7 weeks pregnant

How is your baby growing at 7 weeks?

By 7 weeks of pregnancy the size of the embryo from head to bottom (crown to rump) is around 10mm. Facial features will become more detailed this week, with the development of the baby's eyes, mouth and nostrils, along with the ears. The brain is growing so rapidly that the head has to grow at a faster pace than the rest of the baby – no wonder an embryo at this stage has such a large forehead.

The oesophagus – the tube through which your baby will eventually swallow food – begins to take shape, along with the lungs forming on either side of the tube. The heart is becoming more complex with the development of valves and ventricles.

The limb buds that appeared last week should now be getting longer. As the arm buds get longer, the ends will flatten, forming the beginnings of the hands. Nerves also begin to form in the upper limbs.

The umbilical cord is now formed and functioning, providing your baby with oxygen and nutrition for the duration of the pregnancy. The umbilical cord will also get rid of your baby's waste. The baby will be floating inside the amniotic sac that provides it with protection throughout pregnancy.

How are you changing in week 7?

A mucus plug should have formed in the opening of the cervical canal. This will seal the uterus to protect the baby from infections from the outside world. As the embryo grows, so too will your womb – by weeks 7–8 it will be about the size of a lemon.

You may notice that foods taste strange, and the foods you normally like and dislike may not be the same. You may be put off by foods that have a strong smell.

What you need to know in week 7

It's unlikely that your friends, family and colleagues will know you are pregnant by just looking at you, and you may be overjoyed and want to announce your news to everyone. However, of women who have been confirmed as being pregnant, about 1 in 5 will have a miscarriage in the first 3 months of pregnancy. For this reason, many women choose to tell only a few close people and wait until they reach the 3-month pregnant milestone before announcing their news to others.

Next: 8 weeks pregnant

Additional pregnancy week by week pages:
9 weeks pregnant |  10 weeks pregnant
11 weeks pregnant |  12 weeks pregnant