You are 7 weeks and 2 days

Your baby's brain is still very simple, but it's going through some remarkable changes.

229 days until your due date

This is a really important stage. Your baby's brain is a hollow structure joined to the spinal cord, and it's now starting to fold and form five distinct areas.

The lowest part, the hindbrain, is the first to grow rapidly and will become the pons, medulla, and cerebellum. These are the most primitive parts of the brain and control many things we do without thinking, such as breathing and keeping our balance.

Above it is the midbrain, which carries signals from the hindbrain, nerves, and spinal cord to the forebrain. The forebrain is made up of the thalamus, involved in emotions and sensory perception, and the two cerebral hemispheres, which are still smooth. Each hemisphere contains a fluid-filled chamber where cerebrospinal fluid is made.

At the 11–14 week scan, checks will confirm that your baby's early brain development is normal.

Explainer

Eyes and brain

The dots that will form the eyes are now clear. At the side of the head, there's a deep cleft between the front and back of the brain, which is normal at this stage.

Ask a Doctor

I'm 8 weeks pregnant and have had some bleeding. Should I be worried?

Bleeding in early pregnancy is common. If it's light and there's no cramping or pain, it's unlikely anything is wrong, but always see your doctor about bleeding at any stage to rule out complications.

Early bleeding is sometimes caused by a cervical ectropion, where the surface of the cervix becomes "raw" because of hormonal changes. It isn't harmful to the baby, but sex can irritate it and cause bleeding.

Bleeding in late pregnancy can be more serious, because it may be caused by the placenta partly or fully detaching from the uterus wall (placental abruption) or by a low-lying placenta. Mucus tinged with blood in late pregnancy may be a "bloody show," a sign labor is near.

As a matter of fact

Fish really is brain food!

Fish may help your baby's brain.

Research found that six-month-olds whose mothers ate a lot of fish in pregnancy scored better in mental development tests. Only eat varieties low in mercury.

This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.