8 week pregnancy: Baby development, symptoms and Tips

Short Answer: At 8 weeks pregnant, your baby is an embryo about 1.6 cm long, roughly the size of a raspberry or a kidney bean, and weighs about 1 gram. The heart beats at about 150 to 170 beats per minute and is easy to see on a vaginal ultrasound. Fingers, elbows, eyelids, ears and the tip of the nose are forming, the tail has gone and the baby makes tiny movements you cannot feel. You are in the second month of pregnancy and in the middle of the first trimester, not at the end of it. Nausea, tiredness, sore breasts, bloating, frequent urination and period-like twinges are common and often peak around now, and symptoms that come and go are normal. This week, book your first prenatal visit and scan if you have not already, keep taking folic acid and iron as advised, avoid alcohol, tobacco and unapproved medicines and learn the warning signs of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. Call a doctor for severe or one-sided pain, heavy bleeding, dizziness, fainting, shoulder-tip pain, fever or vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down.

Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period, not from conception. Eight weeks pregnant means about six weeks since conception, and about four weeks after your missed period. Your due date is about 32 weeks away. For the week before, read our guide to 7 weeks pregnant, for the next, 9 weeks pregnant, and to follow the whole journey see our pregnancy guidelines week by week.

Week 8 at a glance

Sizes are tiny and vary between guides and between pregnancies. Doctors measure the embryo from the top of the head to the bottom, called the crown-rump length. A difference of a millimetre or two from a chart is normal, and an early scan is the best way to date your pregnancy.

How many months is 8 weeks?

At 8 weeks, you are about 2 months pregnant, in the second month. You are not at the end of the first trimester. The first trimester runs to the end of week 13, so you are in the middle of it, with about five weeks to go.

Why “8 weeks” and “6 weeks since conception”. Your due date is worked out from the first day of your last period, which assumes you ovulated about two weeks later. In weeks 1 and 2 you were not yet pregnant, and conception happened around week 3. So at 8 weeks pregnant, your baby has been growing for about six weeks. This is a standard way to give every pregnancy the same timeline, even when the date of conception is not known.

Your baby at 8 weeks

Week 8 is one of the busiest weeks of the embryo stage. By the end of this week, the basic form of almost every organ is in place, and from now on most of the work is growth and refinement.

Size and shape. The embryo is about 1.6 cm long, which is about twice its length of two weeks ago, and it grows about a millimetre a day. It is still curled, with a large head that makes up about half its length, and it begins to straighten out. It weighs about 1 gram, about the weight of a paperclip.

Heart. The heart is racing at about 150 to 170 beats per minute, about twice as fast as yours. It has nearly finished dividing into four chambers, the valves are forming and it is not fully complete until about 10 weeks. Blood flows through it and through the vessels of the body and the umbilical cord.

Brain. The brain is growing very fast, with about 100 new nerve cells forming every minute at this stage. The five regions of the brain are clear, and the nerves are spreading to the muscles. Early movements begin, though they are tiny and uncoordinated.

Face. The face is taking shape. The eyes have pigment and the eyelids begin to cover them, and they will fuse shut and stay closed until about 26 weeks. The tip of the nose and the nostrils are visible, the upper lip is complete and the mouth and tongue are forming. The ears are growing, with the outer parts starting to appear on the sides of the head. Tooth buds are forming in the jaw.

Arms and hands. The arms have grown, and the elbows and wrists have formed. The hands are paddles, and the fingers are separating, though they are still webbed. The hands may touch the face and each other.

Legs and feet. The legs are growing, with knees, ankles and foot plates. The toes begin to show as ridges, and they lag behind the fingers by a few days. The legs and feet may kick or move.

Tail. The small tail at the base of the spine has shrunk and is gone or almost gone.

Gut and organs. The gut is growing quickly. A loop of it grows into the base of the umbilical cord, called physiological herniation, which is normal and returns into the belly by about 11 to 12 weeks. The stomach, liver, pancreas and lungs are forming. The kidneys are forming but do not make urine until about 10 to 12 weeks. The liver is large and makes blood cells.

Genitals. The external genitals are present as a small bump, but they look the same in boys and girls. A scan cannot show the sex at 8 weeks.

Placenta and cord. The placenta is growing, and the umbilical cord is lengthening, with two arteries and one vein. Until about 8 to 10 weeks, a structure on your ovary called the corpus luteum makes the progesterone that keeps the pregnancy going. From about 8 to 10 weeks, the placenta takes over hormone production, a switch doctors call the luteal-placental shift. The yolk sac, a small ring beside the embryo, still supplies some nutrition and makes blood cells until the placenta takes over fully at about 10 to 12 weeks.

Amniotic sac. The embryo floats in a fluid-filled sac, which grows with it and protects it.

Movement. The embryo is moving, with small twitches, stretches and bends, which a scan can show from about 7 to 8 weeks. You cannot feel them. You will feel your baby move at about 16 to 22 weeks.

Still an embryo. Your baby is called an embryo until about 10 weeks of pregnancy, which is 8 weeks after conception. After that, doctors call your baby a fetus.

Organ development at 8 weeks

8 weeks pregnant ultrasound

By 8 weeks, a scan usually shows an embryo that looks like a tiny “gummy bear” with a flickering heartbeat. Many doctors advise a first scan between 7 and 9 weeks, to confirm the pregnancy is in the womb, check the heartbeat, count the embryos and set the due date. An earlier scan is advised if you have pain, bleeding, a history of ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, uncertain dates or fertility treatment.

Type of scan. A transvaginal scan, with a slim probe placed gently in the vagina, gives the clearest picture at 8 weeks, and is not harmful or usually painful. An abdominal scan, with gel and a probe on the belly, can also show the embryo at 8 weeks, but it is less clear, and a full bladder may be needed.

What it shows:

What it cannot show. The sex of the baby, fingers and toes in detail, a face with recognisable features, or most organs. Do not expect a baby shape like in later scans.

Dating. The crown-rump length gives the best estimate of your due date, accurate to within about 5 to 7 days. If it differs from your dates by more than 5 to 7 days, your doctor may adjust the due date. A smaller embryo often means ovulation was later than you thought, which is common.

Heartbeat. A heart rate of about 150 to 170 beats per minute is typical at 8 weeks. A rate that is much lower, particularly with a small embryo, needs a repeat scan within a week or so.

If no heartbeat is seen. At 8 weeks, a heartbeat is normally visible. Doctors diagnose a miscarriage only when the findings are clear, because a wrong diagnosis can end a healthy pregnancy. Commonly used criteria are an embryo of 7 mm or longer with no heartbeat, or a sac of 25 mm or more with no embryo. Even then, many doctors repeat the scan or ask a second sonographer to confirm. If the embryo is smaller than 7 mm or the findings are uncertain, a repeat scan is done after 7 to 14 days. If the dates were wrong, a heartbeat may show up later. Ask your doctor what the scan shows and what the plan is, and bring someone with you if you can.

After a heartbeat is seen at 8 weeks. The chance of a miscarriage falls to about 2 in 100 or less in most studies, and lower if you are under 35 and have no other risk factors. This is a reassuring step, though not a guarantee.

Other findings:

Safety. Ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, and is safe at any stage when medically useful. Non-medical “keepsake” scans in the first trimester are not recommended.

Cost and quality. Prices vary widely. Ask what is included, who does and reports the scan, whether it is transvaginal and whether a doctor will explain the result. Keep the report and images in your prenatal card.

Your body at 8 weeks

Hormones. The placenta makes hCG, which doubles about every two to three days at first and peaks at about 8 to 11 weeks, which is why symptoms often peak now. Progesterone and estrogen continue to rise. Progesterone relaxes smooth muscles, slows digestion and makes you tired. Estrogen is linked to nausea.

The womb. It has grown to about the size of an orange, and it is still inside the pelvis. You cannot feel it from outside, and it does not make your belly look bigger. Any swelling is bloating. The womb rises out of the pelvis at about 12 weeks.

Blood volume. It has begun to rise, and will be up to 40 to 50 percent higher by the third trimester. You may feel dizzy, tired or breathless. Blood pressure often dips in the first and second trimesters, so stand up slowly.

Breasts. They may feel full, heavy, tender or tingly, with darker nipples, more visible veins and small bumps on the areola, called Montgomery tubercles. Your bra size may increase.

Kidneys and bladder. You pass urine often, because your kidneys filter more blood and hormones relax the bladder.

Gut. Slow digestion causes bloating, gas, constipation and heartburn. Your sense of smell is sharper, and you may dislike foods you usually enjoy.

Weight. Most people gain little or nothing in the first trimester, and some lose a little with nausea. About 0.5 to 2 kg is typical across the whole trimester. Tell your doctor if you are losing weight quickly.

Skin and hair. A glow, acne, oily or dry skin and darker nipples can all appear. Hair may feel thicker.

Mood. Mood swings, tearfulness, irritability and anxiety are common, and they come from hormones and from the stress of waiting for the first scan.

Mucus plug. A thick plug of mucus seals the cervix against infection. It will come away near the end of pregnancy.

8 weeks pregnant symptoms

Symptoms often peak between 8 and 10 weeks, but they vary a great deal.

Do not start vitamin B6, anti-nausea medicine or herbal remedies without your doctor’s advice.

Symptoms that come and go

It is very common for pregnancy symptoms to come and go at 8 weeks. You may feel sick and tired on Monday, and almost normal on Wednesday. This can be worrying, but it is usually normal.

Why symptoms fluctuate:

• hCG and other hormones rise and fall through the day and from day to day
• Nausea depends on food, hunger, sleep, stress, smells and heat
• Blood sugar changes through the day
• Your body is adjusting, and some symptoms fade as you get used to them
• Symptoms often ease at about 12 to 14 weeks, as hCG falls

What the evidence shows. A day or two with fewer symptoms does not mean something is wrong. Most people with symptoms that come and go go on to have healthy pregnancies. Studies show that nausea and vomiting are linked to a lower risk of miscarriage on average, but their absence is not a sign of a problem, because many healthy pregnancies have little nausea.

When it needs a check:

• All symptoms stop suddenly, with bleeding, cramps or pain
• You have had a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy before, and you need reassurance
• You have a risk factor, such as a previous loss or fertility treatment
• You are very anxious and not sleeping

Your doctor can arrange a scan at the right time, which is the most reliable way to check that the pregnancy is growing. Too many early scans can cause more worry than help, so plan them with your doctor.

What helps while you wait:

• Keep busy, rest and eat well
• Avoid checking symptoms every hour
• Talk about your fears
• Remember that a healthy early pregnancy can feel quite normal

Feels like your period is coming

Many people at 8 weeks feel as though their period is about to start. This is one of the most common experiences in early pregnancy, and it can be confusing, because the symptoms overlap.

What it means. If you are 8 weeks pregnant, your period has not come for about four weeks, and the cramping is caused by pregnancy. Mild, period-like cramps are common as the womb stretches and blood flow increases, and they are not a sign that your period is coming or that you are losing the pregnancy.

When to worry:

• Cramps are severe, one-sided or do not ease
• You have bleeding like a period, with clots or tissue
• You have dizziness, fainting or shoulder-tip pain
• You have a fever or foul discharge

Any of these needs a same-day check. If you are not sure you are pregnant and have a negative test but period-like symptoms, repeat the test in a few days, or see a doctor.

What helps: rest, a warm bath, a warm cloth on your belly, a change of position, gentle walking and fibre and water for constipation. Paracetamol at the recommended dose is generally considered safe, but ask your doctor.

Vaginal discharge at 8 weeks

An increase in thin, milky white discharge, called leukorrhoea, is a normal sign of pregnancy. It is caused by higher estrogen and more blood flow to the cervix and vagina, and it helps protect against infection.

Normal: thin, clear or milky, mild or no smell, no itching or burning. It increases as pregnancy goes on.

See a doctor if:

What helps: cotton underwear, changing wet or sweaty clothes quickly, wiping from front to back, washing with water or a mild unscented soap and avoiding douching and perfumed products. Do not treat discharge yourself with pharmacy tablets, creams or herbal washes without a diagnosis.

Symptoms with twins

At 8 weeks, a scan can show whether you are carrying twins. Symptoms alone cannot tell you, but some are more common with twins.

Signs that may suggest twins:

• Stronger or more frequent nausea and vomiting, because hCG is often higher
• Extreme tiredness
• A womb that measures larger than expected
• A faster rise in weight
• A family history of non-identical twins, fertility treatment or older age

Many of these are also common in single pregnancies, so only a scan is reliable.

What a scan at 8 weeks shows. Two embryos, each with a heartbeat, in one or two sacs. Doctors look at the sacs and the thin wall between them to work out whether the twins share a placenta, which is called chorionicity. This is easiest to see early, and it decides how closely you are monitored. It is checked again at 11 to 14 weeks.

Vanishing twin. In some pregnancies, one of two early embryos stops growing and is absorbed. It may cause light spotting and does not usually harm the other twin. It is not caused by anything you did.

If you are carrying twins:

• Expect more scans, closer monitoring and visits
• Twin pregnancies have a higher risk of anaemia, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, early labour and complications, so keep every visit
• Take iron and folic acid as advised, and ask about extra calcium and low-dose aspirin if you are at risk of pre-eclampsia
• Eat well, rest and tell your doctor about severe nausea, which is more common
• Plan to give birth in a hospital with a newborn unit, usually at 36 to 37 weeks
• Plan help at home, because twins are a lot of work

Spotting, bleeding and miscarriage

Spotting at 8 weeks. About 1 in 4 pregnant people have some spotting in the first trimester, and most go on to have healthy babies. Common causes include hormone changes, a small blood clot beside the sac, a cervix that bleeds easily after sex or an internal examination and a small growth on the cervix.

What to do for light spotting: wear a pad, not a tampon, and note the colour, amount and any pain. Avoid sex until it stops, rest and call your doctor to report it and arrange a check. Light spotting that stops is usually fine.

Go to hospital the same day for:

• Bleeding that is red and heavy, or soaks a pad in an hour
• Bleeding with strong cramps or pain
• Passing clots or tissue
• Severe or one-sided belly pain
• Dizziness, fainting, pale skin or a racing heart
• Shoulder-tip pain
• Fever, chills or foul-smelling discharge

Miscarriage: what to know.

• About 10 to 20 in 100 known pregnancies end in miscarriage, most in the first 12 weeks.
• Chromosome problems in the embryo cause more than half of early miscarriages. They cannot be prevented and are nobody’s fault.
• Miscarriage is not caused by normal exercise, work, sex, stress, a shock, spicy food, hot or cold food, ripe fruit, a minor fall or an ordinary argument. Please do not blame yourself.
• The risk rises with age, previous miscarriages, uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease, smoking, alcohol and high caffeine intake.
• Once a heartbeat has been seen at 8 weeks, the risk is low.
• Signs include vaginal bleeding, often with cramps or back pain, passing clots or tissue and a loss of pregnancy symptoms. Not every bleed is a miscarriage.

If you are miscarrying, your doctor will examine you, and may arrange an ultrasound and blood tests. Options include waiting for it to pass naturally, medicine to help it pass and a small procedure. Heavy bleeding, fever, severe pain or fainting need urgent care. If you are Rh negative, ask about an anti-D injection after bleeding.

Grief. A miscarriage is a loss, and it is normal to feel sad, angry, guilty or numb. Give yourself time, talk to someone you trust and ask for help if sadness does not ease. Most people go on to have a healthy pregnancy. Doctors usually advise further tests only after two or three miscarriages.

Ectopic pregnancy warning signs

An ectopic pregnancy implants outside the womb, most often in a fallopian tube. It affects about 1 to 2 in 100 pregnancies. It cannot continue, and if the tube ruptures, it can cause life-threatening bleeding. Symptoms usually start between 5 and 9 weeks, so 8 weeks is still within the key window. A scan showing a heartbeat in the womb makes an ectopic pregnancy very unlikely, but a scan that does not show one needs follow-up.

Warning signs:

• Sharp, stabbing or persistent pain in the lower belly or pelvis, often on one side
• Vaginal bleeding, which may be light, dark brown or watery, or heavy
• Shoulder-tip pain
• Pain when passing stools or urine
• Dizziness, feeling faint or fainting
• Pale skin, a fast heartbeat, weakness or collapse

Higher risk: a past ectopic pregnancy, tubal or pelvic surgery, pelvic infection, an IUD in place when you conceived, fertility treatment, smoking and endometriosis. About half of ectopic pregnancies happen in people with no known risk factor.

What to do: go to a hospital emergency department at once, or call 999. Do not wait, and do not eat or drink if you may need surgery. Tell the staff you may be pregnant, and the date of your last period.

Treatment. Found early, an ectopic pregnancy can be treated with an injection of methotrexate. Otherwise, keyhole surgery removes it, sometimes with the tube. Early care protects your health and your fertility.

Signs of a girl or a boy: what is true

People often search for signs of a girl at 8 weeks. No symptom can tell you the sex of your baby.

When can you really know?

At 8 weeks, the genitals look the same in boys and girls. The sex is set at conception, but it cannot be seen for several more weeks.

A healthy baby is what matters. Choosing or acting on the sex of a baby, including pressure to have a son or ending a pregnancy because of the sex, is harmful and unethical. If anyone presses you, tell your doctor or call the national helpline 109, which supports women who face pressure and violence.

Nausea, vomiting and hyperemesis

Nausea affects about 7 in 10 pregnant people, and vomiting about half. It usually starts at about 5 to 6 weeks, peaks at 9 to 10 weeks and eases by 12 to 14 weeks, though it lasts longer for some. It is called morning sickness, but it can happen at any time of day or night.

What helps:

• Eat a few dry biscuits, toast or puffed rice before getting out of bed
• Eat small meals every two to three hours, so your stomach is never empty
• Avoid triggers, such as strong smells, spicy, oily or very sweet food and cooking fumes. Ask someone else to cook, if you can
• Sip cold fluids through the day. Try lemon water, ice chips or oral rehydration solution
• Try ginger, in tea, biscuits or food, which is generally safe in food amounts
• Get fresh air, keep your room cool and rest
• Brush your teeth after vomiting, and rinse your mouth with plain water. Wait about 30 minutes before brushing, to avoid brushing softened enamel
• Eat protein with meals, which may settle your stomach
• Take iron-folic acid with food or at night, and ask your doctor if iron makes nausea worse
• Eat what you can, and do not worry about “perfect” meals. You can catch up later

If nausea is bad, your doctor may advise vitamin B6, with or without doxylamine, or another anti-nausea medicine. Do not take them without advice.

Hyperemesis gravidarum. About 1 in 100 pregnant people have severe, persistent vomiting that needs treatment. Signs are:

• Vomiting many times a day, and being unable to keep down food or water
• Weight loss of more than 5 percent of your body weight
• Dark urine, passing very little urine, a dry mouth, dizziness and a fast heartbeat
• Weakness, and being unable to do daily tasks
• Vomiting blood, or severe belly pain

See a doctor the same day. Treatment includes fluids through a drip, anti-nausea medicine, vitamins and sometimes a short stay in hospital. It is not caused by anything you did, it is treatable and you do not need to push through it.

Cravings, food aversions and pica

Cravings and aversions are among the most common early pregnancy changes. Your sense of smell and taste are sharper, and foods you usually love may suddenly seem disgusting. This is normal, and it usually eases in the second trimester.

What helps:

• Eat what you can tolerate, in small amounts, at regular times
• Try cold or room-temperature food, which has less smell
• Add variety when you can, and include protein
• Do not force yourself to eat foods that make you gag
• Satisfy a craving for a healthy food, and limit foods that are very sweet, salty or oily

Pica. Pica is a craving to eat things that are not food. In pregnancy, the most common are clay or soil (in Bangladesh, often called “mati”), chalk, raw rice, starch, ash, ice and paper. Pica is not a sign of anything wrong with your character, and it is more common than people admit, but it can be harmful.

Why it happens. Pica is strongly linked to iron deficiency anaemia, which is common in Bangladesh, though it can also be linked to other nutrient gaps, stress and cultural habits.

What to do:

• Tell your doctor, who will not judge you. Ask for a hemoglobin and iron test
• Take iron-folic acid as prescribed, and treat anaemia
• Do not eat clay, soil, chalk or ash, and avoid them if you can
• Replace the urge with something safe and crunchy or chewy, such as sugar-free gum, cold fruit, raw carrot or cucumber, roasted chickpeas or ice (without chewing hard)
• Rinse your mouth, and keep these items out of reach
• Ask your doctor to deworm you if it is advised, and treat any infection

Craving certain foods does not predict the sex of the baby.

Food, folic acid and supplements

Folic acid. Folic acid helps your baby’s growth and your own blood, and lowers the risk of neural tube defects, which are most relevant in weeks 3 to 6. Take 400 micrograms a day until 12 weeks, or the higher dose your doctor prescribes if you have diabetes, epilepsy, a family history of neural tube defects, obesity or thalassaemia. If you have not started, start today.

Iron. Most doctors in Bangladesh prescribe iron-folic acid tablets from the first visit, usually 60 mg of iron and 400 micrograms of folic acid a day, to prevent anaemia. Take them as prescribed. If iron upsets your stomach, take it with food or at night, and ask your doctor before stopping.

Vitamin D. It helps your body use calcium. Many women in Bangladesh have low levels, especially if they cover their skin or spend most of the day indoors. Ask your doctor whether you need a supplement.

Iodine. Use iodised salt in your cooking. Iodine supports your baby’s brain development.

Calcium. Supplements are usually advised from about 20 weeks. Ask your doctor.

Vitamin A. Do not take high-dose vitamin A supplements, which can harm the baby. Eat vitamin A in food, such as leafy greens, carrots, pumpkin, mango, eggs and milk.

Do not take extra supplements or herbal products without advice. More is not better.

Eat more of:

• Protein: well-cooked eggs, fish, chicken, lentils (dal), beans and milk
• Iron-rich foods: leafy greens (shak), lean meat and lentils, with lemon or guava for vitamin C
• Folate-rich foods: leafy greens, lentils, beans, oranges and fortified foods
• Calcium: milk, yogurt, and small fish eaten with the bones
• Fruit and vegetables: a variety of colours every day
• Whole grains and fibre: brown rice, whole wheat roti and oats
• Healthy fats: well-cooked oily fish, nuts and seeds
• Water: 8 to 10 glasses a day, more in hot weather

How much to eat. You do not need extra calories in the first trimester. Do not “eat for two”. If nausea limits what you eat, eat what you can, in small amounts.

What to avoid at 8 weeks

Myths to ignore. Eating banana, ripe papaya, pineapple, eggplant, duck eggs, hot food, cold food or jackfruit in normal amounts does not cause miscarriage. Many old rules about “hot” and “cold” foods have no medical basis, and they can leave a pregnant woman short of nutrients.

Medicines. Always ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine, including herbal and over-the-counter products. Do not stop medicine for a long-term condition, such as epilepsy, diabetes, thyroid disease, asthma or high blood pressure, without talking to your doctor. A fever of 38°C or more needs a doctor, and in Bangladesh it may be dengue, so do not treat it at home.

Urine infections and teeth. Urinary infections are more common in pregnancy and can cause no symptoms, so your urine is tested at your first visit. See a doctor the same day for burning, urgency, fever or back pain. Gums swell and bleed in pregnancy, and vomiting exposes teeth to acid, so brush twice a day, rinse with plain water after vomiting and have a dental check. Dental treatment is safe in pregnancy.

Your first prenatal visit and tests

The World Health Organization recommends at least eight contacts with a health professional during pregnancy, with the first before 12 weeks. Eight to ten weeks is the ideal time for the first visit. If you have not booked yet, do it now.

What usually happens:

• A review of your medical history, previous pregnancies, medicines, allergies and family history
• Blood pressure, weight, height and a physical check
• Confirmation of your due date, often by scan
• A discussion of food, supplements, habits and symptoms
• Blood and urine tests, which may include:

• A prenatal card, which you should keep safe and bring to every visit

Questions to ask:

• Which supplements should I take, and for how long?
• Are my current medicines safe?
• Which foods and activities should I avoid?
• What symptoms mean I should call you or go to hospital, and what number do I use at night?
• When is my next visit, and which scans and tests are planned?
• When is the screening scan at 11 to 14 weeks, and what does it check?
• Which vaccines do I need, and when?
• Where should I plan to give birth, and what does it cost?

Write down the answers.

Screening tests coming up

A screening result is a chance, not a diagnosis. A low chance is reassuring but not a guarantee, and a higher chance means you can talk to your doctor about diagnostic tests. Most people with a higher chance result still have a healthy baby. Ask which tests are available where you live, and what they cost.

If you are Rh negative. Ask about anti-D. It is given at about 28 weeks, after birth if your baby is Rh positive, and after any bleeding, a fall or a procedure during pregnancy.

Vaccines. The flu vaccine is safe and advised in any trimester. Tetanus-diphtheria is usually given in the second trimester, and whooping cough from about 27 weeks. Live vaccines, such as MMR and chickenpox, are not given in pregnancy. Ask your doctor.

Exercise, sleep, sex and work

Exercise. Light to moderate exercise is safe and good for most healthy pregnancies. Walk about 30 minutes on most days. Swimming, gentle yoga and stretching are good. You should be able to talk while you exercise. Avoid contact sports, hot yoga, activities with a risk of falls and heavy lifting. Stop and call your doctor if you have pain, bleeding or dizziness.

Sleep. Many people need more sleep in the first trimester, and short naps help. Go to bed earlier, keep your room cool and avoid screens at night. Frequent urination can wake you, so drink more earlier in the day.

Sex. It is safe for most healthy pregnancies and does not cause miscarriage. Avoid it if you have bleeding or pain, or your doctor has told you to rest. Desire may rise or fall, and both are normal. Light spotting after sex is common.

Work. Most people can keep working. Tell your doctor about night shifts, chemicals, heavy lifting or long standing. Take breaks to eat and drink. You do not need to tell your employer yet. Under Bangladesh’s labour law, working mothers in the private sector are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, eight before and eight after the birth, and government employees receive six months. You will need to give notice later, so check your contract.

Everyday life in Bangladesh

Dengue and mosquito bites. Dengue spreads by mosquito bites, and it can be serious in pregnancy. Remove standing water around your home, use a mosquito net and a pregnancy-safe repellent, wear long sleeves and see a doctor straight away for any fever. Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin for fever unless your doctor says so.

Heat. Hot, humid weather can dehydrate you and make nausea worse. Drink water through the day, wear loose cotton clothes, rest in the shade and avoid long hours in direct sun. Oral rehydration solution helps if you have been sweating or vomiting a lot.

Safe water. In many areas, groundwater from tube wells contains arsenic. Drink water from tube wells that have been tested and marked safe, usually painted green, and avoid those marked red. Boil or filter drinking water for germs. Boiling does not remove arsenic.

Cooking smoke. Smoke from wood, dung, crop waste and kerosene harms your lungs and can lead to low birth weight. Cook outdoors or with good ventilation, use a cleaner stove if you can and take breaks from the kitchen.

Fasting. If you plan to fast, talk to your doctor first. Many doctors advise against fasting in pregnancy, particularly with nausea, because it can cause dehydration and low blood sugar. Islamic scholars allow an exemption for pregnant women if fasting may harm them or their baby.

Travel and transport. Short trips are usually fine. Nausea and tiredness can make bumpy rickshaw, CNG and bus rides uncomfortable. Choose smoother routes, sit with your back supported and avoid crowded vehicles where you could be pushed. Wear a seat belt in a car.

Feelings, your partner and telling people

Your feelings. Early pregnancy brings a mix of joy, fear, disbelief, worry and tiredness. If the pregnancy was unplanned, you may feel unsure, and that is normal. Many people worry about miscarriage, and waiting for the first scan is hard.

What helps:

• Talk to your partner, a trusted friend or relative, or your doctor
• Keep a routine, with regular meals, daylight and a short walk
• Rest when you can
• Limit searching online for frightening stories. Ask your doctor instead
• Take it one day at a time

When to get help. Feeling very low, hopeless or anxious for two weeks or more, losing interest in things, being unable to sleep or eat or having thoughts of harming yourself needs attention. Depression and anxiety in pregnancy are common and treatable. Tell your doctor. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, go to the nearest hospital or call 999.

Your partner. Partners may feel excited, anxious or left out. They can help by coming to visits, cooking or avoiding strong smells, sharing chores, helping you rest and listening. Talk about your hopes, fears and plans, and look after each other.

Telling people. Many people wait until after the first scan or until 12 weeks, because the risk of miscarriage is higher early on. It is your choice. You might tell a few people you trust first, so you have support if things go wrong. You do not owe anyone an explanation if you prefer to wait.

If you feel unsafe. If you feel unsafe at home, tell your doctor or a trusted person. In Bangladesh you can call the national helpline 109 for support with violence against women and children. It is free.

If the pregnancy is unplanned or unwanted. You have the right to confidential, non-judgemental advice, and time matters. Talk to your doctor or a trusted health worker about your options soon. Menstrual regulation, a legal procedure in Bangladesh, is available at government and approved NGO facilities, and it has a short time limit, usually about 10 weeks from your last period, so ask early. Do not use unsafe methods, herbal mixtures or unlicensed providers, which can cause serious harm or death. Ask your doctor, the nearest family planning clinic or the government health call centre on 16263 for safe options and support.

Where to get care

You do not need an expensive private clinic to get good prenatal care.

Tips:

• Choose a doctor or clinic you can reach easily, and plan to see the same place for most visits
• Ask what each visit and test costs, and ask for a written estimate for delivery
• Keep your prenatal card and results with you
• If you plan to give birth in a hospital, check that it has skilled staff, an operating theatre, blood and a newborn unit
• Ask your local health worker about free services
• Government facilities provide iron-folic acid tablets and tetanus vaccination at no cost or low cost

Checklist for this week

• Take folic acid daily, with iron-folic acid as your doctor advises
• Book your first prenatal visit and scan, if you have not already, and bring your prenatal card
• Stop alcohol and tobacco (including zarda and jorda), and avoid smoke
• Check all your medicines and herbal products with a doctor or pharmacist
• Do not stop medicine for a long-term condition without medical advice
• Learn the warning signs of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage, and save your doctor’s number and the nearest hospital’s emergency number
• Eat small, frequent, well-cooked meals, and drink boiled or filtered water
• Do not eat clay, soil, chalk or ash, and tell your doctor if you crave them
• Limit caffeine to about 200 mg a day
• Look after your teeth, and rinse with plain water after vomiting
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites, and remove standing water at home
• Rest, walk gently and avoid heavy lifting and overheating
• Talk to someone you trust about how you feel
• Decide when you want to tell family, friends and work

FAQ

How big is the baby at 8 weeks?
About 1.6 cm from head to bottom, roughly the size of a raspberry or a kidney bean, and about 1 gram. The range is about 1.1 to 2 cm.

What is the height of the baby at 8 weeks of pregnancy?
Doctors measure the length from the crown of the head to the bottom, about 1.6 cm at this stage. It is not measured as a height.

How many months pregnant am I at 8 weeks?
About 2 months. You are in the second month, in the middle of the first trimester, not at the end of it.

Is 8 weeks the end of the first trimester?
No. The first trimester lasts until the end of week 13, so at 8 weeks you have about five weeks to go.

Can you see the heartbeat at 8 weeks?
Yes, in nearly all healthy pregnancies, on a vaginal scan, at about 150 to 170 beats per minute. If it is not seen, doctors usually measure the embryo and repeat the scan before making a diagnosis.

What does an ultrasound at 8 weeks show?
A gestational sac, a yolk sac, a curved embryo with a head and body, a flickering heartbeat, limb buds and the number of embryos. It cannot show the sex or fingers in detail.

My symptoms come and go. Is that normal?
Yes. Hormones and blood sugar change through the day and from day to day. See a doctor if all symptoms stop suddenly with bleeding or pain.

Why does it feel like my period is coming?
Mild, period-like cramps, bloating and backache are common as the womb stretches. See a doctor for severe or one-sided pain, heavy bleeding, dizziness or fainting.

Can I tell if I am having a girl at 8 weeks?
No. Symptoms, heart rate, cravings and the shape of your belly do not predict sex. A blood test from about 10 weeks or an ultrasound at 18 to 22 weeks can show it.

What are the signs of twins at 8 weeks?
Stronger nausea, extreme tiredness and a larger womb can suggest twins, but only a scan can tell. At 8 weeks, a scan usually shows two embryos if you are carrying twins.

Is it safe to exercise at 8 weeks?
Yes for most healthy pregnancies. Walking, swimming, gentle yoga and stretching are good. Avoid contact sports, hot yoga, heavy lifting and activities with a risk of falls.

Note: This article gives general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife. Every pregnancy is different. Call your doctor or go to a hospital if you have bleeding, severe pain, fever, fainting or any symptom that worries you.