Good morning! Welcome to Week 7 of the Pregnancy Series… If you want to read any of the previous weeks, scroll to the bottom and feel free to browse.

Not a whole lot is changing as far as you are concerned. Your baby, however, is making huge strides. Your bean sprout is starting to look vaguely like a see monkey. You may be getting an ultra sound right around now. No, you won’t know the gender, but you will see your wee one, and think it is adorable. And if you are like me, you will post your ultrasound picture on facebook, and everyone will oohh and aww… but no one, including yourself, will actually know what you are looking at. That is okay. The next one will be better.

You are not showing yet. That bump is probably from being bloated. Some women actually lose weight during these weeks. This is perfectly normal. You are still experiencing the first trimester sickness, sleepiness, and all that fun stuff. For most women, you only have a few more weeks to go and then it will get better.

The one change you may be noticing is your skin. For the majority of women, pregnancy clears up your face due to all the hormones, and you may look better than ever. Even if you are not glowing yet (because you look a little green with nausea), your acne, if you have any, is slowly disappearing. I did have this kind of luck, and for me, pregnancy actually made my remotely okay face totally break out. But I assure you, I am in the minority. For some, this never reverts back, and you get nice skin courtesy of your little one.

Speaking of your skin, this is a perfect time to start using Cocoa butter on your belly and breasts. Even though you are not showing yet, and hardly growing, it is never too early. I used the stuff on my belly every morning and every night and now I have no stretch marks after two kids. Remember, stretch marks are not visible so much during the pregnancy. It is not until after you give birth that they become noticeable. So just because you don’t see them, don’t stop lotioning up. These are not things you want sneaking up on you.

If you haven’t started already, you will start having cravings around this time. Indulging a little here and there is not bad, even if a lot of it is junk food. Just don’t over do it, and you won’t have to worry about weight, or baby’s health. Most cravings are pretty harmless in themselves. Unless you are having pica cravings, don’t worry about them.

I hope you pregnancy is going well, and is as mild as possible. This wraps up our Week 7 edition. Check back next Monday for my newest pregnancy update.