Your Pregnancy at Week 7

Do you feel like you're developing split personalities? Happy and composed one minute, crying and overwhelmed the next, your fluctuating pregnancy hormones are responsible for every radically changing emotion, and more. Now that they've turned you into an emotionally delicate Drama Queen with tremendously hypersensitive breasts, they will try to hijack your smooth complexion with a bout of acne. It will be super fun.

Your uterus has doubled in size, and though you aren't showing yet, your pants may feel snug. Due to the increased blood volume and the fact that your larger uterus is now pressing down on your bladder, you may feel the need to urinate more than usual.

In addition to morning sickness – hang in there, your nauseous woes will usually wane around week 14 - some individuals will notice an increase in their saliva, too. This is called ptyalism, and eating plain, dry crackers should help minimize this nuisance.

It's common during the early stages of pregnancy to experience cramping or notice light spotting in your underpants or on toilet paper after urinating. However, suppose you're experiencing severe abdominal pain or the spotting increases to something more akin to a heavy period. In that case, you should contact your midwife or doctor immediately to determine if you're experiencing the first signs of an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.

As your body continues to rapidly change, it can be tough to know if your symptoms are normal, or if they are concerns you should call your midwife or doctor about. Trust your gut instincts, and never be afraid to ask a healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns. This week, the commonly experienced symptoms include, but are not limited to:

Morning sickness, increased saliva, nausea, or vomiting: nausea/vomiting is a notorious early-pregnancy symptom that can vary drastically from pregnancy to pregnancy. Increased saliva is called “ptyalism” and can sometimes even taste bitter. The volume and flavor of this first-trimester spit can sometimes serve as an additional trigger for nausea and vomiting. 

Food cravings and/or aversions: to eat or not to eat? One moment eggs can send you running to worship the porcelain throne, and the next it may be the only thing that you can keep down. What sounds appealing (or disgusting) to eat may be unpredictable and change drastically from day to day, or even moment to moment during this trimester. Do your best to make an effort to eat healthy snacks to give you and your baby some level of nutrients and energy. 

Heartburn: increased levels of progesterone cause your digestive system to slow down so nutrients can be more easily absorbed, but this can result in digestive discomfort including heartburn. Talk to your medical care provider about options for relief if you’re feeling too uncomfortable.

Frequent urination: later in your pregnancy your growing baby will put pressure on your internal organs resulting in a need to empty your bladder more frequently. At this stage, however, your need to pee is a result of changing hormones. 

Constipation: the hormone progesterone relaxes your muscles, including those found in your digestive system. This is so your body will have time to absorb the nutrients needed for your growing baby but may have the unfortunate side effect of making it difficult to evacuate your bowels, resulting in constipation.

Amplified sense of smell:  who farted? Nothing will get past you these days! Increased sensitivity to odors can be an unfortunate trigger for nausea and vomiting, but it can also be a pleasant experience with positive scents like fresh flowers or favorite foods. Just don’t be surprised if your favorite scents aren’t the same during pregnancy!

Mood swings: hormone fluctuations may leave you feeling extreme emotions from joy to irritation; sometimes switching without warning. If your reactions seem to be irrational, know that your growing baby may be the explanation.

Acne: even if you thought you left your pimple-popping days behind in the seventh grade, you may find yourself facing (...get it?) a familiar foe. Increased acne is common in pregnancy for the same reason it’s often seen during puberty– hormones!

You'd be happy if you didn't feel so terrible. Doctors can't say precisely what causes the nausea, as many things are contributing to your queasiness, like your sudden sensitivity to smells and slowly moving digestive system. To alleviate your unsettled stomach, there are a few things you can try that might help.

Even though the last thing that you may feel like doing is eating; but in this case, eating something with protein every two hours or so, even squirreling snacks by your bedside for any middle-of-the-night waking, will help you always keep something nutritious in your stomach, which may keep your sick feeling at bay. Stay hydrated. If you can't keep anything down, talk to your doctor about the available medications, or which a B6 supplement they recommend.

Listen to your cravings (unless your craving raw sushi or an alcoholic beverage, in which case you should not listen). There is a reason you crave whatever you crave, and chances are you'll keep it down better than anything you must force yourself to eat. Do not consume anything that isn’t meant to be eaten. If you're craving non-food items, like dirt or laundry detergent, talk to your doctor as this could be a sign of an iron deficiency.