Week 8 of Pregnancy (Trimester 1 of Preganancy)

It has been such a relief to be able to share this exciting time with AJ – now I have someone to Ooh and Aaah over the books with, and to talk to about my concerns for the baby’s health.

AJ is so excited – he is really enthusiastic; he managed to persuade me that we should tell Rosie about the baby sooner rather than wait until after the first scan, as I wanted to. Rosie was very calm and just seemed to take the news in her stride – mind you, she was nursing a particularly large Smarties McFlurry at the time!! I guess I would still prefer to have waited until we know for sure this baby is going to be okay. It would be so awful to have to explain to an 8 year-old why her brother or sister isn’t like other babies.

All my reading shows that it is perfectly natural for a pregnant woman to worry about whether or not her baby is developing properly and will be both mentally and physically healthy. The Health Education Authority has produced statistics that show 97% of babies born in the UK are normal, aside from the odd birthmarks or other small variations. A further 1% of babies will be born with abnormalities that can be corrected, either partly or completely. About 2% will suffer from some more severe disability. I know that, as for all mothers-to-be, by looking after myself (eating healthily, cutting out smoking and alcohol and/or other drug abuse) I can increase my baby’s chances of being born healthy.

The first Trimester (literally, the first third of pregnancy – roughly the first 13 of the forty weeks of pregnancy) is the most critical period of development for the fetus, as this is when all the major body organs are being formed. So it is particularly important to take care of yourself as soon as you find out you are pregnant.

By this stage of pregnancy, the uterus is the size of an orange and still sitting within the protective bowl of the pelvis. The fetus has grown too and now measures about 2cm from head to bottom – still curled up like a little fishy, with an over-large head and small body. The face is slowly forming, with more obvious eyes that have some colour in them, and a mouth with a tongue. The middle part of the ear will have developed by the end of the week, which will help with balance – important for a baby floating about in a moving host!

The major internal organs are all developing, including a heart pumping with a regular rhythm. Tiny blood vessels are visible through the tracing-paper thin skin. The fetus has the beginnings of hands and feet, with ridges where the fingers and toes will be.