Congratulations! Did you just find out you`re pregnant? You must be in a hurry to tell your partner and loved ones the news. Why not! But maybe you should confirm first by taking a blood test at a medical center. This week literally marks the beginning of your pregnancy because you just missed your period and found out that you are pregnant. You should be happy!

Baby Growth

The 4th week of pregnancy is the one for implantation. The blastocyst finally inserts itself into the endometrium and divides to form the placenta and embryo. This is the week that the amniotic sac, or water sac, and yolk sac, which is part of your baby`s digestive system, form around the small embryo. Your little embryo also turns into three separate parts at the 4th week. These three parts of the embryo, the endoderm (inner layer), mesoderm (middle layer), and ectoderm (outer layer) then make up your baby`s body organs. Without a doubt, an important week for the growth and development of your little miracle.

Baby Size

This week is a critical week as it marks the beginning of the embryonic period. Currently, your embryo baby is the size of a poppy seed. This poppy seed has two layers, epiblast and hypoblast, which will grow into your baby`s body parts. While the size of the baby at 4-week pregnancy is practically microscopic, it is definitely going through some important developments that are noteworthy.

Common Body Changes

What is hCG? Let`s start here first. You probably first encountered the hCG value when you looked at the positive result of a home pregnancy test. HCG is the value that confirms pregnancy in the urine and blood. It is a human chorionic gonadotropin hormone. It is produced by cells of the developing placenta within a few days after the fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall.

At the beginning of pregnancy, the hCG value will be quite low as it is just beginning to be produced. But it almost doubles every 48 hours. Don’t compare your hCG values with other pregnant women around. Because, just as each woman`s pregnancy progresses differently, hCG values will not be the same.

The range for 4 week hCG values is 50 to 426 (mIU/L). Any value that falls within this wide range is normal. Don`t be afraid of being low or high. You can share your thoughts on this matter with your doctor.

Various pregnancy hormones have been released in your body and this week your body is busy adjusting to these hormonal changes. You will soon begin to experience early pregnancy symptoms. You will start to feel frustrated and exhausted. You will feel certain chemical reactions are going on inside your body and it is very normal to feel this way. After all, the blastocyst, your baby, is finally making contact with the uterus and implanting! At the 4th week of pregnancy, 30% of women had implantation bleeding. It may appear as spotting. There`s nothing to worry about. Because of this, you may feel cramps in your stomach and even breast tenderness. But don`t worry, your body is built to withstand body changes during pregnancy. You just enjoy the good news and prepare yourself to be a mother soon.

Pregnancy Symptoms

The secretion of various pregnancy hormones in the 4th week causes your body to behave strangely. Some of the 4-week pregnancy symptoms include:

1. Due to the increase in progesterone levels in your body, you may feel bloated and swollen.

1. Mild stomach cramps are a result of implantation and you should not worry about it. But then if you experience severe cramping, tell your doctor everything.

1. Implantation of the blastocyst into the uterus may also cause light staining, which may be pink, light red, or brownish-red. Again, nothing to worry about until it lasts more than a few days.

1. Fluctuating hormones cause your mood to change very rapidly. You cannot control it. Just pray that people around you understand what you`re going through and cooperate! After all, it will only take about 12 weeks!

1. Morning sickness is one of the most common symptoms. About 90% of women experience some form of morning sickness, such as nausea or vomiting. It gets better after 9 weeks, so be patient!

1. Your body is working really hard to turn this little embryo into a healthy baby. It is clear that you will feel very tired. But it will get better after the first trimester.

1. The ever-increasing pregnancy hormones will also make your breasts sore and tender.

Abdomen

Your stomach swells during the 4th week of pregnancy due to the secretion of progesterone in your body, but it`s not yet time to look pregnant. Your baby is only the size of a poppy seed this week, so rest assured, your secret is being kept!

Ultrasound

A lot is going on inside your body this week. The blastocyst implants in the endometrium and also divides to form the embryo and placenta. The building block of your baby`s spine and brain, the baby`s neural tube, is already formed. The amniotic sac and fluid are at work to create a protective buffer for your baby, and all you can see on the 4-week ultrasound is a tiny dot-like thing called a gestational sac. Are you disappointed? Don`t stop by. Be patient. You will see and feel everything as your pregnancy progresses.

What to Eat?

Eating healthy is the key to giving birth to a healthy baby. Whole wheat, leafy vegetables, legumes, water, meat, fish, dairy products and five servings of fruit should become part of your diet for the next nine months. If you haven`t started taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid or folate, start now. All these are very important for the healthy growth and development of your baby.

But one thing you need to cut out of your diet starting today is caffeine. Caffeine is a corrosive substance that washes out calcium and other important pregnancy nutrients and therefore should be avoided. If caffeine gets you started in the morning, it may be a little hard to let go. Don`t drop it all at once. Take it slow. Replace the caffeine with some healthy drinks and some yummy protein snacks. Now you have to be very careful about what you eat.

Tips and Care

If you`ve successfully completed the test this week and found that you`re pregnant, then it`s time not only to meet and conclude with your doctor, but also to check your health insurance: start researching. Other do’s and don`ts include:

1. Get yourself a home pregnancy test kit.

1. Eat only healthy and homemade food.

1. Eat five servings of fruit and vegetables a day.

1. Get yourself a prenatal vitamin supplement containing folic acid.

1. Be relaxed and rest when you are tired.

1. Keep in touch with your doctor and avoid any medication.

Don’ts

1. Avoid junk food.

1. Stop smoking, drinking or using drugs.

1. Quit caffeine.

1. Avoid sexual intercourse.

Shopping

Your shopping cart for the 4th week is uncomplicated. A book on pregnancy, a pregnancy test kit, and whatever you need to choose from if you haven`t bought anything yet, a comfortable cotton bra. Things you might want to add to this list are stretchy pants, tights, and anything that will sit loose on your stomach. The buttons of your skinny jeans may cause some discomfort on your bloated stomach. Therefore, do not hesitate to shop for more comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.