Pregnancy

4 Weeks Pregnant: What To Expect?

4 weeks pregnant

          4 Weeks Pregnant: What To Expect?

Congratulations! If you know you’re 4 weeks pregnant, you’ve found the news earlier than many women do (because you’ve taken a test as soon as you missed your period, or even a few days before, rather than waiting for a little)—and you might be totally excited, or you might get used to the idea of having a baby. Either way, you may feel no different (at least for now) as early symptoms of pregnancy do not always kick in immediately. Certainly, celebrate with your partner this amazing news, but maybe you don’t want to tell the whole world yet.

Your first call should be with your doctor at week 4 of pregnancy to schedule your first prenatal visit, where he or she will confirm your pregnancy with a urine or blood test.

Baby’s Growth During Pregnancy – Week 4

The fourth week of pregnancy is an implantation week. The blastocyst eventually splits into two placentae and embryo in the uterine lining. This is the week when the amniotic bag or water bag and the yolk bag, part of the digestive system of your baby, are formed around the small embryo. During the 4th week, your small embryo also grows into three distinct parts. These three parts of the embryo-endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm, outer layer–are the body organs of your child later on. No doubt it’s an important week for your little wonder’s growth and development.

What is the Baby’s Size?

This week marks the beginning of the embryonic period as it is a critical week. Your baby’s size, which is the embryo, is just the size of a poppy seed. This poppy seed has two layers that will grow into the body parts of your little one, the epiblast, and the hypoblast. While the baby’s size is practically microscopic when you’re pregnant for 4 weeks, there are some major developments that are definitely noteworthy.

4-weeks Symptoms of Pregnancy

Some of the more typical 4-week pregnancy symptoms may also be caused by the same pregnancy hormones that gave you that positive pregnancy test. These levels of hormones increase pretty fast, so while it’s normal to be pregnant with no symptoms for 4 weeks, brace yourself: there may be nausea and vomiting in your near future. At 4 weeks pregnant, here’s a little bit of what to expect:

  • Bloating: Thanks to the pregnancy hormone progesterone, you may be a little puffed up. Break out the comfortable pants!
  • Mild Cramping: You may be worried at 4 weeks of pregnant cramping, but it may actually be a sign that your baby has been properly implanted in your uterus wall. However, at 4 weeks pregnant, any severe cramping or pain is something you should definitely tell your doctor about immediately. He or she is going to want to examine you to rule out any issues.
  • Spotting: Light bleeding may also occur as a result of implantation during week 4. Don’t worry — this is also completely normal. But the same advice goes: if it’s a lot of blood, like a period or heavier, it lasts more than a few days, or if you’re concerned, see the doc.
  • Mood swings: This isn’t your fantasy. Mostly because of your fluctuating hormones, your mood goes haywire. (But perhaps also because of stress and because your mind is racing.) Pregnancy mood swings during the first 12 weeks are the most drastic. The hormones will then level out to make you less susceptible to weeping at every commercial insurance you see.
  • Morning sickness: Experts say that approximately 50 to 90% of pregnant women are getting morning sick (nausea and vomiting too, sometimes). So even if you haven’t had an upset stomach yet, at some point you’re probably going to. Morning sickness is usually at its worst about nine weeks and slowly improves, usually completely vanishing in the second quarter.
  • Fatigue: One of the most common symptoms for four weeks of pregnancy is total exhaustion because your body works hard to turn the young cell ball into an embryo.
  • Sore breasts: Yowch! Because of those surging hormones telling your body, your boobs are swollen and tender, “There’s a baby coming. Better start preparing those milk ducts!”

4 weeks pregnant belly

A 4 weeks pregnant belly may be somewhat bloated, but you are almost certainly not yet pregnant. You still have to begin to act like a mother-to-be. And that means giving yourself and your little baby-to-be TLC.

In week 4 of pregnancy, the baby is already undergoing significant development, so start taking a prenatal vitamin if you don’t already. Look for one that contains at least 400 micrograms of folic acid and remember to take it every day. We know that you’re thinking a lot, but folic acid is very important because it proves to help prevent birth defects.

As your skinny jeans get harder to button, don’t shy away from looser clothing styles. Think stretchy pants, leggings, drapey shirts, and waterfall cardigans. There are tons of loose-fitting clothing options that will help you look stylish and stay comfortable.

4 Weeks Ultrasound

The cell ball divides into the embryo (your future child) and placenta during week 4 of pregnancy. The neural tube of the baby, the building block of the spine, brain, and backbone, is already formed. The amniotic sac and fluid form your baby’s protective cushioning. And on an ultrasound pregnant for 4 weeks, all that just looks like a tiny dot called the gestational sac.

Chances are, however, that at 4 weeks you won’t have an ultrasound. If you call the OB to tell him or her you’re pregnant for 4 weeks, they might say congrats to you and then make your first prenatal appointment for about a month. We know it looks like waiting for an eternity. But if you’ve got a clean health bill and no risk of complications from pregnancy, a doc just doesn’t need to see it. The OB will have much more to see around week eight or nine (including a heartbeat!). Meanwhile, eat well, drink plenty of water, avoid unhealthy habits such as drinking and smoking, and try relaxing. Simply try.

PREGNANCY CHECKLIST AT 4 WEEKS PREGNANT

Reminders for the week:

  • Find an OB & make a prenatal first appointment
  • Stop smoking and drinking
  • Begin to take a prenatal vitamin
  • Tell your partner that you are pregnant

Also Read: 1 week Pregnant: What to expect?

2 weeks Pregnant: What to expect?

3 Weeks Pregnant: What To Expect?

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