
- Don’t smoke or drink alcohol
- Take at least 400 mcg of folic acid every day
Are 8 weeks too early to tell the family?
When to announce your pregnancy to friends and family is a matter of personal preference. However, at 8 weeks pregnant, you are still at the risk of a miscarriage.