Most women have variable monthly cycles. As a result, the first time you miss your menstrual cycle, you may not realize that you are pregnant. In fact, many women are not aware that they are pregnant even in their 2nd week of pregnancy and this is completely normal. The first week of pregnancy is usually smooth without any symptoms. Then how would you know? That`s exactly what this study will inform you about!
Baby Growth
In the first week of pregnancy, the egg moves from the ovary and passes through the fallopian tube. So your baby does not show any significant growth in the first week.
In the first week, the doctor calculates the first day of your last monthly menstrual cycle, from which your nine months or 40 weeks of pregnancy is calculated. This whole process consists of 3 trimesters. Trimester is the name given to each 3-month period of the 9-month pregnancy process. In other words, the pregnancy period is divided into 3 trimesters. The first 3 months are the 1st trimester, the 4-5th and 6th months are the 2nd trimester, and the 7-8th and 9th months are the 3rd trimester. In other words, there are 3 major breaking points experienced in 3-month periods in pregnancy:
- The first trimester (first trimester) is a period when you try to cope with the early symptoms of pregnancy and try to get your body used to pregnancy. The baby and its organs are slowly starting to form.
- The second trimester (second trimester) is the honeymoon period of pregnancy. It is the trimester where you get used to pregnancy and your early period complaints decrease and you will have the most trouble-free. This is the period when your baby starts to grow at an amazing rate.
- The third trimester (last 3 months) is now the last period. The honeymoon period of pregnancy is over and it is a process where troubles begin again. It is a period when birth and related worries are approaching, and at the same time, the desire to have a baby is at its peak. Your baby is no longer a bean, but really a baby and makes all the preparations for the day it will be born.
Although you will experience the most obvious changes during the transitions between pregnancy trimesters, it is always important how many weeks pregnant you are.
Between the weeks of pregnancy, there will be some changes, developments and symptoms both in the baby and in you. We will also touch on the general topics that will come to you week by week.
In the first week, there is no big development in the baby. During this week, the baby is called a blastocyst. In the second week of your pregnancy, the blastocyst divides into the placenta on the outside and the embryo on the inside. In cases where more than one egg is fertilized, more than one zygote is formed. These zygotes carry 46 chromosomes from both parents, and these chromosomes determine the baby`s sex and other physical characteristics. Fun, isn`t it?
Baby Size
In the first week of pregnancy, there is no baby size. `How/why` you might ask. Because the first week you`re just technically pregnant! So, ‘1-week pregnant baby size` is nothing. But soon you`ll be moving into week two and we`ll have something to talk about. So don`t lose the excitement!
Common Body Changes
Small body changes start from the first week of pregnancy and are good indications that you may be about to add a new member to your family. Though body changes during pregnancy vary from woman to woman, here are a few general changes one can experience during the first week of pregnancy. These include tender breasts, mood swings, fatigue, constipation, flatulence, and morning sickness. This ailment occurs due to hormonal changes that occur.
Pregnancy Symptoms
Pregnancy symptoms often differ from woman to woman. Here are some common symptoms you may experience in the first week of pregnancy:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Low back pain and cramps will also bother you at this stage.
- Your abdomen will swell just before and during your period.
- You will feel tired more quickly than usual.
- You may experience gas and constipation.
- Your breasts are sensitive and hurt when pressed.
- Changing hormones make you cranky and irritable.
Abdomen
During the first week of pregnancy, your body sheds the endometrium along with last month`s egg and begins to form endometrium to hold and protect the next month`s egg that can develop into a fetus. Each egg in the human body is the size of a peach hair, but this will not appear in your belly during the first week of pregnancy. This is because your body releases the egg 14 days before the next expected cycle, and it takes another 24 hours for the egg to fertilize. Therefore, your abdomen will not show anything for the first week and you can keep it a secret for the next few weeks.
Ultrasound
In the case of a normal pregnancy, ultrasound is not done in the first week, but if you became pregnant with treatment, then your doctor may recommend an ultrasound at week 1 to check. The ultrasound will also determine the thickness of your endometrium.
What to Eat?
If you are trying to get pregnant, it is better to start eating healthy from day one. Consume extra protein and calcium for the needs of the growing fetus during pregnancy. Make sure your week 1 pregnancy meal includes lots of dairy products, legumes, sweet potatoes, salmon, eggs, broccoli and dark leafy vegetables, lean meat, fish liver oil, strawberries, whole grains, avocado, and lots of water. Basically, fill your meals with foods that will provide your body with folate, zinc, calcium, iron and fiber. If you can`t get these five critical nutrients from the foods you eat, then just take a supplement or a prenatal vitamin – after consulting your doctor, of course! Healthy eating means a healthy baby!
You`ll be pleased to know that most doctors consider week 1 of pregnancy to be the problem-free week of pregnancy where you don`t really have to worry about your diet. So indulge yourself until your doctor gives you the good news!
Tips and Care
The first week of pregnancy is also the week of joy and expectation. As you enjoy welcoming a new member in your life, here are a few tips you might want to follow.
- As soon as you realize you are pregnant or if you observe any of the symptoms mentioned above, consult an obstetrician to understand all about genetic diseases and environmental hazards.
- Start taking prenatal vitamins with 400 mcg of folic acid every day.
- Consult your doctor and make any necessary changes in your lifestyle and eating habits.
Don’ts
- Immediately stop drinking alcohol, smoking or taking any medication.
- Do not take medication for any disease without consulting your doctor. If you are already taking medication, stop immediately and only start taking it again with your doctor`s permission.
Shopping
There isn`t much to shop for in the first week of pregnancy. Some of you may not even realize that you are pregnant in the first week. But if you`ve been planning a baby for a long time and realize you`re pregnant in the first week, add a pregnancy book to your shopping list to read and learn everything you want about pregnancy and its stages. If your breasts are sore, get yourself a comfortable cotton bra. Your skin will start to dry out quicker than you think, so get yourself a good moisturizer. And finally, if cramps and back pain are starting to bother you, you may want to add a body pillow to your shopping list. Congratulations, you are ready for the first 2 to 3 weeks of pregnancy!