4 Weeks Pregnant

If you’re beginning to wonder whether or not you’re pregnant and you haven’t received any type of confirmation, now would be a great time to do that.  Signs could be visible, such as missed menstrual periods, hormonal changes and nausea and vomiting.  Contacting a gynecologist, obstetrician or taking over the counter pregnancy tests for confirmation are all great ways of finding out the truth. If you have confirmed a pregnancy exists, changes in diet and lifestyle are critical during the fourth week.  After all, it’s the fourth week and you’ve been pregnant for one whole month.  The first trimester is underway and this is a very critical point in your baby’s health and development.  Fetuses are at high risk for abnormalities during this stage, as the baby’s brain, heart, head, spinal cord, bones, muscles, tissues and teeth are all developing.  If you’ve been taking in toxins, such as alcohol or substances, it’s very important to stop those habits to increase the chances of you and your baby remaining healthy throughout the pregnancy.

Your Baby’s Development

Your baby is developing very quickly during the fourth week of pregnancy. Conception, fertilization and implantation have all occurred and now your baby is developing into, well, a baby.  Now called an embryo, your baby consists of two layers called the epiblast and the hypoblast. Also, the amnion sac and yolk sac’s develop in this fourth week.  The amnion sac fills with amniotic fluid which protects the embryo. The yolk sac produces the blood and helps nourish the embryo until the placenta takes control.  Your baby’s vascular network is growing and helping to transport blood, oxygen and nutrients from mother to baby by way of the umbilical cord. The size of your baby can be compared to an apple seed, or .4mm in size. The heart is beating, blood is beginning to pump and organs are developing.

Changes in Your Body

During the fourth week of pregnancy, your body is producing the pregnancy hormone HGC, which can cause many symptoms such as anxiety, vomiting, nausea, light headedness, fainting, dizziness, exhaustion, and mood swings.  Breasts become increasingly tender and sore and sometimes a tingling sensation is noticed.  Some women also notice their smelling senses have become quite sharp, which can be either good or bad, depending on the smell.  If the smell is foul, it can lead to other symptoms like nausea or vomiting.  The joys of being pregnant during the first trimester can actually feel like a vicious circle that will never end. But try not to stress about that, symptoms will subside sooner than later, just as other symptoms kick in.

Fourth Week Tips

• Change your negative habits immediately. This is the most important stage for your baby’s internal development. Avoid drugs, alcohol and medications that can negatively affect the baby.
• Talk with the other expectant parent, express concerns, symptoms and feelings. This could help your partner understand what you’re going through, and what to expect.
• Consult with family and friends and gain a group of supporters to help you through the emotional, hormonal and physical changes your body will be going through. Having a strong support system may also benefit the other expectant parent, especially if this is the first pregnancy.
• Find and set up an appointment with a recommended obstetrician.
• Make sure you find out what medical insurance in needed. If you have medical insurance, find out exactly what is covered and what isn’t.
• Inform potential siblings about the pregnancy, make them apart of the entire process to try and avoid feelings of resentment or jealousy.
• Get plenty of rest and relaxation.