Week 8 Of Your Pregnancy

Your baby has quadrupled in size since Week 6 and now is about one centimetre long. His or her hands and feet look less like paddles and are now forming well-defined fingers and toes. Joint development also begins in week 8 with the growth of elbows, wrists and ankles.

Your baby’s facial features are also becoming more refined and the eyes will develop eyelids. The eyes themselves will also have pigment.

Your baby’s key organs, such as the heart and intestines, will also continue to grow and get stronger every day.

Changes To Your Body

During Week 8 most women notice that their appetite fluctuates from feeling ravenous to finding food repugnant.

Lifestyle Considerations

You may want to expose yourself less to situations where you can’t control your environment. For instance exposing yourself to a crowded nightclub where you may breathe in a lot of cigarette smoke is not a good idea.

This week may not be your best to go out to dinner at a restaurant or at a friend’s house, as you may not have any control over what makes you feel nauseous.

Good Advice

Nutritionists say that you don’t need to overeat in order to support the growth of a baby. All you really need to consume is 300 extra calories a day and preferably those calories come from nutrient rich foods. 300 calories is the equivalent of a blueberry muffin or a 500ml smoothie.