8 Weeks Pregnant: Welcome to Month 2

Welcome to the second month of pregnancy or 8 weeks pregnant! Your baby is now approximately 4 weeks into development and has gone from about the size of a pinhead to the size of a bean. Your blood supply has increased 40 to 50 percent and your uterus has about doubled in size– that’s some serious development in such a short time period.8 weeks pregnant

What’s going on with your baby at 8 weeks pregnant?

8 weeks pregnant hands
Tiny webbed fingers

The outer cells of the gestational sack have now connected to your blood supply, and it’s a good thing too, your baby is going to need the support this week– there’s a lot going on.  The tail your baby once sported has almost completely disappeared and webbed fingers and toes have replaced it. Toes, lips, outer ears, eyelids, intestines and gonads are developing.

That last one, the gonads, will be either ovaries or testicles meaning you officially have a girl or a boy now!  Movement occurs for the first time this week as well as those nerves and muscles become more mature, and joints such as the elbow appear. You probably won’t be able to feel these tiny movements yet because your baby is only eight to eleven millimeters in length and weighs less than an ounce.  Your babies bones are also beginning to harden, or ossify.

What’s going on with your body at 8 weeks pregnant?

Ultrasound at 8 weeks pregnant
Ultrasound at 8 weeks pregnant

Morning sickness is in full swing for most women at this point, and you may also experience abdominal pain. This is because your uterus is becoming heavier and beginning to place strain on the round ligaments and muscles in your pelvis. This pain may feel sharp and occur on either side of the lower abdomen. This is normal. However, if pain remains constant you should seek medical care. Light red or brown spotting is also quite common at 8 weeks pregnant, though you should let your care provider know if you experience any bleeding.  If you have questions regarding miscarriage, pregnancy, or parenting, now is also an excellent time to enroll in pregnancy classes which will cover everything from breast feeding to labor breathing techniques.

8 weeks pregnant ultrasound twins
3d ultrasound from 8 weeks (twins)

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