Pregnancy weeks 1-3: Your week by week pregnancy guide

Congratulations, mummies! Your day is here. But are you worried and confused about what's happening in the initial weeks? Here your guide to pregnancy weeks 1-3. 

Weeks 1-3: How Big Is Your Baby?

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

 Your Baby’s Development In Weeks 1-3

• During weeks 1-2, 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, things are starting to happen! Your fertilised egg is now moving towards your womb, along the fallopian tube.
• By the time your egg reaches the womb, it will become a mass of over 100 cells and will be now called an embryo.
• Once in your womb, your little embryo burrows into the lining of your uterus in a process known as implantation.

Pregnancy Symptoms In Weeks 1-3

• You’re not officially pregnant during weeks 1-2, and you’ve started your last period. 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.
• 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 increased 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 how they feel before your period.
• You may feel more tired than usual.
• Your sense of smell may be heightened—don’t be surprised if your favourite perfume suddenly doesn’t smell so good!
• If you’ve been charting your basal body temperature (your temperature at full-rest) you may notice that it stays high.
• Some very sensitive home pregnancy tests may show up as positive if you test during this time.

Pregnancy Care: Weeks 1-3

• If you haven’t started on a prenatal vitamin already, now is a good time to begin.
• Also give up smoking and alcohol, eat a healthy diet, and drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day.
• 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 cut down on your coffee intake, as caffeine can have a negative impact on fertility.

Your Checklist

• 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 yet, now’s the time to do it. You will learn about lifestyle, genetic, and environmental hazards that may have an impact on your fertility and baby.
• At this appointment, you can discuss matters such as exercise, diet and suitable prenatal vitamins with your doctor.
• 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.

Your next week: 4 weeks pregnant

Reference: American Pregnancy Association

What are your pregnancy concerns, mum? Leave us a comment below!