You have now reached week 8 of your pregnancy, which means you have completed about 17.5 percent of your pregnancy. It may not sound like much, but the development of the fetus in your belly and in your own body is well underway.
Your body's development
Even though the fetus is only between 35 and 41 days old, your body is preparing for childbirth, as well as undergoing changes that are very significant for the pregnancy. For example, you may already start to notice or see changes in your belly this week.
These changes are not due to the fetus, which is still not much larger than a kidney bean. Rather, the noticeable changes are due to your uterus, which at this stage of pregnancy is about the size of an orange. This may require you to wear slightly looser, more comfortable pants soon, but you may also experience increased urgency to urinate, as your uterus is close to your bladder and therefore takes up space.
Your body is fully engaged in birth preparation
Your body is increasing estrogen production, which triggers several well-known pregnancy symptoms, but also developments that prepare your body for the upcoming birth, which you may not feel, but it is progress that particularly benefits you for labor.
The increased amount of estrogen in your body causes your uterus and external genitalia to grow, and your breasts are also preparing to produce milk. But it is also estrogen that helps your joints around the pelvis become looser and more elastic, making it easier for the fetus to pass during a vaginal birth.
A little human
In a scan this week, what you see on the scan images will resemble a little human. This week, the little fetus's buds for arms and legs have developed to a stage closer to finished human arms and legs, divided into different joints, for example, the arm is forming with wrist joints and the legs with thigh bones, lower legs, and feet. It is during the next week that fingers and toes will develop and divide.
But already now, the fetus is starting to move both arms and legs. However, these are not movements that you can feel, as the fetus is still quite small. You will feel that later in the pregnancy when the fetus has grown larger.
Size of the fetus
The fetus has grown about 1 mm each day over the past week and is now approximately 1.6 cm and weighs about 1.1 grams. This is roughly the size of a kidney bean. The development is really rapid, and now the fetus's head is the size of a small pea, which just a few weeks ago was the size of the entire fetus.
Advice for the partner
If your partner's mood or energy level changes, remember that a lot is happening in your partner's body. Hormones are in full swing, and the development of the pregnant body and the fetus's body is taking place. This naturally affects your partner, and therefore it can be beneficial for both of you to ensure that you communicate about your individual needs, as they may change significantly during this time.
This gives you the best conditions to understand your partner. All this development and change requires energy, so perhaps your partner needs an extra nap or an extra hug when hormones are swirling around in the body.
