Week 8 of Pregnancy

First trimester weeks

Congrats! During the first trimester, you’re getting used to the idea of being pregnant.

Second trimester weeks

As you enter this second trimester, your body will settle down to pregnancy.

Third trimester weeks

You've reached the third and final trimester and will be heavily pregnant by now.

Week 8 of Pregnancy

Your mood may swing from high to low as hormones and emotions take hold.

You're probably beginning to feel different, even though you don't look pregnant. You may feel a bit low and irritable at times, this is largely due to the changing levels of hormones in your body. You may sometimes have mixed feelings about being pregnant, however much you long for a baby. If the idea of going on vacation appeals to you, opt for short trips and a safe climate, and take extra care of yourself.

7 Weeks, 6 Days

225 days to go...

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Your baby today

The yolk sac can be seen floating like a balloon in the amniotic cavity on its fine stalk. As the embryo has drawn nutrition from the yolk sac it has gradually reduced in both size and importance. Meanwhile the placenta (on the right) is becoming established.

If you're planning a vacation, take into account that you may not feel up to a long trip.

You may have planned a vacation before you found out you were pregnant, or just feel like getting away. If you're feeling tired and have morning sickness, however, you may not feel up to traveling too far.

One advantage of going away is being able to spend quality time with your partner and fully embrace the fact that you're going to be parents. When going on vacation, check with travel insurance companies to see if you can get coverage during pregnancy and check the medical facilities at your destination. If you have prenatal records, take them with you. Some airlines may not accept pregnant women on flights after 36 weeks without a doctor's lettter written within 72 hours of the flight confirming your due date and your fitness to fly.

Relax and take the opportunity for a snooze on the plane trip, but make sure you get up regularly to stretch your legs. It's even more important to keep the blood circulating when you're pregnant.

Breathe easy

Exercise can help keep breathlessness at bay, and increase the efficiency of your heart and lungs (cardiovascular system), helping you to deal with the physical demands of pregnancy now and in later months.

A cardiovascular workout involves increasing your heart rate for at least 20-30 minutes. However, pregnancy is not a time to start training for a marathon; stick to moderate-intensity workouts. A way to test if you are exercising at the right level is to talk while you are working out (see You are 13 Weeks and 1 Day)-if you can't, lower the intensity.

Try doing interval training, which involves alternating five minutes of cardiovascular workouts with five minutes of toning for the upper body . Breathe out as you lift the weights, and in as you relax.

Breathing deeply allows oxygen to travel to your vital organs and helps the cardiovascular system to function effectively. During pregnancy, it's important to avoid taking short, shallow breaths and to focus on expanding your rib cage and filling your lungs with air.