Congratulations -- you're on week 8!

You may feel slight pulling or cramping in your lower abdomen now as your uterus grows from the size of a lemon to the size of a grapefruit. It is also starting the tightening and contracting that will continue through out your pregnancy called Braxton Hicks. These “practice contractions” are common but if they become constant or accompanied by bleeding call your OB/Midwife right away.

For some this is where you start to feel a little bit better. For others it’s still a challenging time. Either way usually some excitement and acceptance settles in as you realize how much your baby is growing and changing daily.

Your baby is now in its sixth week of development. By the end of the second month, your embryo will become a fetus and is about 1 inch long, weighs about 1/3 ounce, and is virtually all head (1/3 of its body is head).. The arms have grown longer and bend at the elbows. Places where fingers and toes eventually will grow are becoming notched. Eyelid folds and ears are forming and even the tip of the nose is visible. It is about the size of a grape -- 0.56 to 0.8 inches from crown to rump. The neural tube (brain, spinal cord and other neural tissue of the central nervous system) is well formed. The digestive tract and sensory organs begin to develop. Bone starts to replace cartilage. Your baby's facial features continue to develop. Each ear begins as a little fold of skin at the side of the head. Tiny buds that eventually grow into arms and legs are forming. Fingers, toes and eyes are also forming

This is usually the time that your OB/Midwife has scheduled an early ultrasound. You should be able to see the heartbeat and determine a due date. The most accurate time to determine a due date by ultrasound is between 8 and 12 weeks. After that the baby begins to take on the parents physical characteristics and can easily fall ahead or behind the “norm”.

• OBGYN/Midwife
• Hospital/Birth Center
• Acupuncturist
• Naturopath/Homeopath
• Vitamins and nutrition
• Ultrasound

None at this time

None at this time