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Weeks 1-7 of Your Baby’s Development

Next Week

Congratulations! You’re pregnant!

What Your Baby is Doing

Pregnancy is measured from the last menstruation cycle, so it is possible you can be a week or two pregnant before your first missed period. It is usually during this third week that your baby makes the trip to the walls of the uterus. As it travels, it is growing rapidly. When it begins to implant itself into the uterine lining, it is the size of a poppy seed!

Most women discover they are pregnant somewhere between week five and week six. If you have been tracking your cycles, you could find out as early as two weeks! But by this point, most women have missed their period and are experiencing other symptoms. It is also around the fifth week that most commercial pregnancy tests are accurate, due to the hormones your body is now producing.

By week seven, the umbilical cord has formed, officially connecting you to your baby! Its hands and feet, though webbed, have developed. Many organs, like the kidneys, heart, and brain, are in the early stages of development. Your baby is well on its way!

What Your Body is Doing

Externally, you will probably not see changes for many weeks. Internally, many changes are already happening. You may notice the need to go to the bathroom more often, so start upping your daily intake of water. Since your body is now focusing on feeding a growing baby, you may feel some fatigue setting in. Your tastes may be changing as well, craving food you may not have before, or turning away from your favorite dishes. There might be aches and pains as your body adjusts, including soreness of your breasts. There could also be morning sickness, though it will not be limited to the morning. It could be only in the morning, it could be in the evening, it could happen through the day.

What You Should Eat

You may not want to eat much meat, but you will still need proteins for your growing baby. Plant and vegetarian based proteins, like beans, yogurt, tofu, and quinoa, are all good substitutes if chicken or beef does not sit well.

See How Your Baby Is Growing

We send weekly emails and text messages to help expecting mothers teach them about the changes they, and their baby, are going through.

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See How Your Baby Is Growing

We send weekly emails and text messages to help expecting mothers teach them about the changes they, and their baby, are going through.

Sign Up Today

Have you joined Centering Pregnancy yet?

Centering Pregnancy is a group approach for expectant mothers where you will receive your prenatal care, along with learning more about pregnancy and building relationships with other women at the same stage of pregnancy as you are. Also, get a chance to pick up some free baby items when you attend!

Join a Group Today
Next Week

Local Resources for Mothers

Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County is part of a network of healthcare providers who are committed to the health and safety of your baby.

Baby and Me - Tobacco Free

Baby and Me - Tobacco Free

The Baby & Me – Tobacco Free Program is a smoking cessation program which aims to reduce the use of tobacco products among women during and after their pregnancy.

Get Help to Stop Smoking
Five Rivers Center for Women’s Health

Five Rivers Center for Women’s Health

Five Rivers Health Centers began as a medical home for the low-income patients of Dayton, Ohio, by providing both primary and specialty care services to patients.

What Babies Need
Help Me Grow

Help Me Grow

The Help Me Grow Program is a broad system of services for eligible families with infants and toddlers. We provide services from prenatal to the child’s third birthday.

Learn More About Them
Help Me Grow

Help Me Grow

The Help Me Grow Program is a broad system of services for eligible families with infants and toddlers. We provide services from prenatal to the child’s third birthday.

Learn More About Them
Lifestages Centersfor Women

Lifestages Centersfor Women

Your transformation during pregnancy may be life-changing. You can take comfort in knowing that we’ll give you all the information, education, and expert medical care you’ll need to handle the transition comfortably.

Learn More About Them
Moms and Babies First

Moms and Babies First

Moms & Babies First: Ohio’s Black Infant Vitality Program helps to reduce the number of low birth weight babies, infant deaths and sickness within the ethnic communities of Montgomery County.

Learn More About Them
Catholic Social Services

Catholic Social Services

Our services include pregnancy counseling and a variety of programs to strengthen parenting skills, and prevent and treat behavioral problems in children. Confidential pregnancy counseling is available.

Learn More About Them
Catholic Social Services

Catholic Social Services

Our services include pregnancy counseling and a variety of programs to strengthen parenting skills, and prevent and treat behavioral problems in children. Confidential pregnancy counseling is available.

Learn More About Them
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