8 weeks pregnant

8 weeks pregnant
You are now eight weeks pregnant (or in your ninth week if that's how you prefer to count it).



How your baby's growing

The tiny tail is disappearing and so many changes have taken place that your baby has changed from an embryo and is now officially a fetus. This is the critical stage when your baby's organs are forming. Read more information on your baby's development this week.

The baby is now constantly moving and shifting, though you won't be able to feel anything for several weeks. The arms have grown and the hands are now flexed at the wrists and meet over the heart. The legs are lengthening and the feet may be long enough to meet in front of the body. It's still almost impossible to tell whether you're going to have a boy or a girl - although reading old wives' tales for predicting gender can be fun.



Want to know what happens next week?
You could have this information sent straight to your inbox. Sign up here.


How your life's changing

Though you're unlikely to have gained much weight, parts of you are certainly growing, like your breasts. Less obvious is the increase in your blood volume but by the end of pregnancy, you'll have 45 to 50 per cent more blood running through your veins to meet the demands of your baby. The extra demands on your circulation can make you prone to varicose veins and piles - read our self-help suggestions to help prevent problems developing.

What are your holiday plans? Being pregnant may affect your choice of destination. You need to think about insurance, how you're going to travel and vaccinations before you decide where to take your holiday. If you have morning sickness, you may be worried that it will make you travel sick or get worse at high altitudes or temperatures. Help is at hand - follow our top tips for pregnant travellers to help plan a safe, relaxing and happy holiday.



Parent tip: turning the day round

"I found it really tiring going to work by bus and train so my husband gave me a lift very early. He'd drop me off at 7.30 so I went swimming and had breakfast before I started work and made sure I had plenty of early nights. I felt brilliant." - A.V.
Do you have a tip you'd like to share? E-mail us at Pregnancy tips.



Community

It can be hard to decide which antenatal tests to have, which to refuse, and whether to go private. Get advice from others on our special message board.



Things to consider

The good news is you can afford to eat an extra 300 calories a day to support your baby. The bad news is that you may not feel like it yet. Don't worry - your morning sickness will soon pass. In the mean time you could try taking vitamin B6 to get some relief.

The surge in the hormone relaxin may mean you need to alter your diet to cope with constipation.

Try to increase your calcium levels. Tired of milk? Try calcium-fortified orange juice or low-fat cheese.

Do you like essential oils in your bath? Find out how to make sure they are safe to use in pregnancy.

If you're feeling very sick or tired, you won't feel much like socialising. Try to reschedule or get plenty of rest if there are any major celebrations coming up.