8 weeks pregnant: symptoms and your baby’s development

You’re 8 weeks into your pregnancy (also called 8 weeks of gestation) and there’s lots happening both inside your body and out! Your baby’s arms and legs are developing fast, and your first midwife appointment is right around the corner (if you haven’t already had it).

Let’s take a closer look at what to expect and answer some of the most frequently asked questions at 8 weeks pregnant.

Reviewed by Sammy, a registered midwife with a background in neonatal nursing, dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence based care to women and families throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.

At 8 weeks pregnant your baby is now around 1.6 cm long – about the size of a raspberry. Their arms and legs are getting longer, but the top half of their body is developing faster than the bottom so their knees, ankles and toes haven’t appeared yet¹.

Your baby is no longer considered an embryo, but an 8-week foetus, which is Latin for ‘offspring’¹. They’re still getting the nutrients they need from the yolk sac while the placenta develops and begins to attach to the wall of your womb².

While most mums-to-be won’t have their first ultrasound scan until they’re between 10 and 14 weeks pregnant, some do have an 8-week scan^3,4.

This is usually if they’re receiving private antenatal treatment or if there’s a reason to check their baby’s development early (like if they’ve had complications in a previous pregnancy)⁵.

If you do have an 8-week ultrasound (or 8-week sonogram), it will usually be done with a probe gently inserted into your vagina. This is the best way to get a look at your baby’s heartbeat so early on in your pregnancy and is completely safe for you and your baby⁴.

You might be getting to know and love these first trimester pregnancy symptoms already! Here are some of the most common ones to look out for.

Larger and more tender breasts are a common sign of pregnancy, along with darker nipples and more visible veins⁶. Why not treat yourself to a nice supportive bra to help with any soreness?

Even though your baby bump probably won’t be visible, your body is working hard behind the scenes to support your growing baby. No wonder many expectant mums feel exhausted in their first trimester!⁷

Try to rest with your feet up as much as you can and rest assured that most mums say that they get their energy back in the second trimester.

You’ve probably heard of morning sickness before, but did you know it can strike at any time of day, not just in the morning⁸?

If you are struggling with feeling or being sick at 8 weeks pregnant, try keeping a diary of which tastes and smells trigger your symptoms and steering clear for the time being.

Bloating in pregnancy is all too common thanks to the hormone progesterone, which can also make you feel constipated at this early stage⁹.

You can try to beat the bloating and get things moving again by staying active, drinking lots of water, and getting plenty of fibre in your diet with foods like fruit, veg and wholegrains⁹.

You might notice some cramps a bit like period cramps very early on in your pregnancy, as well as very light bleeding (or ‘spotting’)^{10, 11.}

While some bleeding and cramping is common early in your first trimester, you should get in touch with your maternity unit if you notice heavy bleeding or bad stomach pain¹¹.

You’ll probably get used to frequent trips to the loo during pregnancy. At 8 weeks pregnant, peeing more often is usually because of hormonal changes, but later on it could be caused by your baby pressing on your bladder⁹.

You might notice that you’re more sensitive to certain smells at 8 weeks pregnant, especially if you’re experiencing morning sickness. Your sense of taste might change too – an early sign of those famous pregnancy cravings⁶.

It’s completely normal for your emotions to feel all over the place during pregnancy, especially in the early stages. You’re adjusting to your big news, thinking about life after your baby’s born, and maybe even wondering if you’re ready¹².

You’re also potentially dealing with other pregnancy symptoms, like tiredness and morning sickness, that can affect your mood too. 

Try to go easy on yourself and take it one day at a time. Speak to the people around you, including your GP and midwife, about how you’re feeling and ask for help if you need it.

You might be enjoying thicker, shinier hair at 8 weeks pregnant – one of the more pleasant side effects of early pregnancy!¹

It’s normal to experience headaches at 8 weeks pregnant, and they usually get better with time. It’s usually safe to take paracetamol during pregnancy if you need help managing your headaches, but it’s best to speak to your GP or midwife if you’re not sure¹³.

It’s normal to have more vaginal discharge than usual during pregnancy to help protect your baby from any infections. It should be clear or milky white with no strong smell.

At your first midwife appointment, a sample of your urine will be taken and tested for any infections. So, if you have any concerns about your vaginal discharge, or notice that your discharge smells unpleasant or looks greenish-yellow, this is a good time to speak to your midwife¹⁴.

Here’s what’s coming next in your pregnancy journey, and some things to think about at 8 weeks pregnant. 

Your first midwife appointment (also called the booking appointment) will usually happen when you’re 8-12 weeks pregnant. It’s a chance for your midwife to run some tests to check that you and your baby are healthy, and to talk to you about what to expect on your pregnancy journey15.

If you don’t have a date for your first midwife appointment yet, speak to your GP or local maternity unit.

Ask your GP or midwife about booking onto local antenatal classes. They’re a great way to prepare for your baby’s birth and life with a newborn, plus you’ll get to meet other people in the same boat as you¹⁶. 

Antenatal classes usually start 8-10 weeks before your due date¹⁶, but there’s no harm in booking your place early!

Staying active early in pregnancy can help your body support the extra pounds you’ll soon be carrying and help you prepare for labour. But don’t try to go from 0 to 100 if you didn’t exercise much before pregnancy – even 30 minutes of walking per day can be enough¹⁷.

Despite the popular saying, you actually don’t need to ‘eat for two’ when you’re pregnant. The most important thing is to get a nice, balanced diet with lots of different foods and plenty of fruit and veg. 

Get all the information you need about your pregnancy diet, plus inspiration and recipes here.

Yes, at 8 weeks pregnant you’re 2 months into your pregnancy, and you have one more month until you move into your second trimester.

It’s very unlikely that you’ll feel any movements at 8 weeks pregnant. Most expectant mums feel those first exciting flutters between 16 and 24 weeks pregnant, so you have a little while to go yet¹⁸.

There’s no right way to feel during your pregnancy – everyone is unique. You might be feeling the effects of common 8 weeks pregnant symptoms, or you might not really notice any symptoms at all. If you’re worried at all, you can always speak to your midwife.