Pregnant in week 8
In week 8 your baby is the size of a raspberry – and has gone from a cluster of cells to a tiny human with a heart, a brain and small arms and legs. Nothing shows on the outside yet, but more is happening inside right now than at any other point in your pregnancy.
Your baby in week 8
Your baby measures about 1.6 cm from crown to rump and weighs around one gram. The heart has been beating since week 6+0 and now beats about 150-170 times a minute – almost twice as fast as your own.
Fingers and toes are separating from the small paddle-shaped hands and feet, and the arms and legs have grown long enough to bend at elbow and knee. Your baby already makes small spontaneous movements, but they are far too tiny for you to feel.
The face is taking shape: eyelids cover the dark eye buds, the nostrils are open, and the upper lip is closing. The embryonic tail has nearly disappeared. Inside, kidneys, liver and lungs are still being completed, and brain cells form at a rate of around 100,000 new neurons a minute.
Your body and symptoms in week 8
Your uterus is already growing, even though your belly probably still looks the same. You may, however, feel more bloated than usual. Your body is going through major hormonal changes, and for many the pregnancy symptoms are clear at this point.
Nausea – often misleadingly called morning sickness, since it can strike at any hour – affects around 70% of pregnant women and typically peaks between weeks 8 and 11. Your breasts may be sore, tight and half a cup size or more larger, and the nipples darken. Fatigue can be overwhelming: progesterone has a sedating effect, and your body uses enormous energy building the placenta.
Many also experience frequent urination as the uterus presses on the bladder, a heightened sense of smell, softened gums and mood swings. Light, brief spotting can occur, but bleeding like a period or persistent one-sided pain should be discussed with your doctor or out-of-hours service.
Good advice for week 8
Eat small and often
An empty stomach makes nausea worse. Keep almonds, crackers or a banana within reach – including on your bedside table, so you can eat a little before getting up.
Take folic acid and vitamin D
The Danish Health Authority recommends 400 micrograms of folic acid daily until week 12 and 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout pregnancy.
Say yes to rest
First-trimester fatigue is real and physiological. Lie down when you can and lower your ambitions for a few weeks.
Book your midwife
If you haven't contacted your GP yet, now is the time. The first midwife appointment is usually around weeks 12-16.
Relevant with us in week 8
This is what we can offer you at this point in your pregnancy.
Frequently asked questions in week 8
Can you see the heartbeat in week 8?
Yes. At an early scan from week 8 we can almost always see a clearly beating heart and measure the rate. For many this is the most reassuring experience of the entire first trimester.
Is it a problem that I have no nausea?
No. Around one in four pregnant women have little or no nausea, and it says nothing about how the pregnancy is progressing. Nausea reflects hormones – it is not a guarantee of anything.
When can I have a NIPT?
NIPT can be taken from week 10. Week 8 is therefore still slightly too early, but it is a good time to decide and book if you want the test.
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Read on in week 8
Early pregnancy scan in Copenhagen – everything you need to know (2026)
Guide to your first pregnancy
