By week 7 your baby has doubled in size in a week, and the brain is growing faster than anything else.
Your baby this week
- Brain
- Growing so quickly that the head is large compared with the rest of the body.
- Arms
- The limb buds are lengthening into tiny paddles that will become hands.
- Cord
- The umbilical cord has formed, linking your baby to the developing placenta.
What you might notice
- Food aversions and cravings, sometimes for foods you never liked.
- Extra saliva, a less known but common early symptom.
- Constipation, as pregnancy hormones slow your gut. Water and fibre help.
- Feeling emotional, which is very normal and not a sign anything is wrong.
Call your midwife, doctor or early pregnancy unit today if
- You have bleeding, or cramping pain low in your belly
- You have sharp pain on one side, pain in the tip of your shoulder, or you feel faint
- You're being sick so often you can't keep fluids down
- You have a fever, or it burns or stings when you pee
If the pain is severe or you feel faint, call emergency services.
Coming up
Your first full appointment is often around here.
Note down questions as they come up so they're ready when you see someone.
Questions to bring to your next appointment
- Which foods and drinks should I avoid, and which are fine?
- Is it okay to keep exercising the way I usually do?
- What's the plan for my care, and who will I see?
For your partner
If you're going to the first appointment together, put it in your calendar now. Being there is one of the most useful things you can do.
NUGA follows you week by week
Enter your due date once and NUGA knows you're at week 7. The day before each appointment, it gathers what you've noted and the questions to bring.
Download on theApp StoreAvailable nowSources
This page draws on public guidance from:
General information, not medical advice. Every pregnancy is different, and your midwife or doctor knows yours. Last updated October 2026.