Week 8: Baby on the Move
Your baby is starting to make spontaneous movements, though you won't feel them yet. Fingers are starting to separate, and the upper lip and nose have formed.
Medically reviewed by Samantha L. Fox, RN, BSN, MSN
Nursing Informaticist · United States Navy Nurse Corps · Last reviewed
Your baby is the size of a...
🍇 Raspberry!
👶 Baby Development
- ✓Baby starts making spontaneous movements
- ✓Fingers and toes are separating
- ✓Eyelids are forming and nearly cover the eyes
- ✓Nerve cells in the brain are branching out and connecting
- ✓Breathing tubes extend from throat to lungs
- ✓Taste buds are forming
💊 Common Symptoms
- •Morning sickness may peak around this time
- •Heightened sense of smell
- •Difficulty sleeping
- •Vivid dreams
- •Mild cramping as uterus expands
- •Increased vaginal discharge
🩺Clinical Context — From a Nurse's View
Week 8 is the typical first prenatal visit week. Expect bloodwork (CBC, blood type and antibody screen, rubella titer, syphilis, hepatitis B, HIV, sometimes hemoglobinopathy screening), a urine sample, possibly a Pap if you're due, and a discussion of first-trimester genetic screening options — NIPT (cell-free DNA), nuchal translucency, or both. NIPT is now offered to anyone who wants it (ACOG 2020), not just those at higher risk. If your blood type is Rh-negative, your provider will plan for RhoGAM at 28 weeks (or sooner if you bleed). The embryo is roughly the size of a raspberry and the heart rate is now 150-170 BPM — surprisingly fast compared to an adult. Nausea may peak in the next 1-2 weeks before it begins easing for most people. Spotting after a transvaginal ultrasound or vaginal exam is common and not a warning. What earns a call: bleeding heavier than a period, or any one-sided pelvic pain that doesn't resolve with rest.
Written by Samantha L. Fox, RN, BSN, MSN — Emergency Department nurse, US Navy Nurse Corps officer.
🚨 When to Call (or Go to the ER)
- !Bleeding heavier than a normal period — call same day; ER if soaking pads
- !One-sided pelvic pain that doesn't resolve in 1-2 hours — ER
- !Severe persistent vomiting with weight loss — call
- !Fever above 100.4°F — call
- !Severe headache with visual changes — call (early but worth flagging)
✅ Normal — Even If It Feels Worrying
- ✓Vivid dreams from progesterone-driven sleep changes
- ✓Mild cramping as the uterus stretches
- ✓Skin breakouts and oily hair
- ✓Increased clear or white discharge (leukorrhea)
✅ To-Do This Week
- Attend your first prenatal appointment if not done yet
- Get bloodwork done (blood type, CBC, STI screening)
- Start documenting your pregnancy with photos
- Prepare for possible morning sickness remedies
- Consider maternity clothing — your body is changing
- Rest when you can — fatigue is real and valid
🩺 Questions for Your Doctor
- ?What do my blood test results mean?
- ?Is the baby's heartbeat within normal range?
- ?Should I get the NIPT or nuchal translucency screening?
- ?When is my official due date based on the ultrasound?
- ?Is it safe to travel during pregnancy?
- ?How do I manage vivid dreams and insomnia?
📚 References
- [1]ACOG Committee Opinion No. 762: Prepregnancy Counseling. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;133(1):e78-e89.
- [2]ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 193: Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2018;131(3):e91-e103.
Editorial review: Samantha L. Fox, RN, BSN, MSN. Last reviewed: see footer.
Your baby is the size of a...