1. Skip to navigation
  2. Skip to content
  3. Skip to sidebar

Your Pregnancy: Week 8



Your baby

  • How big is your baby now? About the size of a small raspberry. 


  • It may be hard to believe, but all her organs, such as her heart and liver, are already in place inside her tiny body. 


  • As your baby's body grows longer this week, it will begin to straighten out.
  • Right now, her outer and inner ears are developing and her eyelids are forming over her eyes as the tip of her nose takes shape.

 
Morning sickness
Feeling a little queasy these days? It may not be much comfort, but about 80 percent of women experience morning sickness during the first three months of pregnancy. And yes, it’s an unfortunate misnomer: some women suffer it all day long.
 
To help relieve nausea, stash a box of crackers next to your bed and eat a couple before you get up in the morning. Eating several small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals also helps some women.
 
And don’t worry — weight loss in expectant moms during the first three months of pregnancy doesn't seem to have a big effect on a growing baby. However, if vomiting becomes severe or is long lasting, consult your doctor.
 
You said it! Advice from real moms
“Chewing on candied ginger helped with my nausea.” – Kate, mom of three
 
Did you know?
It’s best not to use antibacterial soaps. Health professionals and environmental groups advise against them for routine household use. The Canadian Medical Association has even called for a ban because they encourage the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Washing under running water with plain soap for 15 seconds has been shown to be just as effective at removing germs from hands.
 
Miscarriage myths
It’s common in the early weeks to have a nagging worry about miscarriage, and some misunderstanding about what causes one. Too much exercise or even too little will not cause miscarriage. Neither will having sex, going dancing, eating junk food, or moving heavy furniture. So what does? Nobody knows for sure.
 
Usually, the first sign of miscarriage is bleeding (as if your period's starting), which may be followed by cramps. If you experience this, call your doctor immediately. Keep in mind that some worrisome symptoms don’t necessarily mean you’re going to miscarry.
 
Though miscarriage is probably the very last thing you want to think about right now, there are a couple of important things to understand about it:
• There is no way to prevent miscarriage.
• Many women erroneously blame themselves for miscarriage, thinking that it was caused by something they did the day before they started bleeding. However, the miscarriage usually occurs a number of days before the bleeding starts.
 
Celebrity bump watch
Which stars are rocking maternity fashions on the red carpet these days? Our Celebrity Candy blog gives you the latest scoop on Hollywood’s baby boom.
 

Subscribe to Today's Parent for just $14.95* That's only $1.25 an issue!