Week 7 of pregnancy: Rapid Growth

The embryo's brain is growing faster than any other part, and the first outlines of hands, feet and eyes are forming. For you, nausea and tiredness may be at their most draining, and some people also notice a lot of extra saliva. This is a good week to review how food is bought, stored and cooked at home, because a few infections spread through food are more serious in pregnancy. Most everyday Indian meals are fine; the changes needed are small and specific.

The 1.3 cm shown here sits just above the usual range: embryos at 7 weeks typically measure about 7 to 12 mm from crown to rump. They grow so quickly now that a few days' difference in dates changes the figure noticeably. The blueberry is a loose comparison, not a target your embryo should match.

Every pregnancy is different - you may have some, all or none of these.

Nausea and vomiting

Often nearing its peak. Keep up small, frequent snacks and sips of fluid. If fluids will not stay down for about 24 hours, contact your doctor the same day.

Extra saliva

Some people notice a lot more saliva, often alongside nausea. It is not harmful. Sipping water and rinsing or spitting as needed can make it easier to live with. Keep a small tissue pack or cup with you when you go out.

Bloating

Linked to progesterone. Smaller meals, eating slowly and a gentle walk after food may help.

Tiredness

Still very common. Indian dietary guidelines suggest regular daytime rest in pregnancy, so lie down for a while when you can.

Heightened smell

Kitchen smells may still bother you. Cold meals, good ventilation and sharing the cooking can help, and many people find this eases later in the first trimester.

• Thalassaemia and sickle cell screening

  Varies by provider

  Ideally before 8 to 10 weeks

  These inherited blood conditions are screened for with a blood test. An Indian expert guideline recommends thalassaemia screening at the first visit, ideally before 8 weeks, with your partner tested at the same time. In the UK the screen is usually done before 10 weeks. Early results leave time to discuss further tests if both parents carry the trait.

• Early scan if not yet done

  Commonly offered

  6 to 9 weeks in many Indian clinics

  If your doctor recommends one and you have not had it, a scan now should show the embryo and its cardiac activity, and help confirm your dates.

• Td vaccine

  Routine

  At registration, early in pregnancy

  India's national schedule gives two doses of Td (tetanus and diphtheria) vaccine in pregnancy, the first early on and the second four weeks later, or a single booster if you had two doses in a pregnancy within the last three years.

The food safety advice on this page draws on Indian (ICMR-NIN) and UK (NHS) guidance. Your doctor may tailor it to your own health.

• 🌿Milk and paneer: boil loose milk or use pasteurised packaged milk. Paneer made from pasteurised or boiled milk is safe; be wary of paneer of unknown origin, especially uncooked, and cook it until steaming hot if unsure. Avoid mould-ripened and blue soft cheeses unless cooked until steaming.
• 🌿Eggs and meat: eat eggs only when white and yolk are firm, so no runny half-fry, homemade mayonnaise or raw-egg desserts. Cook chicken and meat until no pink or blood remains, reheat cold cured meats until steaming, and avoid liver, which is very high in vitamin A.
• 🌿Fish: avoid shark, swordfish and marlin because of mercury, limit tuna, and skip raw fish. Sardine (mathi), mackerel (bangda), rohu and katla are good choices, with up to two portions of oily fish a week.
• 🌿Papaya: avoid unripe or semi-ripe papaya, including kacchi papaya sabzi and salads, and papaya seeds, latex or leaf extracts.
• 🌿Street food and produce: choose freshly cooked, piping-hot dishes over pre-cut fruit, uncooked chutneys, raw salads and pani-puri water of unknown hygiene. Wash all produce, steam sprouts, and drink boiled or filtered water.

• •Keep moving gently if you can. A short walk after a meal may ease bloating for some people.
• •Prenatal yoga is fine at this stage. Avoid lying on your belly, deep twists, inversions and hot rooms.
• •Listen to your energy. On days when nausea is bad, a few minutes of stretching still counts, and rest is not a failure.
• •If you play a contact sport, now is the time to switch to something with less risk of falls or blows.

• •Listeria, a bacterium found in some chilled and unpasteurised foods, is more likely to cause infection in pregnancy and can lead to miscarriage or serious illness in a newborn. Heating food until steaming hot kills it.
• •Reheat leftovers until they are steaming hot all the way through.
• •Herbal teas: keep to about four cups a day at most, and avoid liquorice-root tea.
• •Indian dietary guidelines say there is no need to avoid foods because of traditional taboos. If relatives suggest cutting out a healthy food, check with your doctor.
• •Wear gloves for gardening and wash your hands after handling soil or raw meat.

• ?Is the milk and paneer we buy at home safe as it is?
• ?Which fish are safe for me, and how often?
• ?Do I need a thalassaemia test, and should my partner be tested?
• ?When is my Td vaccine due?

• Boil loose milk or switch to pasteurised packs
• Swap runny eggs for fully cooked ones
• Take raw papaya dishes off the menu
• Wash produce and steam sprouts
• Ask about thalassaemia screening