Welcome to week three!
After sperm meets egg and becomes an embryo, he/she travels down your fallopian tube and is implanted into the nutrient-rich lining that was created for this very purpose.
Your body has uniquely prepared this very special place to supply the baby with everything that he/she needs. Amazing, right? By the end of this week, if you are pregnant you will miss your first period. The beginning of other physical signs of pregnancy are possible.
By the end of this week, if you are pregnant you will miss your first period.
How my Baby Grows
- This week the amnion will begin to form becoming the outer lining of the bag of waters that will work hard during your pregnancy to regulate your baby’s temperature and provide a way for your baby to freely move inside the uterus, it is how your baby is protected from infection, more to come later about all this
- Your baby’s neural plate is also forming this week, this will close up to become the neural tube that houses the baby’s brain and spinal cord
Symptoms Mama may Feel or Experience
- Hormonal changes may cause mom to feel a little mild uterine cramping, this happens so that the uterus can soften to accept the pregnancy
- There may also be some light spotting with implantation that is completely normal
- If you experience painful cramping associated with heavy bleeding like a period with clots you should contact your doctor or midwife
- You may start to notice emotional changes too as hormone levels rise.
Thoughts to Consider
- Now that there are signs of a pregnancy, how are you feeling about this, excited, nervous, both, it is not too early to start journaling your thoughts
- It’s time to pick up a urine pregnancy test or two at the pharmacy in case you miss your cycle at the end of this week, many women take more than one test “just to make sure” they are actually pregnant
- You might want to think about who you will tell if the test is positive, do you just want those closest to you to know, family or friends, how about people at work, you and your partner may feel differently about telling people so it might be helpful to discuss this ahead of time
- There is so much to learn about the months ahead as your pregnancy advances. If you haven’t already done so, check out the articles in StorkAdvisor’s Go-to-Topics where there is great information for you about each trimester, you may also want to begin entering information specific to your pregnancy journey into “My Story”
- During pregnancy and even more so when you bring your little one home you will need lots of new gear for the house and car, StorkAdvisor has a great product review section to get you thinking. You can also see how other women rate specific products for moms and babies
- Finally, it is time to consider where you want to receive your prenatal care, do you have a physician or midwifery group that you trust or is it time to start asking around for recommendations
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
- Are you remembering to take your vitamin every day, if not, perhaps you can put an alarm on your phone to help you remember
- Let’s talk about the protein in your diet.
- Protein is vital to your baby’s growth; it builds new tissue and repairs damaged tissues in your body and is partially responsible for developing antibodies that strengthen the immune system
- You should take in about 60-70 grams of protein a day to accomplish all this work.
- Good sources of protein are lean meat, poultry, fish and eggs.
- Vegetarian or Vegan options include soy products, nuts, seeds, beans and peas.
- How are you doing with your water intake, for some people this is difficult but making it a habit will help it become easier over time and it is worth the effort
