Pregnancy Weeks 1-3: Your Week By Week Pregnancy Guide

What happens in the first three weeks of pregnancy? Are you worried and confused about what's happening in the initial weeks? Here is your guide to pregnancy weeks 1, 2 and week 3 of pregnancy. 

3 Weeks Pregnant is How Many Months?

You’re in week 3 of pregnancy! You might be wondering how many months that is. It means you're in the first month of your pregnancy.

You’ve probably already had a positive pregnancy test, but you may still feel uncertain about trusting the results. After all, you haven’t seen any physical changes yet, and you might be waiting for those to happen before you start believing in your pregnancy.

Week 1 to 3 of Pregnancy: Baby

Your baby is now developing their organs and systems. This week, they're growing a tail, which will help them swim to the right spot in your uterus later. They're also forming their heart and lungs and growing red blood cells.

Baby’s Growth

At weeks 1 and 2, your baby is just a twinkle in your eye because you aren’t pregnant yet. By week 3 of pregnancy, your embryo is finally here, but tiny—slightly smaller than a poppy seed!

The embryonic sac that surrounds your baby has become an amniotic sac—meaning there’s enough room for your baby to grow. The umbilical cord also develops, with arteries and veins forming inside it.

Your body will start producing hormones like estrogen and progesterone to prepare for childbirth, which is about eight months away!

The placenta is growing in size, too, but it’s only covering about half of the uterus.

During the early stages of pregnancy, it is crucial to ensure that both the mother and the baby receive the necessary nutrients for healthy development. Consider incorporating 21st Century Pre-Natal Multivitamins With Folic Acid And Iron For Pregnancy into your routine, as it provides essential vitamins like folic acid that aid in the formation of organs and systems, while also supporting the growth of red blood cells.

Baby’s Development In Weeks 1 to 3

During weeks 1 to 2, you aren’t pregnant, but your body is preparing for ovulation, and your uterus is getting ready for the arrival of a fertilised egg.

By week 3 of pregnancy, things are starting to happen! Your fertilised egg is now moving towards your womb along the fallopian tube.

When your egg reaches the womb, it will become a mass of over 100 cells and is now called an embryo. Once in your womb, your little embryo burrows into the lining of your uterus in a process known as implantation.

You probably won't know until the 10th to 20th week, but the sex of your baby is determined at the moment of fertilisation.

Meanwhile, just after the egg is released, the follicle it came from gets a new tenant called the corpus luteum, a yellowish body of cells occupying the egg's space. The corpus luteum will produce enough pregnancy hormones, progesterone and estrogen to nourish and support your baby until the placenta takes over around the 10th week. 

Baby’s Hearing

Baby's hearing is not fully developed at week 3 of pregnancy, but it is starting to come along.

At this point in your pregnancy, your baby's brain is still developing. The part of the brain that processes sound, called the auditory cortex, is located in the temporal lobe. It will continue to develop throughout pregnancy and be fully developed by birth.

In addition to the auditory cortex, your baby has other key components of their hearing system that are developing in the coming weeks: their inner ear (cochlea) and their middle ear (eardrum).

The inner ear contains a fluid-filled structure called the vestibular system, which helps balance and coordination. 

Baby’s Teeth

This week, your baby is developing tooth buds that will eventually become teeth eventually.

Baby’s Movement

You may not have felt any movements yet, but this is where your baby's brain and nervous system are developing.

You’re not officially pregnant during weeks 1 and 2, and you’ve started your last period. So it will take a couple of weeks until you can confirm the news with a pregnancy test. During these weeks, you’re shedding the lining of your uterus along with last month’s unfertilised egg, and you are getting ready for the starting point of your pregnancy.

Week 1 to 3 of Pregnancy: Your Body

You may feel a little queasy, but don't worry—it's completely normal and will pass soon. As your baby grows, you'll be able to feel the movement, too. It might seem like a lot is happening to your body at this point, but don't worry—we've got everything you need to know about what's going on with your body in pregnancy week 3.

You can expect to see some changes in your breasts and abdomen as well as changes in your moods. Your body is getting ready for the big changes ahead, so it makes sense that you might feel like things are amplified at this point in the process. Your breasts will start producing milk and begin swelling up as they prepare for breastfeeding later on down the road; meanwhile, your abdomen will grow larger as it becomes home to the new life growing inside.

Your skin might also start changing colour slightly because of an increase in pigmentation caused by hormones released during pregnancy (called melanin). 

Pregnancy Symptoms In Weeks 1 to 3

It may be too early to confirm through a pregnancy test, and there will be no visible physical changes in your body yet, but you may already be experiencing some early signs that you are indeed pregnant. If you suspect you may be pregnant during weeks 1 to 3, the Presio Diagnostics Early Midstream Pregnancy Test Kit can provide you with the quick and accurate results you need. With its high accuracy rate of above 99%, this test can detect the pregnancy hormone in your urine, even before any visible physical changes occur.

• Once your period is over, you may notice your cervical mucus changes in consistency and colour—it goes from thick, sticky and creamy to thin, gooey and increases in volume as the right time for conception approaches.
• Towards the end of week 3, as your embryo implants in your uterine lining, you may notice a tiny bit of spotting, known as “implantation bleeding.”
• You may notice your breasts are tender and swollen, slightly more exaggerated than they felt before your period.
• Some women feel mild abdominal cramps that can be mistaken for the post-menstrual syndrome (PMS), but it's an early sign of pregnancy.
• You may feel more tired than usual.
• You have a weird, metallic taste in your mouth (don't worry, this fades during the second trimester)
• Your sense of smell may be heightened—don’t be surprised if your favourite perfume suddenly doesn’t smell so good!
• You may notice that it stays high if you’ve been charting your basal body temperature (your temperature at full rest).
• Increased sex drive is also an early sign of pregnancy.
• Some very sensitive home pregnancy tests may appear positive if you test during this time.

When Do Pregnancy Symptoms Start

Pregnancy symptoms start to appear about two weeks after conception. The first signs of pregnancy are often a missed period or lighter periods, followed by morning sickness and fatigue.

Early Signs of Pregnancy

Other common early signs include sore breasts, nausea and vomitin, headaches or migraines, abdominal cramps or bloating, constipation or diarrhoea (or both), mood swings and changes in appetite. As your pregnancy progresses, you may notice other symptoms, including:

• frequent urination (you may be producing concentrated urine for the baby's sake)
• frequent and stronger smelling vaginal discharge (which is also changing in colour)
• varicose veins on your legs (these are a result of the extra blood flow during pregnancy)
• swollen ankles (due to increased fluid retention)
• dry skin around your eyes and mouth
• stretch marks on your abdomen as it expands with your growing baby (these will fade over time once you've had your baby)

Maternal Weight Gain

It's important for expectant mums to know that maternal weight gain is a major predictor of maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes. Maternal weight gain during pregnancy has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, caesarean section rates, macrosomia and neonatal morbidity.

Moderate weight gain is considered to be between 11 to 16kg.

Maternal weight gain should be monitored at each antenatal visit.

The amount of weight gained during pregnancy varies widely among women. It depends on their pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), the number of previous pregnancies they have had and how much weight they gained during their last pregnancy.

Women who are overweight or obese before becoming pregnant should aim to lose as much weight as possible before becoming pregnant because being overweight or obese during pregnancy increases the risk for complications such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and caesarean section.

Nutrition

If you're pregnant and have been experiencing nausea and vomiting, it can be tough to eat enough to keep yourself healthy. Here are some tips for making sure your nutrition stays on track:

Make sure you're eating every three hours. This will help keep your blood sugar consistent and prevent spikes in hunger that make you reach for the vending machine.

Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, rather than big meals that make you feel full for a long time. This helps keep your blood sugar stable so you don't get hungry again right away.

Eat foods that contain lots of protein, iron, and folic acid (like spinach). These nutrients will help keep your strength up even when you're feeling sick.

Week 3 of Pregnancy: Things to Do This Week

• Now is a good time to begin if you haven’t started on a prenatal vitamin already.
• Also, give up smoking and alcohol, eat a healthy diet, and drink at least six to eight glasses of water daily.
• To ensure the healthy development of your yet-to-be-conceived baby’s brain and spinal cord, start taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily.
• You may want to reduce your coffee intake, as caffeine can harm fertility.
• It's not too early to take prenatal vitamins that will provide essential nutrients for you and your baby. As soon as you suspect you're pregnant or trying to conceive, ask your doctor if you can get started on prenatal vitamins. Make sure it contains iron, vitamin D, calcium, and folic acid to reduce your baby's risk of certain birth defects. 
• Check that your chickenpox and rubella vaccinations are up-to-date well in advance. If not, your doctor may advise you to get these vaccinations before you become pregnant.
• If you haven’t scheduled a preconception doctor’s appointment, now’s the time to do it. You will learn about lifestyle, genetic, and environmental hazards that may impact your fertility and baby.
• Until you've confirmed whether you're pregnant, it's best to steer clear of smoking, illegal drugs and alcohol, and strenuous exercises that may put your pregnancy and baby at risk.
• Whether you are taking herbal, prescription, or over-the-counter medications, check with your doctor that they are safe to take during this period of trying to conceive and very early pregnancy.

Very Early Signs of Pregnancy 1 Week

It's early, but you've been waiting for it for so long! You may have missed your period or feel like something is different.

Here are some signs that indicate you might be pregnant:

1. You had sex around ovulation (the day before or after).
2. You're late for your period by at least three days, and it's been five days since you had sex (or ten days if you're breastfeeding).
3. Your breasts feel tender, swollen, or heavier than usual—and they've stayed that way for two weeks.
4. You experience nausea with or without vomiting. This can happen as early as two weeks into a pregnancy (but could also result from something else!).
5. You experience fatigue (you don't have enough energy to do what you usually do). This could happen because your body needs more rest during pregnancy to grow a baby!
6. Your lower back feels sore (this could be a sign of early pregnancy)

Can You Get a Positive Pregnancy at 2 Weeks

Yes! Getting a positive pregnancy test as early as two weeks after conception is possible.

That's right—you can find out you're pregnant just two weeks after you ovulate, even if your period hasn't arrived yet.

It's important to remember that a positive pregnancy test doesn't mean that you've conceived; it only means that the hormones in your body signal the presence of a fertilised egg. There are many other reasons why a pregnancy test might return positive before your period is late.

What Is Implantation Bleeding

The medical term for implantation bleeding is "implantation spotting". It's also sometimes referred to as a "chemical pregnancy." Implantation bleeding occurs when the fertilised egg implants itself in the uterine lining. It's considered a sign that you're pregnant because the embryo has been successfully implanted in your uterus.

Implantation bleeding can be slight or heavy, usually occurring between 6 to 12 days after conception. You may experience light spotting or pinkish discharge caused by blood vessels breaking under the skin as they form new capillaries for the developing embryo. Implantation bleeding can occur in any woman who is pregnant, but it's most common in women who are expecting twins or triplets.

First Prenatal Visit

The first prenatal visit is very exciting! You'll get to meet your doctor, ask questions, learn more about your baby, and learn how to stay healthy during pregnancy.

Here are some tips to help make this first visit go smoothly:

1. Prepare. Before you go in, ensure you have all your questions ready. That way, you can spend more time listening and less time writing things down or looking for the right words.
2. Bring a list of medications or supplements you're taking with you—this will help the doctor know if these products have any potential risks to your pregnancy or baby's health.
3. Bring someone who can take notes for you. Even if you're not an especially nervous person, taking notes during a medical appointment can be hard because there's so much information coming at you all at once. It's helpful to have someone else in the room who can write down everything that happens so you don't have to worry about remembering it later.

Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it's important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn't serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.