My 8 Week Pregnant Belly Picture
Here is my 8-week pregnancy bump update!
Overall, this was a good week for me compared to last week, in which I suffered from a lot of morning sickness.
The good news is, these early pregnancy symptoms should start to improve in the second trimester.
Now let’s go over how my week went and what to expect…
Starting Weight: 123lbs
Total Weight Gain: 0lbs
Energy Level: Normal
Symptoms: Full, heavy, tender breasts!
Other Physical Changes: I notice that I get out of breath more easily with regular physical activity.
Diet: I am still eating all the same things that I was eating pre-pregnancy. Thankfully, I haven’t had any real cravings. To combat my morning sickness, I find that drinking cold water with lemon helps kickstart my day and prevent nausea!
Diet Modifications: I am trying to increase my water intake, although plain water by itself is not appealing to me :(. I bought this 64oz water bottle which tells you how much water you should be consuming throughout the day, which I find super encouraging! I am also trying to remember to take my prenatal vitamin 2x a day, vitamin B12, and vitamin D. I don’t usually take medications or vitamins, so this is quite difficult for me to remember.
Food Aversions: Plain water
Food Cravings: Pizza, but not sure if this is a craving as I’ve always loved pizza 🙂
Workouts: This week, I had no 24 hr calls!!! I was able to do one 25 minute workout 6 days this week. To be honest this is the first time during pregnancy I was able to workout this much.
Modifications to my workout: No modifications as of yet! Still using barbells to do my training and feeling good! I am still training my abdominal muscles and also my pelvic floor!
My week consisted of two upper-body focused days, two lower-body focused days, and one accessory day!
Other Related Questions
Can I have a baby bump at 8 weeks?
Most pregnant women won’t have a visible baby bump until about 12 weeks, but some may show earlier. It all depends on your anatomy, the location and position of your uterus, and your current body fat levels.
Of note, a second or third pregnancy may show earlier than a first pregnancy.
I suggest you take a photo of yourself every week and compare them to see the changes in your belly in this early stage!
Should my belly be hard at 8 weeks pregnant?
At 8 weeks of pregnancy, your uterus is still very low, and it’s unlikely that you would feel it.
As you get closer to the second trimester, your uterus will enlarge and become much more palpable.
What should I be feeling at 8 weeks pregnant?
At 8 weeks pregnant, you might experience:
- breast changes such as soreness & tenderness,
- morning sickness (nausea),
- fatigue,
- increased sense of smell, frequent urination,
- mood swings,
- bloating,
- headaches,
- increased vaginal discharge
These early pregnancy symptoms tend to improve in the second trimester.
Is it normal to have cramp symptoms at 8 weeks?
Cramps are pretty common in early pregnancy. Most women will feel light cramps, and they usually come and go at random.
The best way to minimize cramping is to stay well hydrated and drink lots of water. Aim to drink at least 48 ounces of water every day.
8 weeks pregnant ultrasound: what should I expect?
At 8 weeks, your baby’s limb buds have started to develop. So you might be able to see arms, legs, hands, and feet for the first time on an ultrasound scan!
Other things you should expect to see that were present earlier include:
- The gestational sac (which is what contains the baby and the amniotic fluid).
- A yolk sac (which is a structure that provides the baby with nutrients).
- Your baby’s heartbeat.
How big is my baby at 8 weeks?
At 8 weeks, your baby is about 0.5 – 1 inch long and weighs 0.04 ounces or about 1 gram. This is roughly the size of a raspberry.
How many months is 8 weeks pregnant?
8 weeks corresponds to month 2, but believe it or not, you don’t start counting from when you conceive. You actually start counting from the time of your last menstrual period.
In other words, the day that you started bleeding corresponds to the first week of gestation.
This is kind of confusing – but we start counting from when the egg started developing in your ovary, not from when you ovulate.
An important thing to note is that we don’t count months of pregnancy. We calculate your gestational age in terms of weeks and days.
When do I need to visit my doctor?
Your healthcare provider will see you for your first prenatal visit at around 8 to 11 weeks. They may perform a pregnancy ultrasound to determine your due date if you haven’t had one done yet.
This appointment will also include:
- vital signs (screening you for high blood pressure)
- physical exam
- several blood tests to look at your blood type, CBC, vaccination status, and screen for sexually transmitted infections.
Anything else I should know?
The first trimester of pregnancy is a good time to develop good habits!
Do your best to follow a healthy diet and stick to the healthy weight gain recommendations from ACOG, especially in the early weeks.
Wishing you a healthy pregnancy!
Now I want to hear from you.
Are you 8 weeks pregnant?
How did your week go?
Comment below and let me know, and check back next week for my week 9 update!
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Brittany Robles, MD, MPH, CPT
Brittany Robles is a full-time OBGYN physician, a NASM certified trainer, and a prenatal and postnatal fitness specialist. She holds a Master of Public Health degree in maternal health with a special interest in exercise and nutrition. She is also the co-author of The White Coat Trainer. Learn more about her here.
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