PREGNANCY WEEKLY Pregnancy weekly will take you through this journey of nine months to make you aware of all the changes taking place in you, your baby and your life. It is a journey full of experiences.

Pregnancy Weekly | Weeks 1 to 3

Age of fetus is one week (fetus forms 2 weeks after last menstruation period)

Note: Experts say every baby grows differently. This information gives you a general idea about fetus growth

The first three weeks of your pregnancy goes without announcing itself to you, even for those of  you who had planned or anticipating but not sure.

The non planners may wonder why you feel different OR maybe you would feel fatigue, mood swings or breast soreness. (Yes, the emotional and physical changes starts from the first week itself), or maybe you won’t feel anything till you miss the dates. You may also have increased vaginal discharge. Only when you start experiencing pregnancy symptoms may you go in for further tests.

Pregnancy tests either at home or in the laboratory would confirm the results.

You may experience some spotting or bleeding at this time (because of implantation of the zygote).

What is actually happening to your baby in these weeks? 

• During the intercourse, 2-5 ml of semen is deposited in the vagina and each ml contains an average of 70 MILLION sperms out of which only 200 reach the uterus and only 1 of which fertilizes your egg
  
• The father’s sperm fertilizes the mother’s egg in the fallopian tube and a single cell then divides into a ball of cells called a ZYGOTE
  
• Fertilized ovum and zygote takes 5-7 days before it reaches the uterine cavity, the site of implantation
  
• After 4 days a group of cells is formed which is called a ‘morula’
  
• It further divides or becomes a BLASTOCYTE in a week’s time
  
• It further divides into an outer layer which forms the placenta and amniotic sac and an inner layer which becomes an EMBRYO
  
• It starts multiplying there and the journey begins….for you and your baby

ONCE YOU ARE SURE OF YOUR PREGNANCY, YOU NATURALLY WANT TO KNOW WHEN IS THE BABY DUE TO COME TO YOU PHYSICALLY (Go to our pregnancy calendar to calculate your due date).

Medications

Stop taking any medications. Consult your doctor before starting any medicines or continuing with your existing ones.

Nutrition

Time to supplement your diet with folic acid and vitamin B6. Actually, if you have planned your pregnancy, this should begin 2-3 months before conception to avoid neural tube defects in the baby.

Bleeding during pregnancy

• Bleeding during pregnancy, though may cause a lot of concern, but it is not an uncommon symptom
  
• In the first trimester, it may be seen during implantation-2-3 weeks of pregnancy
  
• Strenuous exercise intercourse may cause bleeding. Nothing to worry about but it’s better to show your doctor once
  
• The placenta may be lying low. An ultrasound at this time may show the cause and some amount of rest may be advised to you.