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 the second month , but still the first trimester . In later stages of pregnancy, only the month is often given, as the changes in the mother's abdomen from week to week are not as dramatic. However, in the 8th week of pregnancy, the size of the embryo continues to change from day to day.
Knowing what month it is , expectant mothers may wonder if week 8 is the time for the most bothersome early pregnancy symptoms to begin to subside. However, this will take time – some may even intensify in the coming weeks.
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.
To ensure a healthy pregnancy, don't delay performing the necessary tests (usually ordered during the first visit) in the eighth week. These include not only a urinalysis, a complete blood count (including Rh type and antibody testing), but also glucose and TSH levels, as well as tests to rule out rubella, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and HIV. A vaginal microbiological examination and a Pap smear are also necessary, unless they have been performed previously.
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.
Recommended products
Jolanta Wacławek Pediatrician in the One-Day Hospitalization Department, Institute of Mother and Child
8 weeks of pregnancy: ultrasound
Transvaginal ultrasound remains the best way to see what an embryo looks like and is developing—it's not yet a fetus. However, at this stage, you can obtain a printout or even a video—similar to later transabdominal ultrasounds.
The 8th week of pregnancy is when the gestational sac, visible on ultrasound, measures from 19 mm at the beginning to 26 mm by the end of the week . Based on an ultrasound at 8 weeks of pregnancy, it is possible to determine approximately when fertilization occurred, but from a medical perspective, this is of little significance. The ultrasound printout is often considered one of the first "tangible" proofs of pregnancy – it allows us to see firsthand what the future baby looks like in the mother's womb.
At the same time, the gynecologist's measurements during the first-trimester ultrasound provide a more accurate estimate of the due date and actual gestational age. This is particularly important for women whose cycles are irregular, and the previously estimated due date based on the date of the last menstrual period may be unreliable. During second- and third-trimester ultrasounds, the gestational 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
Because the embryo at 8 weeks is curled up and still has a protrusion comparable to a tail, its length is measured from the top of the head to the buttocks —this is called the CRL, the most reliable length indicator at this stage. Using this measurement, the embryo at 8 weeks of pregnancy measures 10 to 15 mm —it continues to grow at a rate of 1 mm per day and already has most of its organs—in the early stages of development. The head constitutes half the body's length, and the rudiments of ears, nose, and eyes begin to become visible. Further limb development occurs, and the tail slowly disappears, becoming part of the increasingly rigid spine.
In anticipation of the growing embryo, the uterine ligaments stretch during the 8th week of pregnancy . The uterus itself is about the size of a grapefruit or a small football at this stage. Before the embryo develops into a fetus, it isn't large enough to cause abdominal enlargement, but the abdominal wall begins to loosen . A slight bulge may be felt below the navel. The abdomen at 8 weeks is most visible in women who are pregnant with multiples, are about to give birth again, or are pregnant with multiples. However, if this is your first pregnancy, your abdomen at 8 weeks may look the same as 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.
Many ailments stem from hormonal activity. Physiological changes in the circulatory system, including increased heart rate and contractility, and increased blood volume , often lead to palpitations, or an accelerated heartbeat, being among the symptoms often mentioned 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 occurs in the first trimester – regardless of the month or week. In the eighth week of pregnancy, it most often occurs around the time your next period would begin . While brown spotting appears sporadically, it's not dangerous. However, it's worth monitoring your body closely to distinguish it from heavier bleeding, which should be consulted with your doctor immediately. Brown spotting can be compared to slightly brown vaginal discharge. Even if spotting is light in the eighth week, it shouldn't last more than 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 during specialization in gynecology and obstetrics, Clinic 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
