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Week 7

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Size of Baby

4mm

Development of Baby

Between weeks 4 and 8 there is very rapid cell division and a lot of changes that are occurring. Blood vessels form and blood begins to be pumped around the body and their heart starts beating for the first time. Foetal heart rate is normally close to 160bpm. At this time their body systems are laid down in a very primitive form.

Maternal Symptoms

There are some early movements around this stage although it is unlikely that they will be felt externally. As there are so many changes happening, and your baby is developing fast, you may feel more tired than usual. Consider what you can do to look after your physical, mental, and emotional health.

Things to Consider

If you don’t do them already, it is wise to start doing your pelvic floor exercises. The earlier you start the better. The benefits of pelvic floor exercises include: a shorter second stage of labour, reduced risk of incontinence, and quicker postnatal recovery time, among others. You may want to consider using visual reminders such as sticky notes on your bathroom mirror, or by your kitchen sink, to remind you to do them regularly throughout the day.




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