Week 7 is next in our week-by-week pregnancy series... So, how big is the baby in the 7th week of pregnancy? How will it look? What changes will occur in the mother?

Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yeditepe University Hospitals and IVF Specialist Prof. Dr. Erkut Attar explained what happened in the 7th week of pregnancy.

What Does the Baby Look Like at 7 Weeks of Pregnancy?

In the 7th week of pregnancy, your baby is the size of a chickpea. Cartilage tissue is forming in your baby's arms this week, along with nerves. The arm buds that sprouted last week are lengthening and the shoulders, upper arms, and forearms are becoming more open. The hands are still more like flattened paddles than fingered palms. Lower limb buds are emerging that will later form legs. The legs and feet will go through the same development as the arms and hands in just a few days.

By the 7th week of pregnancy, the baby is about the size of a bean.

Baby in the Membranous Sac

Your baby's spinal cord and brain are developing; its brain is growing so fast that it is bigger than its body at this time of the week. Your baby is in a membranous sac and is supported by fluid known as amniotic fluid. Nostrils and lips are now visible on your baby's face and eyes can be seen under the skin. The inner ear is beginning to develop, although the outer ear is not yet visible. The eyes are still in the early stages of development, but small eyelids are beginning to form from translucent folds.

From the 7th week of pregnancy, your baby's liver produces red blood cells until the bone marrow grows and takes over this role.

A loop in its growing intestines is bulging into the umbilical cord. The cord now has different blood vessels ready to carry oxygen and nutrients to the tiny body and remove waste materials such as carbon dioxide from the fetus.

Your Uterus is the Size of a Lemon

Your uterus has reached the size of a lemon, it is located just behind the bladder, so you may start to experience symptoms of frequent urination. Fatigue and a tendency to sleep may continue to increase.

Reflux May Start During Pregnancy

Reflux, which is quite common in pregnancy, may start as of this week, and nausea will continue until around 12-14 weeks. For this reason, you should avoid large meals and eat small meals. You may feel uncomfortable when you leave your stomach completely empty, so it is useful to have snacks at hand.

Cravings and Salivation During Pregnancy

Although cravings are very popular when it comes to food during pregnancy, it is actually quite common to develop an aversion to certain foods. Do not let this bother you; however, if you develop an aversion to meat or chicken, for example, you can replace it with a different protein source in consultation with your doctor or dietitian. Increased salivation, which will continue until the end of the first trimester, may also bother you this week, chewing sugar-free gum will reduce your discomfort. 

Image of a 5-7 Weeks-Old Baby 

1 Question | 1 Answer about Pregnancy

• Is it safe to lift heavy weights and hold a small child during pregnancy?

Lifting heavy objects is also something to keep in mind as it increases the mother's energy requirements. Carrying a load of more than 3 kilos at a time, doing bazaar shopping, or lifting a small child can affect the mother.