7 Weeks Pregnant

You can't see a baby bump yet, but you may have gained a few pounds. That’s completely fine. Women with a normal BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 will likely gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy, while women with higher or lower BMIs have a slightly different pregnancy weight range to keep in mind.

During your first trimester, your baby is still tiny, which means you may not gain more than a total of two to four pounds.

However, if you're suffering from morning sickness, you might not gain an ounce — or might even lose a little. That's okay too, as long as your appetite picks up and you make up for those pounds in the second trimester.

If you experience abdominal cramps while you’re expecting, it’s not necessarily cause for concern. Cramping is normal during the first trimester, but if it occurs with shoulder or neck pain or if it’s accompanied by contractions, dizziness or discharge, call the doctor. Also call if your abdominal pain feels like more than just cramps and is more severe.

Not only does nature's sweetest bounty contain essential nutrients that are good for you and your baby, but fruit also plays a starring role in keeping you regular.

A good nutritional rule of thumb: When you're looking to "eat a rainbow" of fruit colors, look to the inside of the fruit as much as (if not more than) the outside.

For example, a cantaloupe might have a lighter-colored skin on the outside, but the deep orange flesh of the melon inside is packed with vitamins A and C, plus some important minerals.

Here's a quick list of some things to avoid during your pregnancy workouts:

• Don't exercise on your back after the first trimester.
• Try not to hold your breath while you work out.
• Steer clear of jerky or twisting motions, which could add insult to your already stressed-out joints.
• Be careful about moves that challenge your sense of balance or risk any sort of trauma to your abdomen.

You'll soon have less oxygen available for exercise, so stop when you get tired and avoid getting overheated. Now isn't the time to do bikram or "hot" yoga.

Pregnancy can cause some pretty wacky complexion complexities (thank you, hormones!) — from excessive oiliness to excessive dryness (or both at the same time), from acne to blotchiness, and most strangely, melasma, a patchy skin discoloration.

If pimples are the problem, wash your face two to three times a day with a thorough but gentle cleanser — harsh ones will only leave skin more open to irritation.

Exfoliate very gently too, around once a week, and finish off with an oil-free moisturizer. Overly stripped skin is more prone to breakouts.

What should you do when cravings strike? That depends. Give in, if you're lucky enough to be craving fruits or vegetables. Try to vary things a bit if you can, but don't worry if your taste buds won't take the bait.

But try to resist your cravings if they're sending you to a bowl of sugar-frosted cereal or a bag of kettle-cooked potato chips. Eat Cheerios topped with fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey, or dive into a bag of soy crisps, which are packed with protein.

If your cravings are for something you shouldn't have now that you're expecting — like unpasteurized soft cheese or sashimi — sub something that comes as close as possible to the object of your affections, like pasteurized feta and teriyaki salmon.

If you find yourself craving substances that aren't food, like clay, ashes or laundry starch, contact your practitioner. Such cravings could indicate a condition called pica, which is triggered by a nutritional deficiency.

If you can't stomach the thought of eating a chicken breast, you're not alone. Pregnancy aversions are very common.

Just do what works. Keep your choices bland and boring, find substitutes for foods you can no longer stomach — think fruit if you can't stand the sight of veggies — and rejoice if your aversions are to foods that you're supposed to be avoiding anyway (sushi aversion, anyone?).