Being pregnant is one of the wonderful and miraculous experiences that parents go through. However, with the miracle growing right inside them comes a lot of responsibility. If you’ve been trying to conceive or have recently received the good news, it’s time for you to learn about the changes your body is going through. With that information in hand, you’ll be able to deal with these changes without fretting over every little thing.
Week 1 and 2: Are You Pregnant?
Since it’s hard to determine the exact point of conception, your gynecologist will start counting the weeks of your pregnancy from the start of your last menstrual cycle, including the weeks leading up to your ovulation. So the first week of your pregnancy can be counted as your last menstrual cycle before you conceived.
At the start of your menstrual cycle, a few eggs occupy follicles (fluid-filled sacs for the next 14 days, after which you ovulate. During this time, one follicle releases an egg into your fallopian tube where it waits for fertilization. So if you are trying to conceive, 14 days after the start of your menstrual cycle is the best time to try. Each month, you have a 25% chance of getting pregnant, and you might have to try more than once. So don’t be disappointed if you don’t conceive first time.
Once the egg is fertilized, it moves to the uterus and settles there. These are typically the first two weeks of your pregnancy, which is why you typically conceive by the end of the second week. If you’re trying to get pregnant, make sure to schedule a preconception visit to an ob-gyn to learn about possible genetic diseases and potential lifestyle changes. You should also start consuming about 0.4 milligrams of folic acid by now to progress healthily through your pregnancy.
Pregnancy Week 3: Congratulations!
By the start of week three, you would have conceived. Once your egg is fertilized, it moves down to the uterus and implants itself on the uterine wall as an embryo. When this happens, you might experience slight spotting, which is lighter than your normal period. This is typically the very first sign of pregnancy. At the time of fertilization, the sex, appearance and some of your baby’s personality traits are already determined. As for the embryo, it’ll be the size of a pin’s head and comprising of a collection of cells.
The outer layer of these cells develops to form the placenta, which acts as a physical interface between mother and fetus, effectively filtering nutrients, waste and oxygen between you and your baby. As for the inner cells, these become the embryo and eventually develop into a fetus. Although you won’t notice any physical changes by now, you can take a home pregnancy test to check whether you’re pregnant or not. Some early symptoms of pregnancy like cramps, sore breasts, fatigue, nausea and frequent urination will also rear their ugly heads.
This is what’s happening during the first three weeks of your pregnancy. Your little miracle has just taken place and is now growing inside you. So relax and let nature take its course; meanwhile, make sure to maintain a healthy and fulfilling diet to ensure your health and that of your baby.