All about baby
Your baby has doubled in size and, even at this early stage, will be just visible on an ultrasound scan as a tiny blob, with recognisable a heart beat. Its heart is racing at about 150 beats a minute - twice the rate of yours - and blood is being pumped around its body.
Arm and leg buds are becoming more noticeable, hands and feet resemble little paddles and fingers and toes are beginning to appear. Your baby’s facial features are also appearing. Folds on either side of the head will become ears and there are openings for the mouth and nostrils. The retinas of your baby’s eyes are also developing.
The kidneys and liver are growing fast, and the neural tube closes, connecting the brain to the spinal cord. The umbilical cord is now fully formed and the embryo floats in a fluid-filled sac, which provides vital support until the placenta takes over completely at about 12 weeks into your pregnancy.
Over to you
The not-so-nice side of pregnancy are the niggly early symptoms. Morning sickness, needing to wee all the time, feeling exhausted, sore boobs – they’re all part and parcel. You might experience some or all of the symptoms, or if you’re lucky you might have none at all! Just remember that in most cases symptoms go by the second trimester and, however unpleasant, they’re all signs that you’re pregnant.
A healthy balanced diet might not sound very appealing if you're suffering from nausea, but it’s important to try eat well throughout your pregnancy. Eating little and often and drinking plenty of fluid is a good way to help with sickness, as well as tiredness and indigestion.
If you were hoping that pregnancy was going to be the perfect excuse to stop calorie counting, you'll be surprised - and a little disappointed - to hear that your pregnant body only needs about an extra 300 calories per day, not a big change from your pre-pregnancy days. So eating for two isn't about double portions, but making the right food choices for the two of you.
In the know
Eat well, stay well
- Iron plays a vital role in helping to carry oxygen round your body - important for you and your baby - and low iron levels can make you feel tired and irritable. Two good reasons to make sure you get plenty in your diet. Sources include beef, chicken, pork, spinach, whole wheat bread and fortified cereal.
- It's also really important to include plenty of calcium in your diet from sources like yoghurt, milk, cheese, leafy greens, kidney and other beans, dried figs, fortified breads and cereals. Your baby needs lots of calcium to develop healthy teeth and bones, amongst other things, and your body will take it from your bones if you're not consuming enough to meet demands.
- Get into leafy greens like spinach and kale. Not only are they rich in all important iron and calcium, but they also contain fibre, and vitamins A and C. The darker the leaf, the greater the nutritional value.
- Eat at least two servings of fruits and three servings of vegetables every day. Try fruit smoothies and mix vegetables into soups, casseroles or a lasagne.
- Up your fibre to help avoid constipation and consequently haemorrhoids. Good sources are beans, oatmeal, bran cereal, strawberries, apples and pears.
- Pack your own snacks such as nuts or dried fruit in your handbag, and consider keeping a stash in your car and desk drawer too
- Think about freezing healthy soups and broths that you can pop into the microwave at dinner time
Read more about your pregnancy diet
Go to next week's article: Pregnancy Week 7
Please note that the contents of this section are for information only and are not intended as medical advice or as a substitute to your doctor's advice. For medical care and advice, you should consult your doctor on a regular basis. If you have any problem which concerns you, consult your doctor immediately.
