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Welcome to Week 8 of your pregnancy journey! Now that you’re 8 weeks pregnant, we’ll dive into the exciting developments happening with your baby, the changes you may be experiencing, and I’ll also share my own journey since I’m currently pregnant with baby number four. If you are currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant, make sure to follow along with me through the entire Pregnancy What to Expect series!
What's Happening with Your Baby at 8 Weeks Pregnant
At 8 weeks, your baby is approximately the size of a raspberry. Here’s a glimpse into your baby’s development:
Cardiac Activity: Although your baby is just the size of a raspberry, their little heart is hard at work. Cardiac activity continues to develop and you might even be able to catch a flicker on an ultrasound if you have one this week.
Facial Features: Baby’s facial features are also starting to come together, with the development of eyelids (not eyes yet, but lids!), a nose, and lips. It’s wild to think that these tiny features are already beginning to form!
Limb Development: Baby’s limbs are growing too, though they might look a bit webbed right now—kind of like frog hands or gummy bear arms. (Cute, right?) And while it might still have a tiny tail, it’s slowly disappearing as baby’s body continues to develop. So, at this stage, baby’s growing fast, even if you can’t feel it yet!
Changes You Might Experience
As your baby grows, your body continues to adjust. Here are some common experiences during Week 8:
First Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms: By Week 8, many women start to feel one or more typical pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness, heartburn, insomnia, diarrhea, or constipation. The hormone progesterone causes a lot of changes in our bodies that may result in these symptoms and our GI system slows down as well. In addition, our body is trying to create all of this extra blood, so we may feel super fatigued and short of breath.
Dating Ultrasound: In week 8, most of us are likely going to our first prenatal visits, and many providers will offer a dating ultrasound. This is super helpful, as it gives you an accurate due date based on the measurement of your baby’s crown (head) to rump (bottom). Your baby is probably close to the same size as every other baby at this point, so the ultrasound is an excellent way to figure out exactly how far along you are. If you’re someone who has irregular cycles or isn’t sure about your last period, this ultrasound is crucial because it can change your due date. For me, it was a lifesaver during my first pregnancy—my due date got shifted by about 10 days because I ovulated later than expected, which ended up making a big difference when it came to deciding whether or not I needed to be induced.
My Personal Experience in Week 8
Navigating the 8th week of pregnancy while already being a mother to three has been a unique journey filled with its own set of challenges and joys. Here are some more personal insights:
The Reality of Morning Sickness: I’ll be honest—I’m struggling. If you think you’re immune to pregnancy discomfort by the time you hit your fourth pregnancy (like me), think again. I had high hopes that I’d breeze through this one, but I’ve been humbled. Morning sickness is no joke!
Let’s not sugarcoat it: morning sickness is rough for so many of us. But there are some interesting theories about why it happens. Some believe it’s an evolutionary defense mechanism to prevent moms from eating harmful foods, while others claim it’s because your body is just reacting to the pregnancy hormones. There’s also the more concerning—and outdated—idea that morning sickness was once thought to be a sign of mental illness or that a woman didn’t want to be pregnant.
Luckily, those misconceptions have been put to rest, and we now know it’s just part of the process for many women. But here’s the thing: everyone’s experience is different. Some people sail through their pregnancy without a hint of nausea, while others (like me) get hit pretty hard. I’ve had a love affair with buttered noodles this week, while other foods make me gag at the mere thought of them. Sigh.
A fun myth some people believe is that the type of morning sickness you have could predict your baby’s sex—less morning sickness means a boy, more means a girl. I’ve found this to be true for me! With my boy pregnancy, I didn’t have a lot of morning sickness. But with my girls, I’ve had all the nausea and vomiting in the world. I’d love to hear if any of you have experienced the same. Let me know in the comments—has the myth been true for you?
Coping with the Struggle of First Trimester Nausea and Fatigue:
I’m not going to lie—I’m struggling this week. It’s the kind of miserable that makes you question every decision you’ve ever made. Right now, I’m pretty much laying on the couch, doing my best to avoid any physical exertion (exercise? What’s that?). My husband has stepped up in a big way, doing all the cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the kids. Bless him, because I am just a blob.
But I know that this will pass. Hopefully soon, I’ll start feeling better, and that’s what keeps me going. If you’re in the same boat, hang in there with me—by the end of the first trimester, things should start looking up. I’ll be trying out some remedies for morning sickness and will let you know how they work in next week’s update.
Conclusion
Every pregnancy is unique, and Week 8 can bring its own set of experiences and challenges. It’s essential to listen to your body, take care of your mental and physical health, and prepare for the exciting changes ahead.
If you’re looking for more support during your pregnancy, consider exploring our online prenatal fitness programs and childbirth education courses. You can bundle these for additional savings!
