8 weeks pregnant: pregnancy symptoms and your baby’s development  

During pregnancy, nausea and vomiting - also known as morning sickness - are something lots of women experience. Despite the name, it can happen at any time of the day or night.

Most women find that any nausea and vomiting eases anywhere between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, although for some women it will go on for longer⁸.

While it can be unpleasant, morning sickness is unlikely to harm your growing baby. In fact, nausea is usually a sign of a healthy pregnancy (9). Try some of these suggestions to ease your symptoms⁸:

• Get plenty of rest. 
• Eat a dry cracker, toast or plain biscuit before getting out of bed. 
• Eat little and often.
• Drink plenty of fluids. 
• If drinking is proving difficult, ice lollies, ice cubes, or simply sips of whatever you can stomach will keep you hydrated. 
• Try including ginger in your diet as a freshly infused tea or non-alcoholic ginger beer. 
• Try motion sickness bands. They are worn on the wrist and positioned to press on an acupuncture point. Some women find acupuncture helpful. 
• If you’re taking anti-sickness medication, take the first dose 30 minutes before you get out of bed in the morning.

Bear in mind that your body may respond differently on different days. Keep experimenting with the suggestions above, and if you’re concerned that you’re not eating or drinking enough because of your nausea, let your midwife or GP know. 

At 8 weeks pregnant, the pregnancy hormone progesterone is busy relaxing your womb and digestive system muscles. This can lead to you becoming bloated or feeling bloated¹⁰.

If this is something you’re experiencing, here are a few tips to help you beat the bloat¹⁰:

• Eat smaller meals more frequently, and eat your food slowly. 
• Avoid eating late at night. 
• Sip water and other fluids. 
• Take a stroll after eating - a great excuse to enjoy some fresh air. 

Light spotting and bleeding are common symptoms of early pregnancy. In most cases, this is completely harmless and is the result of the embryo implanting itself into the lining of your womb. This is known as implantation bleeding⁶.

In addition, as your body changes during pregnancy, and the ligaments and muscles stretch, you may experience some mild cramping. This could also be the result of trapped wind or constipation¹¹.

If, at any stage of your pregnancy, you experience any bleeding or severe and unmanageable pain that’s accompanied by bleeding, you should always seek medical advice, just to be on the safe side.

As your pregnancy progresses, your uterus gets bigger to accommodate your growing baby. This can put pressure on your bladder, causing frequent trips to the bathroom for a wee.

Whilst reducing the amount of fluid you drink might be tempting, it’s important to drink plenty to ensure that you stay hydrated.

Have you all of a sudden become sensitive to smells, for example, cooking or certain foods? At 8 weeks pregnant, you might notice changes to your sense of smell⁶, although there’s no conclusive evidence of what might cause this¹².

Pregnancy can sometimes feel like an emotional rollercoaster, accompanied by mood swings and feelings that are very up and down.

If this is something you’re experiencing, you’re not alone. There are a lot of hormonal changes going on during pregnancy, and the hormones progesterone and oestrogen may well be responsible for any mood swings you’re having¹³.

Aim to eat a healthy and balanced diet, and try light exercise if you feel up to it. You can learn more about the benefits of exercise in pregnancy here. Don’t hesitate to discuss your feelings with friends and family if you feel able to, and if you have any concerns about how you’re feeling, seek advice from your doctor or midwife.

One of the more enjoyable ‘symptoms’ of pregnancy you can look forward to is thicker, shinier hair. Due to hormonal changes, more of your hair stays in the anagen phase for longer - the phase where the cells in the root of your hair divide and more new hair is produced¹⁴.

Headaches are extremely common during pregnancy. They can be unsettling to deal with, but the good news is that they’re not usually harmful to your baby and tend to subside as your pregnancy progresses¹⁵.

Although in most cases headaches are nothing to be concerned about, sometimes they can be a sign of preeclampsia. Always seek medical advice if¹⁵:

• Your headaches become more severe.
• You’re vomiting.
• There are problems with your vision, for example seeing flashing lights. And or visual disturbances
• You notice swelling in your hands, feet, ankles or face. 

If you’re experiencing more discharge than usual at 8 weeks pregnant, rest assured this is a common symptom not just in early pregnancy but right up until your due date too¹⁶. It’s likely due to increased blood flow and hormonal changes, and it’s function is to help prevent any infections from travelling to your uterus¹⁶.

Milky white vaginal discharge, or discharge that’s clear or thin and doesn’t smell is perfectly healthy. But speak with your healthcare professional if you have discharge that’s unusual for you, or that’s¹⁶:

• Green or yellow.
• Unpleasant in smell.
• Accompanied by itching and soreness around your vagina, or pain when you go for a wee.