Pregnancy week 7
8 Jan. 2026
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Your little embryo is going through major changes this week—the heart begins to beat, and the first buds of arms and legs start to form. An exciting milestone in pregnancy!
This week, what will eventually become arms begin to form, and by the end of the week, the legs start to form as well. A little fun fact is that the arms will always be one step ahead of the legs in their development. Fingers and toes are also starting to develop at this point!
Now the embryo begins to resemble a curved caterpillar in shape. The legs are bent and not yet visible, and therefore the length is instead measured between the head and tail in this position. Midwives refer to this measurement as CRL (Crown-Rump-Length) during an ultrasound. The tiny embryo has more than doubled its length this week compared to last week and is now about 7 millimeters from head to tail.
At birth, the umbilical cord is approximately 40-50 cm long. One end of the umbilical cord is attached to the placenta and the other to the baby’s navel, and is still very short. During pregnancy, it will become long, thick and elastic.
It might feel like the umbilical cord is very fragile. However, the truth is that it is sturdy enough to withstand all the movements of the foetus throughout the pregnancy. The umbilical cord is surrounded by a layer of protective jelly and has several small blood vessels in it that transport nutrient and oxygen-rich blood to the foetus. The blood vessels then help transport the deoxygenated blood away via the umbilical cord.
It may be tough but you can be calm – it’s part of the journey and symptoms that hopefully won’t last too long, amd usually disappear as the second trimester comes (it’s different for everyone though!).
In the seventh week of pregnancy, the vast majority of women know that they are pregnant, when the period should be about 1-2 weeks late depending on the length of the menstrual cycle. Many feel pregnancy symptoms, but not all. The uterus grows and presses against the bladder, which means that you may feel the need to urinate often.
The body undergoes a major change during pregnancy and many women notice a sensitivity to certain smells or tastes. If you are more tired than usual and have an increased need for sleep, it can feel good to know that this is completely normal.
Have you booked your first appointment with the midwife yet? If not, now is the time to do so! During the first meeting with your midwife, you will receive important information for the rest of the pregnancy including; scans, diagnostic tests and screening.
When you go for your first visit, you will, among other things, be offered booking bloods and a urine sample to check things such as; Full blood count, Blood Group, Sickle Cell and Thalaseamia, HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis and review your protection against rubella. The midwife will also measure your blood pressure. Then you will have a conversation and you will get to answer questions about your health and relationship to alcohol, tobacco, nicotine and drugs.
All these factors are ones that can affect your and the expected baby’s health and development. Therefore, some visits to the midwife are dedicated to talking about this and your physical and mental health. If you have an addiction; calls and support are available through referls or helplines that focus on alcohol consumption or smoking, and to support and help to live healthily both during and after pregnancy.
Remember that the healthcare journey for pregnancies differs from trusts to trust, talk to your midwife about what it looks like where you live.
Screening involves finding out information about your baby using ultrasound and chromosome tests. In the first trimester, most likely at the booking appointment, you will be offered screening and the options on offer. You may also have different options recommended to you based on heredity issues or previous pregnancies.
The most common chromosomal test offered in the UK is called the NT, which shows the probability of the foetus having a chromosomal abnormality. Keep in mind that this is voluntary and that the test results are estimates and not definitive answers. Before you decide to take a test, regardless of whether it is the NT or another chromosome test, it may be good to think about why you want to take the test. Also consider how the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities would affect you and what you would do with that information.
A NIPT test, which stands for Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing, may also be offered, depending on the results from the NT. In a NIPT test, three pairs of chromosomes are analysed, though with a higher degree of certainty than the NT, alongside an ultrasound and a blood sample from the pregnant woman. You can also pay for this test yourself if you want if it has not been offered to you.
Depending on the results of the NT or NIPT, a sample from the placenta or amniotic fluid can also be taken, which can provide a definitive answer regarding you baby’s chromosomes if needed. This is done at a hospital.
Screening differs between regions. You may be able to watch informational videos about early screening and tips regarding the different options and decisions available on your health care service’s website.
If you go into your pregnancy with a high BMI, a risk of gestational diabetes, eating disorders or similar, you will get help from your midwife. You are entitled to get the support you need during your pregnancy journey, so don’t be afraid to ask for it!it!
If you have just received the news, we suggest that you read through weeks 5 and 6 to start with!
Sometime between now and week 10, it may be time for your first visit with the midwife if you haven’t already had one. Before this visit, it may be good to read up on screening, but also to talk together about how you approach the NT, NIPT and possibly additional tests such as amniocentesis. How would you act if the result shows a chromosomal error?
When you meet the midwife, you can take the opportunity to ask any questions about the pregnancy or life as an expectant parent. The midwife is there to support you both! Much of the attention will be on the pregnant woman, which can make you as a partner feel a little left out. Everything that concerns you as people and your relationship is important to bring up, it is you together who will become parents. There is support and guidance to be had!
It is important to share how you feel during pregnancy. Maybe this is something you’ve wanted for a long time, or maybe it has come as a shock. The life ahead can also feel uncertain and perhaps scary. Regardless of how you feel, no emotion is right or wrong. Talk to your partner, friends, family or your midwife at the antenatal clinic when it’s time for your first appointment if you need to vent your thoughts and feelings. The more you talk to others, the more prepared and confident you will probably be in your future role!
If you smoke, take drugs, had/have a risky behavior or abuse alcohol, you can see your prospective parenthood as motivation to quit. You can turn to your health centre or various helplines to get help if you feel you need it.
If you need support, you can always start by talking to your midwife. You can also contact your midwifery clinic if you haven’t had your first enrollment call yet, as well as the alcohol line, alcohol help or stop smoking line.
