Week 7

This is the mid-point of your first trimester. Those hormones are still rising rapidly to support the growing needs of your developing baby. At this point in pregnancy, your body develops a mucus plug at the opening of your cervix to protect from infection.²

The increased progesterone and oestrogen are responsible for the obvious breast changes you may be experiencing. Enlarged, tender breasts are a sign they are receiving the fat, water and blood volume needed to support the developing mammary glands in preparation for milk production once baby is born. These internal changes can be evident as the veins across your breasts may become more prominent, your nipples may appear darker, and the area around your nipples, the areolas, will increase in size.³

• Nausea (with or without vomiting) known as “morning sickness” but can occur at any time of the day
• Breast tenderness
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Food cravings or aversions
• Excessive saliva
• Heartburn and indigestion

During week 7, your baby has grown to approximately 0.6 cm, roughly the size of a blueberry!²

By this point your baby is starting to develop arms and legs, which start out as small bud-like structures.^2,4

Amazingly, the eyes and ears are also starting to develop, but notably, the heart has now developed and is beating at a regular rhythm that can be detected by a vaginal ultrasound scan.⁴

• Try to take folic acid consistently to reduce the risk of brain and neural tube defects in the early stages of foetal development⁵
• Getting enough vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium to support your teeth and bones. At least 600 IU is recommended, but you may want to discuss with your healthcare provider how much is suitable for you²
• Staying active and keeping a healthy weight can help support fertility and overall health⁶
• Try to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking – both are known as risk factors for miscarriage^7,8
• Try to avoid foods and drinks that may make bloating worse, such as carbonated drinks and some vegetables like cabbage⁹
• Start thinking about appropriate nutrition and pregnancy-safe foods  
  You should try to avoid foods high in mercury, such as mackerel and tuna, raw seafood, undercooked meat, poultry and eggs, unpasteurised foods and cheese with a mould rind such as brie, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and any type of herbal tea¹⁰
• Limit caffeine consumption to no more than 200 mg per day¹¹           
  As a guide:           
  1 mug of coffee contains 100 mg of caffeine           
  1 mug of tea contains 75 mg of caffeine           
  1 can of cola contains up to 40 mg of caffeine           
  1 bar of chocolate contains up to 50 mg of caffeine   
• If you have a cat, avoid emptying the litterbox. Cat faeces carry toxoplasmosis, a parasite that can have detrimental effects on your developing baby²