Pregnancy Week 8

Sometimes life is about the ability to believe in where you are going even when you’re not sure what lies ahead. --Unknown

What happens to you?

You have probably scheduled the first office visit by now. Some practitioners do not want to see you for your first visit until after you've missed two periods. This will decrease the number of doctor's visits for false pregnancies. There is also a possibility of an early miscarriage.

Many things will take place at the first visit:

• Urine Sampled (protein, hCG, etc.)
• Blood Pressure (baseline)
• Weight (baseline)
• Pelvic Exam (size of uterus, cysts, coloring of cervix)
• Pap Smear (some practitioners do this now, others wait)
• Blood (Rh factor, iron levels, immunities, specifically rubella)
• Family History (complications that may be predictable)

The first visit is often the longest one in your prenatal exams. This is a good time to ask any questions that you may have.

What happens to the baby?

Your baby will be about 8-11 mm long by the end of the week. The baby's hind brain is clearly visible. This week the baby's gonads will become either testes or ovaries. Spontaneous movement begins about now also. The toes are beginning to form. Elbows appear, and all bones and joints this week are starting to ossify (harden).

Return to Pregnancy Calendar or continue to Week 9