At 8 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a raspberry, and the paddle-shaped hands and feet from last week are now developing distinct ridges where fingers and toes will separate. Elbows are bending, the embryonic tail has almost completely disappeared, and nearly every major organ system has at least begun to form.

If your dates feel confusing, remember that gestational age counts from the first day of your last period (LMP), not from conception — so "8 weeks pregnant" usually means about 6 weeks since ovulation. For the full timeline, see our pregnancy week-by-week guide, or find out exactly how your due date is calculated. If you're picking up from last week, catch up on 7 weeks pregnant first.

Diagram comparing a raspberry to an 8 week embryo, showing paddle-shaped hands and feet with ridges where fingers and toes are forming — At 8 weeks, your baby is about the size of a raspberry, with paddle-shaped hands and feet that are just beginning to show finger and toe ridges.

Key takeaways

Baby is about the size of a raspberry (roughly 14–20 mm, crown-rump length) and still called an embryo.
Fingers and toes are starting to separate on paddle-shaped hands and feet, and elbows are now visible.
Nearly every major organ system has at least begun forming, and the embryonic tail has almost fully disappeared.

What "8 Weeks Pregnant" Actually Means

Using standard gestational dating, week 8 starts about 6 weeks after ovulation — near the midpoint of the embryonic period, when the basic architecture of nearly every organ system is being laid down. In fetal-age terms (counting from conception rather than your last period), this is closer to "6 weeks post-conception," which is why the same developmental milestone can appear under a different week number depending on the source.

This is also often a common window for a first ultrasound, since cardiac activity is typically well established by this point and measurements taken now tend to be fairly accurate for dating purposes. Crown-rump length measurements are most accurate between about 6 and 10 weeks, generally dating a pregnancy within 3 to 8 days up to around 14 weeks (StatPearls / NCBI).

Baby Size at 8 Weeks

At 8 weeks, your baby is an embryo about the size of a raspberry — roughly 14 to 20 millimeters long, measured crown-to-rump. The head remains large relative to the body, but the trunk continues to lengthen and straighten out of the tight curve seen in earlier weeks. Facial features are becoming more distinct, with the eyes, nose, and upper lip beginning to take recognizable shape.

Fingers and Toes Forming on Paddle-Shaped Hands and Feet

The paddle-shaped hands and feet that appeared over the past couple of weeks are now developing shallow ridges and grooves — the earliest sign of individual fingers and toes starting to separate. The fingers typically become distinct a little before the toes. Elbows are now visible and bend slightly, letting the arms flex at the joint for the first time.

Elsewhere, development is moving just as quickly. The embryonic tail, which has been shrinking for the past couple of weeks, has almost entirely disappeared into the base of the spine. Eyelids are beginning to form and will soon fuse shut, the tip of the nose is becoming visible, and the outer ears are taking on more shape. Internally, nearly every major organ system — heart, brain, lungs, kidneys, liver, and intestines — has at least begun to form, even though most are still far from functional.

Why this matters for prenatal care. With hands, feet, and internal organs all under active development at once, week 8 remains a high-sensitivity window for avoiding alcohol, unapproved medications, and other exposures your provider has flagged. (General guidance — confirm specifics with your provider: ACOG)

Diagram showing finger and toe ridges forming on paddle-shaped hands and feet at 8 weeks pregnant — Shallow ridges mark where individual fingers and toes are beginning to separate on the paddle-shaped hands and feet.

What You Might Notice at 8 Weeks Pregnant

hCG generally stays elevated through week 8, so many people continue to feel symptoms at or near their most intense. Everyone's experience is different, but here's what commonly shows up:

Nausea and morning sickness. Week 8 is still well within the typical peak window of week 6 through week 9, and it can strike at any hour despite the name.

Ongoing fatigue. Elevated progesterone continues to have a sedating effect, and many people describe this stretch of the first trimester as one of the most tired.

Breast tenderness and visible veins. Continued hormonal increases keep driving blood flow to breast tissue, and some people start noticing small visible veins as blood volume increases.

Frequent urination. Rising blood volume and hCG's effect on pelvic blood flow continue to send many people to the bathroom more often.

Bloating and mild constipation. Rising progesterone relaxes smooth muscle throughout the digestive tract, which can slow digestion and lead to bloating or constipation for some people.

Food aversions and heightened smell. Foods, drinks, or scents that never bothered you before can suddenly feel intolerable, often peaking alongside nausea.

Mood swings. The same hormonal surge driving physical symptoms can make emotions feel closer to the surface — irritability, tearfulness, or sudden shifts in mood are all considered normal at this stage.

It's also completely normal to have few or no symptoms yet. Symptom timing and intensity vary widely from person to person and even between pregnancies for the same person.

What's Happening in Your Body

hCG remains elevated. Levels are typically still high through week 8, which is why symptoms often continue to feel intense.
Fingers and toes begin separating. As covered above, ridges are forming on the paddle-shaped hands and feet.
The embryonic tail nearly disappears, absorbed into the base of the spine as the body continues to straighten.
Facial features sharpen. Eyelids begin forming, the nose tip becomes visible, and the outer ears take on more shape.
Nearly every major organ system has begun forming, even though most won't be functional for weeks yet.

Tips for Week 8

Keep taking your prenatal vitamin with folic acid. Organ systems are still under active construction, so daily consistency matters more than ever.

Eat small, frequent meals. An empty stomach tends to make nausea worse for a lot of people; bland, small snacks throughout the day are often easier to tolerate than three big meals.

Stay hydrated, especially with morning sickness. Sipping water, ginger tea, or an electrolyte drink steadily throughout the day is usually easier than trying to drink a lot at once.

Keep your first prenatal appointment on the calendar. If it's scheduled for a later week, use this time to jot down questions or symptoms you want to mention.

Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and unapproved medications. With so many organ systems developing simultaneously, this remains a high-leverage week to be cautious about exposures.

Rest without guilt. Between nausea and fatigue, needing more downtime than usual this week is expected, not a sign you're falling behind.

Tips for Partners

Take nausea and food aversions seriously, even when they seem mild from the outside — certain smells in the house can become genuinely hard to tolerate this week.
Help with logistics — tracking prenatal appointments or stocking bland, easy-to-eat snacks are small, concrete ways to lighten the load.
Expect mood swings and don't take them personally — they're hormonal, not a reflection of the relationship.
Check in before making food or scent-heavy plans, since sensitivities can shift from day to day at this stage.

FAQ

How big is my baby at 8 weeks pregnant? About the size of a raspberry — roughly 14 to 20 millimeters, measured crown-to-rump. It's still called an embryo at this stage.

What is developing in my baby at 8 weeks? Fingers and toes are starting to separate on paddle-shaped hands and feet, elbows become visible, the embryonic tail nearly disappears, and nearly every major organ system has at least begun forming.

Does my baby have fingers and toes yet at 8 weeks? Not fully separated yet — shallow ridges mark where individual fingers and toes are beginning to form on the paddle-shaped hands and feet.

What symptoms are normal at 8 weeks pregnant? Nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness, frequent urination, bloating, food aversions, and mood swings are all common. Having few or no symptoms is also normal.

Is bloating or constipation normal this early? Yes. Rising progesterone relaxes smooth muscle throughout the digestive tract, which commonly slows digestion during the first trimester.

Why do I still feel so nauseous at week 8? hCG typically remains elevated through week 8, and many people find symptom intensity continues to track closely with that hormonal level.

When should I schedule my first prenatal appointment? Many providers schedule the first visit somewhere between weeks 6 and 10, so if you haven't called yet, this is a good time to get on the calendar.

Pregnancy Checklist at Week 8

Keep your first prenatal appointment on the calendar (or schedule it if you haven't)
Keep taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid daily
Keep bland, easy-to-eat snacks on hand for nausea
Stay hydrated throughout the day, not just when you feel thirsty
Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and check any medications with your provider
Rest when fatigue or nausea hits — it's expected, not a setback
Note any severe cramping or heavy bleeding and call your provider if it occurs

Related guides

7 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Baby Size & What to Expect — what happened the week before, during the fastest week of brain growth so far
Pregnancy Week by Week: A Complete Guide — see what happens in every week and trimester, from implantation to full term
How Is Your Due Date Actually Calculated? — the exact formula behind your due date, plus a free calculator

Week 8 is where your baby starts looking a little more recognizably human — while fingers and toes begin separating on tiny paddle-shaped hands and feet, your body keeps running at full hormonal intensity to support the organ systems now under construction.