First trimester · Pregnancy week by week
Week 7 of pregnancy
Baby is the size of a blueberry. About 0.40 inches.
By week 7, the embryo's brain develops 100 new neurons per minute. Black women report higher rates of dismissive prenatal-care interactions, per Bryant 2010 (PMID 20567176). Source
What's happening with the baby
The embryo is the size of a blueberry. The face is forming — eye lenses, ear canals, jaw. Hands and feet emerge as paddles. The neural tube has fully closed. The kidneys are developing.
What's happening for you
Symptoms peak for many women. Nausea may be intense. Breasts continue to grow. Constipation often starts. Some women feel emotional, weepy, or anxious from hormonal shifts.
Common (normal) symptoms this week
Severe nausea, vomiting, fatigue, breast soreness, food aversions, constipation, headaches, increased vaginal discharge, mild cramping, dizziness when standing up.
Call your OB or 911 if
- Severe abdominal or one-sided pelvic pain with bleeding — possible ectopic pregnancy.
- Heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking a pad in an hour) with cramping.
- Fainting, severe dizziness, or shoulder-tip pain — ectopic with internal bleeding is an emergency.
- Fever over 101°F with chills or pelvic pain.
- Severe vomiting that prevents keeping any fluids down for 24+ hours (hyperemesis).
Why this week matters for Black families
The first trimester is when prenatal care begins, and the documented disparity in care begins here too. Black women are less likely to receive first-trimester prenatal care (78% vs. 88% for white women per the CDC). Establishing care early — before week 12 — is associated with lower complication rates across the rest of pregnancy. If you're newly pregnant and haven't been seen, call your OB or community health center this week. Adjunctive WIC eligibility means everyone enrolled in Medicaid is automatically eligible for WIC; that's a meaningful first-trimester decision (see WIC by state).
What to do this week
Establish prenatal care if not already done. Ask about NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) — discussed at 9–13 weeks. Ask about screening for thyroid, anemia, vitamin D (deficiency is more common in Black women and affects pregnancy outcomes). Stay hydrated and rest as needed.
References
- Bryant 2010 — Disparities in obstetric care, Obstet Gynecol PMID 20567176
- ACOG Committee Opinion 731 — Genetic Screening Counseling.
Last medically reviewed: .
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