Many women start counting their pregnancy from the time the pregnancy is confirmed. But pregnancy actually starts the moment the egg is fertilized. Therefore, pregnancy is technically 42 weeks, not 40.
For this reason, most doctors will give you a two-week due date window when confirming your pregnancy. It is hard to pinpoint with accuracy the moment the time you miss your next period. The pregnancy really officially starts the second week when fertilization occurs.
Even though it counts as being pregnant, you really won’t be able to feel any changes. You can do your daily routines, exercise and do everything like you would normally do. If you suspect that you are pregnant and have been trying, it would be a good idea to stop smoking (if you are a smoker) and stop drinking alcohol. Some women have pregnancy symptoms right away. For some women, they will not experience any symptoms until after their pregnancy is confirmed.
Baby’s Development
What makes 42 weeks of pregnancy feel so long is that modern technology has enabled us to find out almost immediately if we are pregnant. There are women who know that they are pregnant within 2 weeks so the total pregnancy seems longer for women nowadays. As for the baby’s development in the first week of pregnancy, there isn’t any. You are not considered pregnant until the second week, which is when conception occurs.
If you take a look at the science of pregnancy, when fertilization takes place and the egg and sperm come together in the Fallopian Tube, the result is called a zygote. Once the fertilization happens, the cells start dividing. The very first week the baby is medically referred to as a blastocyte. The blastocyle will start to take the form of the placenta and the embryo develops inside the placenta. When the zygote stage takes place, there should be 36 chromosomes, which will offer information such as sex, hair color, skin color, eye color and even personality traits as the baby develops.
Changes In Your Body
As for any physical changes in your body in the first week of pregnancy, you won’t notice any. But there are some changes happening that you won’t be able to take notice of. There are some very common symptoms of pregnancy that can affect women within the first few weeks, even starting from the first unofficial week.
Take notice of any of these symptoms: excessive gas, a sense of uneasiness or nervousness, constipation and nausea. As pregnancy progresses you will start to feel exhausted all the time. You may experience mood swings or feelings of depression. It is normal to feel these things. It is very important that when you are confirmed to be pregnant that you makes a list of questions for your doctor. It can be a scary time as well as a joyous time; don’t ever dismiss a feeling that you have. Any concern that you have is an important one.
Pregnancy is a privilege and you should enjoy every last minute of it. Relax and don’t stress out about every little thing. Express your feelings to your significant other, even though they cannot help you carry the baby, they can help you in ways you may not have thought of. In the first week of pregnancy, you are so excited that you start planning everything from baby names to picking out cribs. It is a fun time and planning is one of the best parts.
What To Expect
The first week of pregnancy, there really is nothing to expect as far as what you can see and feel. You will want to start off the pregnancy the right way by eating the right foods, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to turn into a health freak. Increase fruits and vegetables and drink more orange juice for Folic Acid. Take prenatal vitamins and try cutting down on caffeine. Stop smoking and cut out alcohol. Starting an exercise regimen will help the pregnancy go smoother.
Ask your doctor to help you plan out a diet and exercise plan. You don’t have to go crazy but the healthier you eat and the better shape you are in, the fewer problems you are likely to experience during pregnancy. Don’t go crazy, just a simple exercise plan will do just fine.
Tips/Advice
Although the first week of pregnancy can be pretty uneventful, here are some tips and advice that you can try. Don’t panic about becoming a Mom, you have 42 weeks to worry. Talk to your doctor and discuss every concern that you have. They will not think you are nuts by asking questions about what to expect down the line. Most new moms’ are excited and they want to start shopping and planning baby showers right away.
Slow down, 42 weeks is a long time and in some experiences when new moms get caught up in the excitement it can make 42 weeks seem like 42 months. Choose one baby book, they all pretty much say the same thing anyway. Take each week one week at a time. Before you know it you will be at 40 weeks. Most women believe in not telling people for 3 months until they pass the first trimester and other women can’t wait to tell. Talk to your significant other and you decide when you want to share the happy news. The last and most important piece of advice is don’t stress! Relax and enjoy the pregnancy.
March 31st, 2010 at 9:18 am
i had pregnancy symptoms since i could remeber but didnt know i was pregnant.i didnt find out til i was 7 weeks,iam now 12 weeks
May 26th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
that was the samething with me. i didnt find out i was pregnant till my 7th week and now im 34 weeks.
June 12th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
yeah i did too. i stated felling it and i got scared so i went to the doctor i found out i was preggo!! i was 7weeks and now im 13 weeks and so exited. my tummy dosent really show pluz i been loosing weight and i been vomiting felling nausa like crazy but the doctor said its normal. every preg is different and im so exited!!
June 13th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
I am 12 weeks and five days have been so tired still most of my symptoms are ok but am still vomiting a lot this will be my third child and I thought I was pregnant but didn’t find out until today umb so excited lol
June 24th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
how early is "too early" to take a pregnancy test?
June 27th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
I am 11 weeks with my third pregnancy 4th child and am already showing. I have yet to go to the doctor but am concerned because I just had a set of faternal twin boys 10 months ago. I am wondering if this could be more multiplesor just my body trying to adapt to having so many so quickly.
July 16th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Well Im 13 weeks today i have not had any Morning Sickness at all i heard the babys heart beat it was Awsome it was beating 151 per minute .And the baby is moving .My Due Date is January 23,2011 well i go back to the doctors Monday @7:45 am..Well Congrats to everyone on here
July 18th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
u might be having multiples,,,,plus u just had the twins 10 months ago and youre body hasent adjust to its regular sise yet…
July 18th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
use the pregnancy test called "clear blue or the first response,,they both 6 to 5 days sooner b4 youre period!!
July 21st, 2010 at 9:31 am
Iam tweentie three weeks pregnunt
November 9th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
A week after my period I started bleeding again, for about four days (never happened before) It has been about two weeks now, since my period has ended, took two tests, both negative, could I still be pregnant?
November 9th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
a week after my period ended, I started bleeding again for about four days (has never happened before) I have taken two tests and they were negative. it has been about two weeks since my period has ended, could I still be pregnant?
December 14th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
you're not actually pregnant until about 4weeks. That's when it will show up on a pregnancy test.
December 16th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Sounds a lot like what happened to me, my last period ended around mid May of 2010 and around the time it was suppose to start again in June it was late for about a week to nine days, then I started to bleed a little bit for a day or two, so I was really disapointed. After that I took two home pregnancy tests a week apart from each and both were negative. Forgot to mention around this time I felt very sick, weak, and tired all the time so my husband and I went to the doctor and they told me to rule out being pregnant because of the tests I took at home, but they gave me a pregnancy test anyway…I am 31 weeks and 2 days pregnant now with a baby girl, Sophie
December 20th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
I Am 20 and I Had Sex With A Condom But It Had Popped. Soo Now Im Real Worried Because I Dont Know If Im Pregnant I had Sex On Dec 19 And My Peirod Dont Come On Until the 22 ..My Question Is Is Dere A Chance Of Me Being Pregnant And What Kind Of Hpt Should I Take So I Can Know Right Away Please And Thank You
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March 27th, 2011 at 10:49 am
Pregnancy is actually 38 weeks, not 40, and definitely not 42.
It's 40 weeks from last menstrual period (LMP) to the estimated due date (EDD) – but you're not pregnant until ovulation, which takes place approximately 2 weeks after the LMP.
The date of your expected period the baby is only 2 weeks old, but you're considered to be 4 weeks pregnant. Just to clarify!
April 30th, 2011 at 5:00 am
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