7th week of pregnancy

Now you probably already know about your pregnancy for some time and may have already gotten used to the idea of welcoming your baby in a few months. Even if you don't see a baby bump this week and the circle of people who know about your pregnancy is probably still small, the anticipation is growing day by day. It is all the more exciting to find out what is happening in your body this week and how your baby is developing.

How big is your baby in week 7 of pregnancy?

The embryo is between 5 millimeters and one centimeter in size this week, comparable to a blueberry. During a small black dots can now be seen at the location of the future eyes. The beginnings of arms and legs can also already be guessed.

7th week of pregnancy: What's changing for you

Your body is now running at full throttle, in the literal sense. Because it is in the
Pregnancy needs to transport more blood, your resting pulse now increases by about 10 beats to 80 beats per minute. The blood volume in your body also increases by 30 percent to supply your baby. The increased blood flow affects the entire body, which you may also notice through accompanying symptoms such as constant urge to urinate and increased discharge.

Relieve symptoms: Fluid balance and circulation

This week, the hormone cocktail is also making itself felt in your body in the form of various symptoms. Many women are now particularly affected by a fatigue that was previously completely unknown to them. The reason for this is the hormone progesterone, which relaxes and calms your body. What helps here are as many rest periods as possible. The increased blood volume and faster pulse can lead to circulatory problems or high or low blood pressure in the 7th week of pregnancy. The following tips and home remedies help to get your circulation back on track:

• Alternating showers and cold foot baths

• Sports and exercise outdoors

• Wearing compression stockings

• Adequate hydration: at least 2.5 liters of fluids per day, preferably water, tea, or diluted juices

High blood pressure can also be helped with exercise, but sufficient sleep is also important. It is best to consult your doctor if you are affected.

7th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby

In the 7th week of pregnancy, the face of the embryo changes significantly. Its head grows rapidly this week, and the eyes, auditory canal, and nose continue to develop. However, it will still take some time before they are fully functional. Not only does the face of the embryo become more complex, but its brain also becomes increasingly sophisticated and begins to divide into three parts in the 7th week: forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. Each of the three parts has its own function and will be responsible for different tasks later on. Other major organs such as the heart, stomach, and liver are also growing now, and the spinal cord is fully formed. The reproductive organs start to differentiate in their development during the 7th week of pregnancy: genetically, the sex was already determined earlier, but so far, all embryos have developed in the same way. Muscles and bones are already forming, and even if you haven't noticed it yet, your baby is already making its first involuntary movements in the 7th week of pregnancy.

The midwife search

In the 7th week, it is high time to start with the . "High time?" you might be wondering now, after all, you've just learned about the little being in your belly. However, in many areas, there is an acute shortage of midwives, and it is unfortunately often not so easy to find the right care for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. You might also be wondering why you even need a midwife. In a uncomplicated pregnancy, a midwife can, for example, perform all examinations from the beginning, aside from the three scheduled ultrasound scans, and support you in childbirth preparation. During the birth, a midwife must always be present, whether in the . After the birth, you are entitled to the care of a midwife who will regularly check on you and your baby during the postpartum period. As you can see, your midwife accompanies you for quite some time. It is all the more wonderful to have a contact person from the beginning whom you trust and feel well taken care of by. LILLYDOO midwife Sissi shares some tips in the video on what to pay attention to when searching for the right midwife.

This is now important

• If you already had high blood pressure before pregnancy or suffer from diabetes, contact your doctor as soon as possible. To avoid risks for
  you and your baby, more frequent check-ups are necessary in these cases.

• If you don't have time for a nap in your daily routine but are craving a short
  break, relaxation or breathing exercises are a good alternative. Sit or lie down with your eyes closed. Breathe in deeply through your nose, hold your breath for two seconds, then exhale through your mouth for five seconds. Repeat the exercise six times. Alternatively, you can consciously focus on relaxing individual muscle groups while sitting or lying down. Stretch and loosen up after five to ten minutes to get your circulation going again.

• Try now to increase your iron intake through your diet. Your iron requirement doubles during pregnancy due to the needs of your developing child, and iron deficiency is now common due to the increased blood volume. Foods rich in iron include especially meat, fish, and eggs, but also oatmeal, broccoli, and legumes.

In week 7 of pregnancy, it's probably the less pleasant side effects that keep you busy. Listen to your body and take breaks whenever possible, and remember: even if they can really throw you off track, the annoying symptoms are a sign of your child's development!

With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which also in exchange with our
LILLYDOO experts are being created. Nevertheless, the ones listed here can still
Never replace personal consultation with your doctor or midwife with advice. Always contact your healthcare professional for questions and professional care.