It's implantation time! This week the embryo, which is now
called a blastocyst, has found its way to the uterus and is looking
for a suitable place to nestle in for the next 36 weeks or so.
Implantation usually happens at around the time you would be
expecting your period so many women aren't surprised when they have
a slight bleed in the 4th week. But, if it's only slight spotting
it could be an implantation bleed and not a regular period. The
uterine wall is so engorged with blood at this stage that any
disruption can cause a light bleed. Some women say they can
actually feel the moment when the blastocyst embeds, and who can
say they are wrong?
Can I get excited yet?
You are likely to become suspicious that you could be pregnant
if your period doesn't come this week when you expect it to.
Keeping track of your cycles with a calendar is a good idea. You
may be experiencing some early pregnancy symptoms (see below) which
alert you that your body feels somehow a little different to what
it usually does. Don't be concerned if you feel exactly the same as
you normally do though. Even if you are officially 4 weeks
pregnant, your body is still getting accustomed to all of its
pregnancy changes.
By the time you are 4 weeks pregnant it's possible to confirm
your pregnancy with a blood or urine test. Both are extremely
sensitive to picking up Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Hormone
(HCG) if it's present in your system. You
can check your own wee in the privacy of your own home and the best
time to do this is when you wake up in the morning. This is when
the concentration of HCG will be at its
highest.
Your physical changes this week
- You may feel some lower pelvic cramping and a sensation of
"fullness". You may feel bloated or have more wind than you usually
do.
- You could start to feel some nausea, or morning sickness,
especially if you haven't eaten for a while. The smell or thought
of some foods may turn you off, even if you usually love them.
Coffee, fish, red meat and even pet food can be enough to make you
feel you want to vomit.
- Your breasts may be tender and your nipples more sensitive.
Your breasts may even look fuller and more rounded, especially if
your breasts are usually a small size.
- You may want to go to the toilet to wee more often. You don't
seem to be able to hold on for as long as you usually do and only
wee small amounts. This is because of the increase in your blood
volume and the pressure of your full uterus pressing down on your
bladder underneath.
- You may have some slight spotting from an implantation
bleed.
Your emotional changes this week
- You may be feeling a big sense of apprehension and excitement.
Waiting to see if your period starts can seem like an eternity,
with frequent stops to the bathroom to check.
- You may feel similar to how your usually do before you have a
period. A little more emotional, easily irritated and generally
feeling more moody.
- If you want to conceive, but have a negative pregnancy test,
you may be feeling disappointed with the result. Talk with your
partner or a supportive friend. Alternately, if you didn't plan on
getting pregnant, but find out that you are, this can be a
stressful time.
Your baby's changes this week
- This week your baby is the size of a full-stop, or a poppy
seed. It is still barely visible to the naked eye.
- In the 4th week of pregnancy there is a lot of organisation and
cell separation going on. Three distinct layers of cells start to
form. The ectoderm (outer layer), will eventually become the baby's
skin, eyes, hair, their nervous system, their brain, and even the
enamel of their teeth. The middle layer (mesoderm) will become
their skeleton, muscles and kidneys, tissues and vascular (blood)
system. The layer on the inside (endoderm) will eventually become
their internal organs.
- Once a cell has a specific function, it can't become a
different type of cell. Every one is pre-programmed from the start
and knows what to do and what it is to become.
Hints for the week
- Buy a pregnancy test or two from the chemist or the
supermarket. The most expensive is not necessarily the best. Try to
choose one which has 2 sticks so you can repeat the test. It is
impossible to get a false positive reading, though in the very
early stages you can get a false negative result. Keep the test -
if it is positive it is a nice memento to hold on to.
- Make the first of many your ante-natal appointments. This will
initially be with your GP who will refer you to a midwife or
obstetrician for ongoing care.
- Avoid getting overheated and try to stay well. An elevated
temperature in the early weeks of pregnancy can sometimes carry a
risk to the baby as it is forming.
Now we move onto week 5,
when your baby is getting well and truly comfortable.