Welcome to week two!
By the end of this week, you may release an egg (ovulate) so that it can meet with a sperm to become fertilized. You may not feel any different but amazing things are happening!
Some women do experience certain symptoms that help you realize your body is at work to accomplish the necessary changes. Your uterine lining is thickening and preparing to support the pregnancy as it moves down your fallopian tube towards it new home. Human life begins at fertilization, approximately 14 days since your period started and before you know that you are pregnant.
Your uterine lining is thickening and preparing to support the pregnancy as it moves down your fallopian tube towards it new home.
How my Baby Grows
- Fertilization will likely occur in one of your fallopian tubes before traveling anywhere from 18-24 hours to reach its destination.
- When egg and sperm meet, your baby is called a zygote at this stage of development.
- He/she is a single-celled organism that has resulted from a fertilized egg.
- It is this ball of cells, known as a blastocyst, that develop into an embryo and later the placenta beginning the 11th week.
- Aren’t you impressed! Already so much is happening, and you don’t even realize that you are pregnant!
Symptoms Mama may Feel or Experience
- Ovulation is caused by a series of events that your body goes through and is defined by the release of an egg from your ovary, these events are regulated by your female hormones, especially progesterone
- Some women can easily tell when they are ovulating based on one or more signs of ovulation such as:
- Changes in cervical mucous which cause it to be clear, thin and more profuse, this change makes it easier for the sperm to travel towards the egg
- Some women experience a heightened sense of smell and an increase in their sex drive
- There may be some light spotting and mild cramping with ovulation (this is called “Mittelschmerz” by medical professionals-ever wonder where we came up with a name like that???)
- Some women also notice breast tenderness or fullness.
- If you are using a Basal Body temperature probe (a special temperature probe that measures in small increments) to measure slight fluctuations in body temperature, you will notice a very slight drop just prior to ovulation and then a rise as you ovulate.
- You will not feel this happening, but if you do ovulate and fertilize an egg, your uterus, under the influence of hormones, will begin to thicken which creates just the type of environment that your baby needs to grow.
- If you do not have regular periods it may be that you are not ovulating monthly, your doctor or midwife will be able to help you understand your cycle and how to best achieve a pregnancy
Thoughts to Consider
- If you are interested in learning more about ovulation you can read about it in the StorkAdvisor article found in our section on fertility or check out our Ovulation Prediction Calendar.
- A “Basal Body Temperature Probe” (BBT) is very different from other thermometers, as it is measures in very small increments so that you can see the slight changes before and as ovulation occurs.
- You may want to try looking for signs of ovulation 2-3 months in a row before attempting a pregnancy so that you become familiar with your body’s signals.
- By tracking ovulation and paying attention to your symptoms like cervical mucous and temperature changes you can time intercourse for the best chance of getting pregnant.
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
- You don’t actually know if you are pregnant or not now, but the decisions that you make about smoking, drinking, and diet are already affecting your pregnancy.
- If you are not already on a prenatal vitamin this is a perfect time to start one that has the folic acid you need during pregnancy.
- This is also a great time to start practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga (see articles in StorkAdvisor under self-care) that can help you unwind first thing in the morning or after a stressful day.
- Adequate sleep is another factor to consider when focusing on a healthy pregnancy, you may find over the coming weeks that you need extra pillows to get comfortable
- You will hear over and over again how important adequate hydration with water is to your body and that of your baby
