{"id":10199,"date":"2021-04-15T06:07:18","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T10:07:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10199\/week-8-pregnancy\/"},"modified":"2024-07-10T11:30:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T15:30:14","slug":"week-8-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10199\/week-8-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"8 weeks pregnant"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For more information about week 8 in a twin or multiple pregnancy, tap here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At eight weeks pregnant, Baby<\/span> is dancing up a storm and won\u2019t be an embryo for much longer!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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How\u2019s Baby<\/span>?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Baby<\/span> is in their last few days of being an embryo, which means that the brand new, teeny tiny internal organs and systems under their see-through skin are almost all formed, though they\u2019ll continue to develop over the next several months. That tail is also celebrating its last hurrah and will soon disappear completely. Baby<\/span>\u2019s webbed fingers and toes are poking out from their little limbs, which are growing longer every day. And your little one\u2019s facial features are becoming more prominent, as their lips, nose, and eyelids look increasingly human-like. Your strawberry-sized bundle of joy is also moving around like crazy, although you almost certainly cannot feel it. Baby<\/span>\u2019s head, still tiny compared to yours but large in proportion to the rest of their body, now makes up half their total body weight!<\/p>\n

What’s new with you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If you\u2019re noticing new growth in your midsection, it may not be a baby bump just yet. At this point, it\u2019s probably just water retention. While you might not be showing yet, your uterus has already started growing, and that growth is only going to speed up in the coming weeks!<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t experienced any morning sickness yet, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019re not going to \u2014 lucky you! And if you\u2019ve been experiencing cravings, you\u2019re not alone. Many pregnant folks experience cravings during pregnancy. Cravings are a lot like aversions in that we don\u2019t know exactly what causes them, though it seems likely that it\u2019s got something to do with all the hormones coursing through your body. One theory is that cravings point out nutrients you need more of in your life. Cravings probably also have as much to do with your need for stress relief or your heightened sense of smell as they do with anything else. Keep in mind that cravings are not your enemy \u2014 they\u2019re a normal part of pregnancy. So whether you\u2019re craving spicy sweet potatoes or caramel ice cream, an oat milk latte or pan-fried tilapia, if you want to follow through on those cravings, know that it\u2019s okay to do so. (Though if you\u2019re craving non-food items, like dirt or paint, be sure to speak to your healthcare provider, as you may be experiencing something called pica.) Remember that when it comes to your diet, it’s really all about doing your best during this tricky phase.<\/p>\n

But if eating is a struggle right now and you’re feeling rather nauseous \u2014 and for many folks, morning sickness can be rather rough at this time \u2014 try sucking on sour candy, sipping flavored wate<\/span>r or switching to a chewable prenatal vitamin. You might also consider eating smaller meals while increasing the number of times you eat throughout the day, also called grazing<\/span>. And if your morning sickness is really disrupting your life or you are concerned about dehydration, speak to your provider.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t typically engage in physical activity or just haven\u2019t been feeling up to it recently, you may want to see if you can do a half hour of light exercise or some gentle movement each day. Doing some movement that you feel good about can help you feel much better overall.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Lastly, your first OB provider appointment may have occurred or is coming right up. Early and consistent prenatal care is one of the best ways to stay healthy, so way to go! If your provider hasn\u2019t mentioned it yet, you may want to start thinking about genetic testing. As early as 9 weeks along, you may elect to do non-invasive pregnancy testing (NIPT) to screen for certain <\/span>chromosome<\/span> differences and find out your baby\u2019s sex.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Have you added a bump picture in Ovia? Try the feature by tapping here<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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Reviewed by\u00a0the Ovia Health Clinical Team<\/h5>\n
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