In this week the growth of the baby accelerates. In just seven days, his size doubles and, although he is still very small, a great number of changes are taking place inside his body. Its head is proportionally much larger than its body -a third of it- and the neurons multiply without stopping.
Your baby weighs about one gram, measures about one centimeter at the end of the week, and has a heart rate of 106 beats per minute. The progesterone hormone is doing its thing and you are probably very sleepy and tired. It’s normal, nothing to worry about.
The woman’s body undergoes transformations throughout the pregnancy, some more subtle than others. It is normal for your breasts to continue to grow due to increased hormonal production from the mammary glands. The uterus also doesn’t stop growing, continuing to expand throughout your abdomen until it eventually crowds out other organs. At this point, the mucous plug is formed, which is formed as a protective measure for the fetus, since it serves as a barrier to possible infections. It is normal that you feel tired, that you have mood swings or that you are much more sensitive than normal and that everything affects you a lot.
Some women suffer from headaches at this point, usually due to hormonal change and mainly due to increased production of progesterone. In any case, everything you experience should be discussed with your doctor, because if you suffer from excessive nausea or feel unwell, there is medication that can help you in this regard.
The gynecologist will carry out a series of routine controls that will be repeated throughout the pregnancy. He will take your blood pressure, check the baby’s heartbeat and feel your abdomen looking for the height of the uterus. All this will serve to verify that everything continues to develop normally.
In these weeks, the activity in the small organism of the embryo is frantic. The development of the different parts of the head begins: the inner ear, the nostrils, the larynx or the opening of the mouth. The arms and legs follow its formation and in its brain -which increases in size rapidly- neurogenesis occurs, giving rise to the massive production of neurons. The two hemispheres that will condition brain function so much also begin to be created.
The heart is already divided into two chambers, blood circulation functions normally, and the lungs develop a primary bronchus. In addition, the umbilical cord grows forming a small hernia with the intestine. The placenta allows the passage of nutrients and oxygen, so that the baby grows normally.
This week you may be prescribed some blood tests, which are repeated throughout the pregnancy. They are used to check your state of health. It generally consists of a complete blood count where they measure hemoglobin, hematocrit, the number of erythrocytes and leukocytes and platelets. Information about the state of your blood can offer them many indicators of your state of health. In addition, a biochemical analysis is also carried out, which measures -among other parameters- electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium and chloride- and then your level of protein, fat, sugar, etc…. In this way they check if you have some kind of disease or imbalance.
In the blood test, a serology is also performed, which measures antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, toxoplasmosis, and rubella. More and more is also being done about cytomegalovirus, because its presence can be a risk for the baby.
And finally, a urinalysis is carried out, where it can be determined if there is any infection, kidney problems or the presence of diabetes.
