Fetal development at 7 weeks of pregnancy

A mother’s body is going through a lot at seven weeks of pregnancy. Despite the baby’s small size—roughly the size of a blueberry—important development is happening that will influence the course of the pregnancy. For the child, this is a time of rapid growth and change, and being aware of what’s going on can enhance the specialness of this journey.

The baby’s brain is developing remarkably quickly during this week, and minor facial features like the mouth and nostrils are starting to take shape. The heart is becoming more complex, beating steadily now, and small buds are beginning to form on the arms and legs. It’s astounding to consider how much is going on even before the majority of mothers start to exhibit symptoms.

Mothers may experience a range of symptoms, including fatigue and morning sickness, during this time of change. Parents can feel more at ease knowing that their feelings are normal and part of the incredible process of bringing a new life into the world by being aware of what’s going on with the baby at this point.

Feature Description
Size At 7 weeks, the fetus is about the size of a blueberry, roughly 1.3 cm (0.5 inches) in length.
Development The brain and face are rapidly forming, and tiny arms and legs start to appear as small buds.
Heartbeat The heart is beating around 90-110 times per minute and is easily detectable by ultrasound.
Internal Organs Internal organs like the liver and kidneys are beginning to develop and take shape.
Movement While still too small to be felt, the fetus is beginning to make small movements.

Baby"s age – two views on the term

A 7-week obstetric week is equivalent to the baby’s entire 4-week life span from the time of conception. We are now in the fifth week. Obstetricians find it more convenient to simplify the task by counting the term from the first day of the last menstrual period, as ovulation occurs at different times for different women, but typically in the very middle of the cycle. As a result, a woman who is accustomed to counting the embryonic term could become perplexed.

Since all medical exams, ultrasound standards, and test results are actually expressed in obstetric weeks, we can say that, at this point in time, when just two complete weeks have elapsed since the delay and slightly more than four weeks have passed since conception, it is the seventh week of pregnancy.

We are discussing a totally different time period if it has been 7 weeks since your baby’s conception—the 9th week of pregnancy.

Embryo development

The most crucial time in terms of the chance of losing the baby is thought to have passed by the seventh week. In actuality, there is still a significant risk of miscarrying because the unborn child is extremely susceptible to negative influences on its development.

While the child you carry is still regarded as an embryo. In actuality, the two-week transitional neofetal period starts. The fetal period of intrauterine development starts at the ninth week of pregnancy, at which point the baby is officially referred to as a fetus rather than an embryo.

The infant is currently in a stage of transition; he is not yet a fetus but is no longer essentially an embryo. As a result, it qualifies as both a fetus and an embryo. Since many doctors tend to think that the baby is already deserving of the term "fetus," they already note in the ultrasound report at this point that the fetus can be seen inside the uterus.

We have passed the early developmental stage, during which the foetus was merely a collection of proliferating cells. It now has human-like outlines, and it is becoming more and more like a human every day.

Height and weight

The baby has grown about 10,000 times since the day of conception, even though it has only been a little over four weeks since conception! The developing fetus-embryo is growing at an accelerated rate; by the end of this week, its growth will have decreased by about half.

The baby’s growth at 6-7 obstetric weeks is 6-7 mm. The child’s weight does not rise rapidly, and the time when they will start gaining weight has not yet arrived. The baby weighs 2 g at this time.

At this point, the baby’s size is comparable to a solid bean. However, this is the total size of it, including the fetal membranes. The mother’s uterus is now the size of an orange, having grown already 1.5 times. There is adequate room in the uterus cavity for the baby, or "bean," which is still quite comfortable and spacious inside.

Nervous system

At this point, the baby’s body appears disproportionate. Its head is the largest part of its body. Although it is not yet round, smooth, or drop-shaped, its remarkable size is not the result of nature’s whims but rather a pressing necessity.

Since the baby’s brain is developing more quickly than any other organ, it now resembles a tadpole. The brain is already split into the left and right hemispheres at 7 weeks of age. The material that makes up the brain forms quickly.

Since the baby’s head has five cavities that resemble bubbles, a lot is decided for it during these days. These cavities will eventually become sections of the brain.

Every "bubble" will represent a different brain region. The nervous system is still developing intensely, and the neural tube has not yet closed.

The formation and development of the nerve fiber network starts during these seven days, which are part of the seventh obstetric week. They are the ones who will soon have to attach all of the internal organs to the brain and spinal cord.

The baby’s central nervous system should function normally if the network is formed correctly and accurately. However, if unfavorable factors interfere with this process now, serious developmental defects may occur, including microcephaly (a reduction in the size of the brain), hydrocephalus (a dropsy of the brain), anencephaly (a lack of brain), and various neural tube defects. These flaws are typically incompatible with life.

They frequently coexist with a fetus that has chromosomal pathologies, and in this instance, the primary negative factor that "interferes" with the development of the nervous system and brain occurs at the 6-7th week of pregnancy is the chromosome set anomaly.

In a word, everything that is happening to the expectant mother and child right now can be summed up as global restructuring. For this reason, a woman should now exercise extra caution and attention to her health; she should avoid radiation, paint and varnish odors, tobacco smoke, strong vibrations, and the use of medications and other substances unless prescribed by a doctor.

Internal organs

The baby’s body no longer resembles an animal embryo, but it still doesn’t look like a human in the traditional sense. Internal organs are visible through the transparent skin and translucent membranes, and they are starting to take their rightful place.

Thus, the only intestine experiences changes this week. It is separated into the stomach, larynx, and esophagus, which are its three main sections. The trachea, the only respiratory system organ, is connected to the upper portion of the intestine. This week, the lower portion starts to resemble the urogenital sinus.

The appendix and rectum form. The umbilical cord is where the middle of the intestine ends. The bile ducts are starting to form during these days, and the developing pancreas is starting to make insulin on its own.

As previously noted, there are still only a few respiratory organs—the trachea is the only one that is present—but this week marks the start of the lungs’ and bronchi’s formation. The development of vision starts in the fifth week of embryogenesis.

The development of the optic nerves and retina starts at the convex portion of the anterior cerebral vesicle, which starts to protrude forward. The eyes still appear to be small, dark dots on either side of the head. They will eventually start to reposition themselves closer to the middle of the face.

The baby’s heart develops into a four chambered organ this week, pumping blood throughout its tiny frame. It is assisted in this by blood vessels, which are also actively developing. This week, large blood vessels are growing particularly quickly.

Gender of the baby

The child’s sex is decided upon immediately at conception and is kept a secret for a while afterward. A seventh obstetric week is not unique. There isn’t much sex visible yet. It is impossible to ascertain.

Regardless of sexual characteristics, the embryo develops. But this is the week that the genital ridges, which will eventually develop into the sex glands, begin to form.

This week a genital tubercle appears where the genitals will soon be. It will eventually develop into a penis in boys and a labia in girls. As of right now, babies’ tubercles in both sexes have the same appearance. It is not possible to ascertain the child’s sex from them. The child’s body does not yet produce sex hormones.

From the perspective of official medicine, methods for determining sex by fetal heartbeat, blood renewal, or parent’s blood group are unreliable and more akin to fortune telling on coffee grounds, where there is a 50% chance of coincidences leading to a boy or girl outcome.

Appearance

Although the baby still doesn’t look much like a human, every day that goes by, the baby starts to resemble one. This week, the baby’s first nose features appear. Furthermore, the baby’s face would already resemble a human’s if it weren’t for its wide-set eyes.

The auricles are laid this week, and the inner ear starts to form. Though at this point they resemble tiny cartilaginous tissue seals, the baby’s ears will eventually grow into the ears we are familiar with and it will be able to hear.

Both the upper and lower jaws form, and baby teeth start to erupt. The baby will now "receive" the first cervical bend at full disposal as the spinal column is formed. The baby progressively starts to come out of the half-bent position that the embryo is born in. He’s going to start straightening his body like a caterpillar this week.

Although the feet are not yet on the legs, their rudiments have already shown, and seals, or future nails, have already formed where the heels will soon be. These nails will move to the toes as soon as they form.

Every embryo is wingless. It nearly doubles in length at 7 weeks, and in a week or two it will rudiment into the tailbone. At this stage of gestation, a child’s lower limbs develop far more slowly than their arms.

His upper limbs now resemble shoulder blades or oars because of the shape of his hands. Although there is still a thick skin membrane separating the fingers, they will soon be able to be counted on an ultrasound.

This week, the umbilical cord thickens and becomes a link between the baby and the developing placenta, which is currently only a little thicker than a centimeter. The placenta is still far from performing its full function, but the uteroplacental blood flow starts to improve. For the time being, the yolk sac handles the majority of the child’s feeding.

What the baby can do?

Around week seven, the baby starts to move. The expectant mother cannot feel this, of course. Before she starts to feel her son or daughter’s movements, there is still enough time. But that does not imply that there are no movements when there are no sensations.

According to obstetric measurements, the baby starts to bend and unstitch the arms at 7 weeks, and at 5 embryonic weeks, the oars in the wrist area. These are his initial motions; by the end of the week, they are already effortless and carefree.

If the mother chooses to pursue it at this time, an ultrasound scan may reveal a new ability that enables the baby to unstretch the body. They often start measuring the so-called CTE, or coccygeal-parietal size, at the point of maximum extension.

The fetus is growing and developing quickly at 7 weeks of pregnancy, with significant changes occurring in the heart, brain, and other important organs. The infant, which is currently the size of a blueberry, is starting to develop arms and legs as well as more pronounced mouth and eye features. The mother must lead a healthy lifestyle to support her baby’s development during this critical stage, which lays the groundwork for all bodily systems.

Ultrasound at 7 weeks

This week, an ultrasound is not advised and is not required. An ultrasound scan is not necessary if the expectant mother’s health does not cause her to feel anxious or fearful, if she is not in pain, and if there is no unusual discharge.

Since the effects of ultrasound waves on a developing fetus have not been thoroughly investigated, medical professionals advise against overusing this straightforward and suggestive diagnostic tool.

Only in certain circumstances—when there are very specific indications for the examination—will the doctor advise having an ultrasound at this point rather than waiting for the first screening prenatal examination, which typically occurs between weeks 10 and 11 and 13 of pregnancy, inclusive.

If a woman has any doubts, concerns, or questions during her gynecologist registration, she will need to schedule an ultrasound diagnostic immediately. An ultrasound is therefore now recommended:

  • to confirm the fact of pregnancy;
  • to establish the fact of an ectopic, frozen pregnancy;
  • to confirm or refute multiple pregnancies;
  • to examine the pelvic organs for signs of a threat of spontaneous abortion;
  • to clarify the gestational age;
  • to exclude pregnancy complications in case of habitual miscarriage;
  • to obtain information about the characteristics of a pregnancy that occurred thanks to reproductive techniques, such as IVF.

At this point, an intravaginal sensor is typically used for ultrasound because the fetus is still too small to be seen through the denser anterior abdominal wall. The process is painless and takes no longer than fifteen minutes.

A somnologist will undoubtedly evaluate the fetus’s viability this week, ascertain the number of fetuses, and compare the fetal egg’s size to the average for this time of year. Thus far, only two parameters have been used for this. One of them is the distance measured between the fetal membrane’s inner walls. It’s known as the fetal egg’s average internal diameter:

At seven weeks of pregnancy, the fetal egg’s average internal diameter was:

The fetal egg’s diameter (DFE, mm)

What is the gestational age corresponding to?

One day plus six weeks

Plus two days to six weeks

Three days plus six weeks

Plus four days to six weeks

Five days plus six weeks

Six Weeks Plus Six Days

The fetal egg’s outline is one of the most significant indicators. If they are correctly shaped, smooth, oval, or round, then there are no concerns about the baby’s development. A deformed egg with uneven, asymmetrical edges could be a sign of an impending miscarriage or one that has already started.

The coccygeal-parietal size, which is still so small that not all ultrasound machines can record it, can be used to define the term now that the baby has learned to straighten up.

This week, the key to a successful CTE measurement is having an experienced doctor perform the examination along with expert-class and modern high-resolution devices. These are its standards.

Parietal-coccygeal size at week seven of pregnancy:

CTE, mm

What fits the term

Plus two days to six weeks

Three days plus six weeks

Plus four days to six weeks

Five days plus six weeks

Six Weeks Plus Six Days

When the doctor allows the expectant mother to hear her baby’s heartbeat, which is only four weeks old, she will be able to feel feelings that are beyond compare. The fetal heartbeat at seven obstetric weeks sounds fairly clearly. Right now, the heart rate (HR) ranges from 129 to 146 beats per minute.

The woman will not be able to witness her baby in all its beauty on the ultrasound scanner monitor just yet. She will, however, see the fertilized egg, which is home to a tiny fetus-embryo that resembles a dark patch with uneven spots inside the uterus.

The head and the beginnings of the arms are visible if an expert-class device is used.

The development of your baby is happening quickly at 7 weeks of pregnancy. Now roughly the size of a blueberry, the tiny embryo is beginning to develop into vital organs and body parts, such as the heart, brain, and limbs. There are a lot of changes occurring every day during this crucial period for growth.

Your child’s body is rapidly changing, even though you may not be able to notice any changes in yourself yet. As your body becomes accustomed to these new changes, you may begin to experience some of the early pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness or fatigue.

It’s critical that you take care of yourself and your child by eating healthfully, drinking plenty of water, and doing as your doctor directs. You and your developing child will benefit from adopting a healthy lifestyle now, as it lays the groundwork for the coming months.

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Elena Ivanova

Mother of three children, with experience in early development and education. Interested in parenting methods that help to reveal a child's potential from an early age. I support parents in their desire to create a harmonious and loving family.

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