Table of contents:
Week of gestation: 1-3 weeks
Equivalent to the month: Beginning of the 1st month
Equals to days: 1 to 21 days of gestation
The first day of pregnancy is considered the first day of the last period because most women cannot know for sure when their most fertile day was, and it is also not possible to know the exact day of fertilization since sperm can survive up to 7 days inside a woman's body.
Technically, in the first two weeks the woman is not pregnant because she has not yet ovulated, however, the uterus is getting ready and, in these weeks, the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, thickens to receive the embryo, in case fertilization occurs.
Ovulation occurs between the 2nd and 3rd week and, if the spermatozoa find the egg, they can fertilize it, starting to divide and giving rise to the embryo, which will reach the uterus and implant, process known as nesting, in one of its thick walls. Check out how to know if there was fertilization and implantation.
During the 3rd week, although there are still not many symptoms at this stage of pregnancy, it is normal for a woman to start feeling more swollen, emotional and with some nausea that happens due to the hormonal changes that are happening and, a small bleeding, as a consequence of implantation.
Baby development
After conception, the developing embryo provides information to the brain about its existence, through the Beta HCG hormone, which inhibits the next menstruation. In addition, the Beta HCG hormone also maintains high progesterone levels throughout pregnancy, which are essential to prevent contractions during pregnancy and premature expulsion of the embryo.
Since there is still no placenta, the embryo behaves independently of the mother, however, it is already dependent on the mother's body to receive the necessary shelter for its development. The placenta normally develops around 12 weeks of gestation, when the baby's needs become more demanding, requiring more blood, oxygen and nutrients.
Baby size
The embryo is still very small, measuring approximately 0.15 mm, being smaller than a chia seed.
Changes in a woman's body
In these first weeks, the woman rarely notices the symptoms of pregnancy, however, there may be a little bleeding as a result of implantation and, in some pregnant women, the first signs may begin to appear, such as more swelling and greater sensitivity, besides being able to feel more emotional.
In addition, it is normal for the first nausea to appear, as there are hormonal changes common in pregnancy. She knows the first 14 signs that she might be pregnant.
To confirm pregnancy, it is possible to do urine or blood tests, which measure the amount of beta HCG hormone present, thus identifying the pregnancy
Care during 1-3 weeks
When a woman finds out she is pregnant, it is essential to make an appointment with the obstetrician to start monitoring the pregnancy, to be evaluated and to carry out tests to know the levels of folic acid, which is an important vitamin to prevent baby malformations.
The first weeks of pregnancy are the ones that require the most care, since there is a risk of losing the baby and, therefore, it is important that the woman does not practice exercises that have a great impact, such as jumping or fight, however, can walk, run or swim.
Dietary care such as avoiding fats, sugar or undercooked foods should be done throughout the entire pregnancy, starting from the moment the woman knows she is pregnant.
It is important that the pregnant woman does not take medication without medical advice because they can cause malformations in the baby and increase the risk of miscarriage, including some medicines for nausea. Thus, to relieve the symptoms, the woman can drink and eat cold foods or crackers of water and s alt. See 5 natural ways to relieve morning sickness.
