8 weeks pregnant

Hello foetus

By the time you’re 8 weeks pregnant, your baby is roughly 1.6cm long¹. At this stage, their newly formed jawbone gives more definition to their tiny mouth, and the tip of their nose is now visible, featuring two distinct nostrils².

Internally, cartilage is being replaced by bone cells and joints², and their legs are growing longer, although it’s too early to see knees and upper or lower legs yet³.

At 8 weeks, your baby is medically called a foetus, which is Latin for young one or offspring. Incredibly, they are already starting to make small, jerky movements as their muscles begin to function. It will be several weeks before these are strong enough for you to notice².

Feeling queasy?

Morning sickness affects two out of three pregnant women during early pregnancy. Although nausea may be more noticeable in the morning it can occur at any time, day or night. It’s usually at its worst around week 8 and for another few weeks, but by 12 to 14 weeks most mums are relieved to feel the symptoms fade completely.

Some mums-to-be experience morning sickness beyond the first trimester, and queasiness may come and go throughout pregnancy. It’s worth remembering that nausea is usually a sign of a healthy pregnancy.

Try these age-old suggestions to ease your morning sickness symptoms⁴:

• Get a good night’s sleep and plenty of rest during the day.
• Eat a dry cracker, toast or plain biscuit before getting out of bed.
• Eat little and often to keep something in your stomach.
• Drink plenty of fluids. If drinking is proving difficult, ice lollies, home made fruit juice ice cubes or simply sips of whatever you can stomach will keep you hydrated.
• Include ginger in your diet, either as a freshly infused tea or non-alcoholic ginger beer.
• Motion sickness bands can be effective. They are worn on the wrist and positioned to press on an acupuncture point.

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

Zinc: Supporting new life

Zinc supports the body on a cellular level. It plays a role in constructing, dividing and protecting cells, as well as normal immune function and vision. It also contributes to normal cognitive development, reproduction, fertility and bone health⁵. A healthy, balanced diet is likely to provide all the zinc you need⁶.

The Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) of zinc for women of childbearing age is 7mg per day⁷. Zinc deficiency is rare and eating a well-balanced pregnancy diet will reduce any associated risks.

Last reviewed: 7th July 2016