4 Weeks Pregnant

Read about...

• Your Baby
• You
• 1st Month of Pregnancy Video
• Diary of a Daughter

Your Baby

You can rejoice in the fact that your new little one has graduated to an embryo this week! It will consist of two layers of cells, the epiblast and the hypoblast, that will later on develop into the essential organs and body parts that your baby requires to function on their own.

At some point this week, implantation occurs. The average day for this to happen is 9 days after ovulation.

This week is a busy time as the amnion and the yolk sac are also maturing for your baby�s use. The amnion is filled with amniotic fluid that surrounds and protects your new little embryo, while the yolk sac produces the blood and nourishes it until the placenta is able to take over this very important role of development.

You may be wondering how all of this large miracle activity is beginning right there inside you, but have no fear, although there is much going on, your little bundle of joy is only the size of a poppy seed at the present, so there is not a whole lot to see with the naked eye from the outside.

There will be plenty of time for you to grow and see for yourself exactly how much space your new addition is going to require. If you are one of the lucky ones to have a multiple pregnancy in the works, you are sure to see the signs of growth sooner than you can imagine since there is 1 (or 2!) more to nourish and grow during this time.

You

Depending of the lenght of your cycle, you may very well receive a positive result in a pregnancy test now when 4 weeks pregnant. Fantastic, huh! On the other hand, if your embryo implanted late, it may take a few more days or even a week before you hCG levels have risen enough to make the test come out positive.

If your pregnancy test has come back positive then you will want to make an appointment with your medical practitioner as soon as possible. Typically, your first prenatal appointment will happen around 8 weeks of pregnancy unless you have experienced previous problems with pregnancies or in a high-risk category.

During your first visit is a good time to go over any medications that you currently take, or may take occasionally since there can be many over the counter medications that are not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers.

Some women will experience slight cramping and even spotting during this week and can mistake these early pregnancy symptoms for the beginning of their monthly period. Others will have no indication of the implantation that has taken place and will still continue to wait with anticipation on a positive result from a pregnancy test.

Mothers of multiples will have a tendency to have increased symptoms due to their bodies working overtime on producing hormones essential for the development of the new little ones. Extreme nausea, fatigue and even breast soreness are hard to ignore for those who are carrying more than one embryo during this time.

Sleep is crucial for expecting mothers no matter what age or where they are in their gestation period. Be sure to not only get all the vitamins and nutrients needed for your developing baby, but also get enough rest as your body is working extremely hard to prepare the groundwork for your little one who will rely on you for all of its needs in the coming months.

The symptoms of early pregnancy can vary from woman to woman, ranging from slight to severe depending on each individual.

Spotting (implantation bleeding), tender breasts, or even nausea can be experienced either alone or a combination of many by any number of women who are in the first stages of pregnancy.

Other subtle signs of pregnancy can include a heightened sense of smell, food preferences or aversions, frequent urination, or even an extreme amount of fatigue all of a sudden.

Do not be alarmed if you aren�t showing any sure signs of pregnancy or even if you have a wide combination of many. Each woman�s body is different and each pregnancy is unique.

This is one of the most important times to make sure that you are taking in enough vitamins and nutrients your body needs in order to begin this new life.

Folic acid, which can be obtained through a prenatal vitamin, will help prevent birth defects of the neural tube, such as spina bifida. This supplememt is very important to start taking already now when 4 weeks pregnant.

A calcium supplement is also especially important since many women do not get enough calcium through a regular diet of leafy greens and milk products.

Iron will help increase your baby�s blood volume during this time of growth and development, so be sure to have a balanced diet including many fruits, vegetables calcium and proteins.

1st Month of Pregnancy Video

If seeing is believing for you; watch this video explaining the first few week of pregnancy in pictures and words.

Instructions: When watching the video clips, start the videos by clicking the small arrow down to the left, not the large one in the middle of the screen. If you're using Internet Explorer as your browser and the video doesn't start, try clicking twice on the small arrow.

Diary of a Daughter

What's it really like being 4 weeks pregnant...? Here's a true diary from a 4 weeks pregnant mom-to-be. (Me..!)

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