I am now seven weeks old – Week 7

I am now seven weeks old. I have developed fast during the last week. My heart and brain have appeared, and my heart is beating. Alarmingly quickly for anyone watching it, but it needs to and is not in any danger.

The mother to be is still going through many hormonal changes, and more physical ones. Fatigue is one which she suffers from a lot. She should rest as often as possible, to help her body prepare for the long days of pregnancy, even if it is only for a few minutes.

The mother will also be going through peculiar desires for food, of any type. Try not to let these cravings lead one onto junk food, rather, turn them to mostly healthy foods, such as a piece of cheese. If the cravings are too severe, a small amount of what is desired is all right. Many women feel a need for something very salty or very sweet.

The face may break out into pimples. This is a result of the topsy turvy going on in the hormones, and will clear up later on. Simply continue with the facial routine one has been using, and do not panic. It may make one feel like a teenager again, but it is only a part of the complexity of the pregnancy.

It is advisable to continue to drink plenty of water. Being well hydrated may ease the pimples, but the kidneys need as much support as they can have, and cleansing with water is best. They will be going through a lot of work, excreting left over hormones and waste products from the pregnancy.

My father is slowly coming to terms with my appearance in his life, but he is still bewildered as to how, although he knows. He is worried about all the changes going on in the mother’s body and her odd emotions, and is only half-reassured when it is explained it is perfectly normal.

He may do one of two things. Retreat, or try to do everything for the mother to be and be too protective. But, even if he does retreat, he will still usually keep a wary eye poked around the corner. It takes longer for a man to accept a pregnancy. Even a male who has longed for this day usually wonders if it is really true until well into the pregnancy.

Things may be a little odd in the household around this time. Excitement and expectation abound. Plans are tentatively made. A name for the child may be chosen, no matter what sex, or a nickname, and both parents may begin talking to the woman’s stomach naturally. Do not feel silly, as this adds to the bonding, which will come when the child is born.

There are two styles of thought at this early stage whether or not the child can actually hear or feel speech. One says that the vibration carries through the abdomen and the embryo senses it, understanding what is going on later in its development. The other says that the emotion in the woman’s tone carries as a vibration to the foetus. Others say it is only imagination. If so, then it is good imagination, for again it forms a bond with the child. This bond between mother and child will be valuable when things feel all too much, and one just wishes it were all over.