La 8th week of pregnancy (10 weeks) corresponds to the last embryonic phase. Organogenesis ends and the embryo becomes a fetus. It then measures 3 cm and weighs 2 to 3 g. Everything, or almost, is already present in these few centimeters. The organs of the 8 week embryo are now formed and will continue to grow.

•  the head is now upright, but it is still very large in proportion to the rest of the body, of which it is almost half the size;
• on the face, the lips and the nose are modeled, giving the embryo a distinctly human appearance. The eyeballs can be visualized on ultrasound, and the outer ears become rough. In the still tiny mouth, the 20 buds of the milk teeth are implanted and a small tongue appears;
• the brain, the outline of which represents more than a third of the entire embryo, has two hemispheres. The nervous system and the spinal cord are structured, the nerve cells multiply at the rate of a quarter of a million new neurons per minute;
• the heart now partitioned into a right heart and a left heart, as well as the entire cardiovascular system are completed. The baby’s heartbeat can be seen on Doppler or a possible ultrasound at 8 weeks (10 weeks);
• the tail (or caudal appendix) will have totally regressed at the end of this eighth week of pregnancy. 

• fingers and toes are well formed;

The sex glands begin to form when the fetus is 8 weeks old: if it is a boy, the testicular cords are formed. If it’s a girl, a sketch of the ovary emerges. However, even if it is the end of the 2nd month of pregnancy, it is impossible to identify the baby’s sex on ultrasound, because the external genitalia are insufficiently differentiated. The future parents must be patient, because it is around the 20th week of pregnancy (22 weeks) that the sex can generally be revealed by the gynecologist. 

At 10 weeks of amenorrhea (8 SG), the first voluntary movements of the limbs are observed at this stage, but they remain imperceptible for the mother-to-be.

At the end of this second month of pregnancy, the ailments of the first trimester (nausea and fatigue) are still present but they tend to dissipate and normally disappear by the end of the first trimester. Other inconveniences, however, may persist, or even appear: heartburn, constipation, heavy legs, minor discomfort.

The uterus continues its development by straightening up and moving towards the abdominal cavity, where little by little, it will compress the neighboring organs to make room for itself. At 8 weeks of pregnancy (10 weeks), this does not yet cause real difficulties, except for a few tightness in the lower abdomen due to the ligaments which are working. A slight bulge in the lower abdomen may appear, but not yet enough for the pregnancy to be really visible to external eyes.

The chest also takes more volume. A dark vertical line, the linea alba, appears in some mothers between the navel and the pubis.

The 8 week old embryo needs certain nutrients to optimize its growth. The mother-to-be can provide omega 3 at this stage of pregnancy. These fatty acids are of good quality and necessary to protect the cardiovascular system of the pregnant woman. Omega 3s can also soothe the nervous system and make it feel more relaxed. Regarding the fetus, omega 3 are essential for its development. They help the growth of eye cells and participate in the proper development of the brain. 

The body is not able to manufacture them, so you have to find omega 3 in the diet; 

• fatty and small fish preferably (mackerel, anchovies, sardines). We must limit the consumption of large fish, as they may contain traces of mercury; 

If the nausea persists beyond this second month of pregnancy, the pregnant woman should try to eat a little. Being on an empty stomach accentuates them. She can choose a food that she likes and makes her feel good or a lightly salted cookie.

Staying well hydrated is very important as well as rest, especially if the mother-to-be is prone to minor discomforts. 

• send the declaration of pregnancy (if already established by the gynecologist or midwife) before the end of the third month of pregnancy. The pink part must be sent to the health insurance fund, the two blue parts to the family allowances fund (CAF). Note that this pregnancy declaration can now be done online: using the Vitale card, the doctor or midwife completes the pregnancy declaration online and transmits it directly to the two funds;
• do monthly urinalysis for sugar and albumins.

The belly at 8 weeks pregnant is not yet visible. However, it begins to harden and take on a slight volume. So you have to be help in your clothes. To be comfortable in your clothes, it’s time to invest in some essential pieces of the pregnancy wardrobe: maternity pants or jeans, some bras adapted to the new breast size.

Small discomforts are common at this stage of pregnancy. They can be due to a drop in blood pressure, itself consecutive to the increase in blood volume, or hypoglycemia. If they are repeated, it is advisable to talk to your gynecologist or midwife who can prescribe a blood test to check the iron in particular.