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Eighth week of pregnancy: what month is it and what do you need to know about the accompanying changes in the body? What does the embryo look like and how does its size change in the 8th week of pregnancy? What is the usual symptom of lower abdominal pain, and is brown spotting at week 8 a typical symptom at this stage of pregnancy?

In the eighth week, pregnancy may or may not become visible from the outside. The forum often asks what the fetus or baby looks like in the 8th week of pregnancy, but at this time the embryonic development continues - the formation of organ buds is coming to an end. This is the optimal time for the first visit to the doctor and the necessary tests.

8 weeks pregnant - what month is it?

The 8th week of pregnancy is already second month, but still first trimester. In the later stages of pregnancy, often only one month is given, because the changes in the mother's womb from week to week are not so radical. In the 8th week of pregnancy, however, the size of the embryo continues to change from day to day. 

Knowing which month it is, future mothers may wonder if the 8th week is not the time for the most troublesome symptoms of early pregnancy to begin to subside. However, we still have to wait for that - in the coming weeks, some of them may even intensify. 

Time for the first visit and research

According to the current guidelines, in the 8th week of pregnancy, the first visit to the doctor is recommended - unless it took place in the previous week.

In order to make sure that the pregnancy is going well, you should not delay in the eighth week of pregnancy necessary (most often ordered during the first visit) research - not only urine analysis, blood count with the determination of the group and Rh immune antibodies, but also the level of glucose and TSH, as well as tests excluding rubella, toxoplasmosis, cytomegaly, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and HIV. You also need to test the microbiological cleanliness of the vagina and cytology - unless it was done earlier. 

What to watch out for in the 8th week of pregnancy?

• During pregnancy blood pressure, mainly diastolic, is usually lowered - the level of 130/85 mm Hg is considered correct. With measurements exceeding 140/90 mm Hg, we are most likely dealing with hypertensionwhich is a disturbing symptom of a mother-to-be and requires treatment.
• Physical activity during pregnancy is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, however, excessive effort may strain the circulatory system, which then works at increased speed. If you are in doubt about what to do and what not to do when it comes to exercise, it is worth asking your doctor for advice. Avoiding unnecessary stress will also be useful.
• Contact with toxic substances is especially dangerous - they can threaten the development of the embryo, which during this time organs are already beginning to form. In this context, it is worth investing in an air purifier that can help minimize exposure to harmful substances, increasing safety for both the mother and the developing baby.

8 weeks of pregnancy: ultrasound

Vaginal ultrasound it is still the best way to find out what an embryo looks and develops like - it is still not a fetus yet. However, it is possible to obtain a printout or even a film at this stage - just like in the case of later ultrasound examinations performed through the abdominal wall. 

The 8th week of pregnancy is the time seen during ultrasound pregnancy vesicle measures from 19 mm at the beginning to 26 mm at the end of the week. Based on research Ultrasound in the 8th week of pregnancy can be roughly determined when conception occurred, but from a medical point of view it is of little importance. An ultrasound printout is sometimes treated as one of the first "tangible" evidence of a pregnancy - it allows you to see with your own eyes what the future baby looks like in the mother's womb. 

At the same time, it is on the basis of the measurements made by the gynecologist during the first trimester ultrasound that a more precise date of delivery and the actual age of pregnancy are estimated. This is particularly important for women whose cycles are irregular and a predetermined date based on the date of the last menstruation may be unreliable. During the second and third trimester ultrasound examinations, the pregnancy age is still monitored and compared with the current development of the fetus.

8 weeks of pregnancy - the size of the embryo, uterus and abdomen

Due to the fact that the embryo at 8 weeks is curled and still has a protrusion that can be compared to the tail, its size matters from the top of the head to the buttocks - it's the so-called CRL, the most reliable length indicator at this stage. With its application, the embryo is measured in the 8th week of pregnancy od 10 to 15 mm - he still gains 1 mm a day and already has most of his organs - in the early stages of development. The head is half the length of the body and the beginnings of the ears, nose and eyes are beginning to be visible on it. The limbs continue to develop, and the petiole slowly fades away, becoming part of the more and more stiffening spine. 

In anticipation of the growing embryo in the 8th week of pregnancy the stretching process continues uterine ligaments. The uterus itself is about the size of a grapefruit or a small ball at this stage. By the time the embryo becomes a fetus, it is not large enough to cause the abdomen to enlarge, but the abdominal shell begins to loosen. You can feel a slight protrusion under the navel. The belly at 8 weeks of pregnancy is most noticeable in women who are pregnant or are going to give birth again or are multiple pregnancies. However, when we are dealing with the first pregnancy, the abdomen at 8 weeks may look like it did before.

Symptoms in the eighth week of pregnancy

Symptoms that may be caused by the 8th week of pregnancy are various - comparing them on the forum is pointless, because future mothers have very different feelings and experiences.  

With a properly developing pregnancy, possible symptoms at week 8 are:

• pain in the lower abdomen and / or lower back
• more intense pressure on the bladder than before,
• deterioration of appetite,
• sore breasts
• tiredness,
• irritability,
• sleep disturbances,
• feeling sick at different times of the day
• heart pounding.

A lot of ailments are caused by the activity of hormones. Physiological changes in the circulatory system, incl an increase in heart function and contractility, and an increase in blood volume, make palpitations, i.e. accelerated heartbeat, often mentioned among the symptoms on the forum. 

Pain in the lower abdomen at the 8th week of pregnancy

As in previous weeks, some expectant mothers complain of pain in the lower abdomen and groin area - especially when they are in their first pregnancy. This type of pain and pulling sensation can be caused by the stretching of the uterine ligaments and the movement of the abdominal organs (mainly the intestines) to make room for the embryo. At light or moderate intensity, lower abdominal pain in the 8th week of pregnancy is not a disturbing symptom. An 8-week-old embryo does not compress the spine yet, but the enlarging uterus may already cause pain in the lower (sacral) segment. Sudden and sharp pain in the lower abdomen, especially when accompanied by heavy bleeding, is a symptom of serious danger, therefore it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Brown spotting in the 8th week of pregnancy: cause for concern?

Pinkish or brown spotting happens in the first trimester - no matter what month or week it is. In the 8th week of pregnancy, they can most often occur at the time of the next menstruation. While brown spotting occurs occasionally, it is not serious, but you should watch your body carefully to distinguish it from more intense bleeding, which you should consult your doctor immediately. Brown spotting can be compared to a light brown discharge. Even if the spotting at week 8 is mild, it should not last for a few days.

Consultation:

Ph.D. n. med. prof. IMID Tadeusz Issat - Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at the Institute of Mother and Child;

Maria Krowicka-Wasyl - resident physician in the course of specialization in gynecology and obstetrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Institute of Mother and Child.

Źródła: 

Fetal Size and Dating: Charts Recommended for Clinical Obstetric Practice, ULTRASOUND, August 2009, Volume 17, No. 3
Estimating Fetal Gestational Age, Radiology Key