Welcome to week four!
By the end of week three and as you begin week 4 you will have missed your period and perhaps taken a pregnancy test to confirm that a tiny baby is now growing inside of you.
The urine pregnancy test measures something called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone that is produced during pregnancy. What previously appeared deep inside your uterus as a microscopic group of cells is now about the size of a poppy seed. The many hormonal changes of pregnancy may cause you to begin experiencing symptoms like breast tenderness, bloating or fatigue among other things.
What previously appeared deep inside your uterus as a microscopic group of cells is now about the size of a poppy seed.
How my Baby Grows
- The fertilized egg begins rapidly dividing into layers of cells and will form what is called an embryo in medical terminology, these cell layers will soon become different parts of your baby like skin, vital organs and the nervous system
- A yolk sac begins to form outside of the embryo and provides early blood supply to your baby until the placenta can fully take over, if you have an early ultrasound you may be able to see this small circular sac
- In the fourth week there is the beginning of a placenta, this single organ formed just for one pregnancy provides the blood flow from mom to baby bringing nutrients and oxygen to the baby by way of the umbilical cord and carrying waste products back through mom’s bloodstream, pretty miraculous, don’t you think
Symptoms Mama may Feel or Experience
- Every mom experiences their pregnancy very differently, some will have early or multiple symptoms, and some will hardly feel any symptoms at all, remember that this pregnancy is your special journey
- Some of the early pregnancy symptoms that you might experience by the fourth week are:
- Light spotting is common at this time and is called implantation bleeding, heavy vaginal bleeding with cramping and/or clotting may be of concern and you should contact your doctor or midwife if this occurs
- Increased vaginal discharge that is sticky, clear or white is common, if instead your discharge is causing you irritation, itching or has a foul odor you should contact your provider
- As hormones rise and tissues thicken you may have abdominal bloating or breast tenderness.
- You may find that you have mood swings or are more emotional than is normal for you, this temporary moodiness is more common during the first and third trimester and may surprise you or others who know you
- The fatigue may also surprise you and can make you feel increasingly exhausted over the remainder of the first trimester, thankfully it usually improves in the second trimester
- “Morning sickness” is a common symptom and we will talk more about that in the 8th week when it peaks, the name, implying that it only occurs in the mornings is a misnomer, this queasy feeling that is similar to motion sickness can occur at any time, there are both natural substances and medication that can help with this , some of the natural substances are peppermint tea or peppermint essential oil, motion sickness bands, ginger and vitamin B6, your provider can also prescribe medications to help control the nausea
Thoughts to Consider
- You might want to call to schedule your first prenatal care visit, sometimes it takes weeks to get in for an appointment, the best time to have the first visit if you are having an ultrasound is between 8-10 weeks to date the pregnancy
- It is a great time to start a pregnancy journal that allows you to document your thoughts and feelings now that you know you are pregnant, you don’t have to journal every day, just journaling from time to time will allow you to record precious memories that you can share with you little one someday
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
- If you have not started a prenatal vitamin, now is the time to pick them up and start taking them each day
- If you are having nausea that is worse in the mornings, you may want to consider a different time to take them, there are some gummy vitamins on the market that may be easier to tolerate, and you can talk to your doctor or midwife about their recommendation
- Hydration with water is essential but due to nausea you may need to sip all day rather than take big gulps as this can cause vomiting
- Adequate sleep is very important to how you feel, battling early pregnancy fatigue, and giving your body the rest, it needs to build a baby
- If you are looking for a great way to stretch, relax or wind down before bed consider one of our yoga videos
