Mums, there is so much going on with the fetus growing inside of you at this stage! Here is the week by week guide for pregnancy week 4.
Week 4: How Big is Your Baby?
This is the week that marks the beginning of your baby’s embryonic period even if your baby is still microscopic. It’s around 1mm and weighs around 0.1g, the size of a poppy seed.
Pregnancy Week 4
Your Baby’s Development
- The amniotic sac is now present at pregnancy week 4. This will be home to your baby until the time of birth. Also present is the yolk sac which will produce your baby’s red blood cells. The yolk sac is also responsible for delivering all nutrients to him/her until the placenta is developed and ready to take over this function.
- This is the beginning of major activity for him/her. From now onwards, for the next six weeks, all of his/her organs will begin to develop (and some of them will even begin functioning!) This is also a crucial time when your baby will be most vulnerable to anything that might interfere with their development, so even if you haven’t confirmed your pregnancy yet, be sure to steer clear of alcohol, smoking, drugs, and unsafe chemicals at this point.
Pregnancy Symptoms
- You will probably be taking a home pregnancy test to confirm your suspicions of being pregnant—not all women find out about their pregnancy this early on. Just remember that for the most accurate results you must wait for at least a week after your expected period. Try taking the test in the morning, when hCG levels are more concentrated.
- You may not yet be feeling much different yet, but brace yourself for morning sickness in the very near future.
- Do you feel so tired lately? Exhaustion is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy, due to a dramatic rise in progesterone, the pregnancy hormone.
- Thanks to progesterone again, you may experience a slowing in your digestion, leading to a feeling of bloating and gas.
- There might be some mild cramps and perhaps a bit of bleeding, this is because your baby travels up the fallopian tube and implants him/herself to the wall of your uterus.
- Your fluctuating hormones could be causing mood swings. While it is normal for pregnant women to experience varying emotions, do check in with your healthcare provider if your mood swings are becoming more frequent or more intense, or if they last longer than two weeks. 14 to 23 per cent of women battle with mild to moderate depression during pregnancy.
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Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist for Week 4 of Pregnancy
- Once you confirm your pregnancy you need to stop smoking and absolutely limit the intake of alcohol and caffeine.
- Avoid unpasteurised soft cheeses such as camembert and brie, as well as undercooked meats and soft-boiled eggs to avoid e-coli and salmonella infections.
- Avoid fish with high mercury levels such as shark, swordfish and king mackerel.
- If you’re experiencing digestive problems such as bloating and gas, try eating smaller meals throughout the day. Eat slowly and chew your food well. Start avoiding carbonated beverages, gum, and the artificial sweetener sorbitol.
- Regular light exercises, like walking or prenatal yoga, can also provide relief for gas and bloating. You may also find that wearing clothes that are loose-fitting at the waist can help you feel better.
- If the home pregnancy test is positive, you need to call and fix your first prenatal visit to your gynaecologist.
- You need to make a list of any medications that you might be taking, whether prescription or over the counter and check with your doctor if it is safe to continue with them.
- You need to pay a lot more attention to what you are eating and begin taking prenatal vitamins.
picture of Ultrasound of baby in mother’s womb. 4 week.
Your next week: 5 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 1-3 weeks pregnant
What are your pregnancy concerns, mum? Leave us a comment below!
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