7 weeks pregnant: Key points

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Pregnancy week 7 is a time when baby’s organs develop rapidly and mums are like to experience pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness.

Changes for mum

A thick layer of mucous which blocks the entrance to your womb develops this week. It’s called the cervical plug and protects your baby from foreign substances throughout the pregnancy.
Pregnancy hormones are hard at work and most women experience pregnancy symptoms as a result of the hormonal changes.
Morning sickness is the most common pregnancy symptom. It’s unpleasant but unless very severe it’s nothing to worry about.
It’s also common to feel tired or emotional at this stage of pregnancy.
You may notice your breasts changing and they may be sore or tender this week.

Baby grows rapidly this week- it doubles in length and by the end of week 7 is about as tall as the width of a paper clip.
Baby’s internal organs, facial features and body develop rapidly this week.
Baby’s body takes a more distinctly human form and the head grows larger to accommodate baby’s rapidly growing brain and the arms and legs begin to lengthen.
Facial features including the eyes, ears, nose and forehead become distinct this week
The nervous system continues to develop and muscles and nerves which regulate movement of the face and some internal organs form.
Organs of urogenital system including the kidneys, bladder and urethra begin to take shape.
The lungs and other organs involved in breathing continue to grow.
Your baby has a heartbeat and the heart divides to form four separate chambers this week, whereas previously it was just a single chamber.
The glands which produce hormones begin to grow this week. The first one to develop is called the thyroid gland and produces hormones involved in digesting food.
The tongue, intestine and other organs for eating and digesting food begin to form or continue growing.
The vertebrae and arm bones begin to form.
The umbilical cord which attaches baby to your body via the placenta forms.

Antenatal care is important for a healthy pregnancy- if you have not yet seen your doctor for antenatal care, do so this week.
If you experience morning sickness which prevents you from eating enough or keeping food down, talk to your doctor.
Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and avoiding medicines and recreational drugs (including tobacco and alcohol) which can harm your baby.
The doctor can tell the age of your baby on a pregnancy ultrasound by measuring it’s length.