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11/15/2008 - by Anne Marie Nielson
Pregnancy Week
8
You're Pregnant! Week
8
Are you feeling weepy? Do commercials make you cry? Don't
worry, you're not losing it. You're just being flooded with
pregnancy hormones. It is common to have mood swings in
pregnancy. One moment you can be as happy as can be, and the
next you may be in tears. Despite the fact that you feel you're
losing your sanity, this is just part of the fun of being
pregnant. Luckily, your moods can swing just as quickly the
other way.
If you are feeling depressed and it lasts for at least two
weeks, you may want to talk to your care provider to rule out
prenatal depression. You don't hear a lot about depression
prenatally, but it can and does happen.
YOUR BABY
This is the last week your baby is considered an embryo. The
heart is pretty much complete, and the ears are close to
complete, although they have not moved to their final position
on the head yet. The baby has developed a neck and the tail has
disappeared by the end of this week. Fingers and toes have
separated. The limbs can move purposefully now. The head is
still half the baby's total length. The mouth and eyelids fuse
shut for further development. The intestines are still
protruding slightly into the umbilical cord, but most of them
are now inside the body. The external genitals are beginning to
form, although it is still too early to tell by looking what
sex the baby is. All the major organ systems have begun
formation by the end of this week.
The baby is about 1.5 inches long and weighs about 4 grams, and
swims in about 7 milliliters of amniotic fluid. The placenta is
thickening, and will grow larger as the baby and uterus get
bigger.
YOUR BODY
Breast changes are continuing. They may be feeling heavier than
you remember before pregnancy. Glands on the areola become
bumpy… this is normal. They are called Montgomery's tubercles,
and they secrete an oily substance that keeps the nipple supple
and healthy.
Your cervix is softening and your uterus is growing. Upon
examination, your cervix will have a bluish cast to it as more
blood flows to the area. Your care giver will also be able to
feel your pulse more easily during a vaginal exam for the same
reason. If the baby has implanted on one side of the uterus,
your care giver may notice that one side of your uterus feels
thicker than the other. This will even out as the pregnancy
progresses.
If you've been suffering from morning sickness, there is light
at the end of the tunnel… most women feel much better as the
first trimester ends. Continue to get some exercise. It will
help tone your muscles to help reduce pregnancy discomforts
later. It will lift your mood and provide relief from stress.
If you're not sure what to do and walking isn't your cup of
tea, try a prenatal exercise class. You may find one nearby and
it will introduce you to other moms-to-be.
At From Pregnancy To Baby, we try
to provide you with all of the latest information about going
through your pregnancy from your first trimester to the first
years of your new babies life. We also provide the highest
quality books and products to help you through that time.
Source: http://www.frompregnancytobaby.com/pregnancy-week-8.html
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