Week 08

Your baby has doubled in size and is now as big as an olive. From an embryo, your baby is now a ‘fetus’. There’s a lot happening with both you and your baby at this stage, and you’ll probably be going in for your first prenatal visit about now. Keep reading to learn more about Week 8.

At roughly 1.6 cm long, your baby’s eyes, mouth and nose are becoming more and more defined and the buds of their milk teeth are beginning to form. Their organs are now in place and cartilage is being replaced by growing bone cells and joints, they even have their own set of unique fingerprints forming. All of these developments mean your baby is now medically considered a ‘fetus’ – which is Latin for ‘young one’ or ‘offspring’.

Morning sickness affects two out of three pregnant women during early pregnancy. Although nausea may be more noticeable in the morning it can occur at any time. It’s usually worst around this period and for another few weeks, but by 12 to 14 weeks most mums feel no further symptoms. For others it can take a while longer, although symptoms may come and go throughout pregnancy. It’s worth remembering that nausea and morning sickness are completely normal during a healthy pregnancy.

The following remedies are said to ease morning sickness: Try to get a good night’s sleep and plenty of rest during the day. Eat a dry cracker, toast or plain biscuits before getting out of bed.

Eat little and often to keep something in your stomach. Don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids. If drinking is proving difficult, popsicles, home-made fruit-juice ice cubes or simple sips of whatever you can stomach will keep you hydrated.

Motion sickness bands can prove effective for some. They are worn on the wrist and positioned to press on an acupuncture point.

What works for one mum might not work for another, and something that works one week might not work the next, so don’t give up – try more than one remedy. If you’d like some help with this, our Careline team has some great tips, and because they’re mums or professionals they’ll know what you’re going through at this stage – give them a call on 800 6458 6262 (UAE)/ +971 4 420 9489 (Other countries). But if you are being sick all the time and can’t keep anything down, get in touch with your doctor.

Click here to read about morning sickness >>

Thrush is also common in pregnancy. If you develop thrush, or wish to minimize your chances of getting it, avoid using perfumed soap or shower gel, wear natural fiber underwear and loose clothing which will help your skin breathe. Not all thrush treatments are safe for pregnant women, so speak to your doctor who will be able to prescribe a suitable treatment. If you can’t see them soon enough, your pharmacist should be able to advise you.