1 WEEK PREGNANT
I’m one week pregnant! Sorry to burst the bubble, but in reality, the 1st week of pregnancy isn’t the pregnancy we think it to be. In fact, the first week of pregnancy isn’t considered pregnancy at all.
This is because, OBs count the beginning of pregnancy from the first day of your last period as the exact day of ovulation and conception is truly tricky to pinpoint, but the physical signs of menstruation are much easier to identify.
As such, in the medical world, being 1 week pregnant simply means you’re on your period and are not pregnant just as yet. It is not until week two or three, depending on the length of your cycle, that you are impregnated.
As such, should you just found out that you’re expecting, you’re probably about 4 weeks pregnant already! (Your OB will give you a more accurate estimate when you go in for your first prenatal appointment.) You could go on ahead and check out week 4.
1 WEEK PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS
At 1 week pregnant—remember we mentioned that week one isn’t exactly pregnancy per say? As such, the symptoms you’re experiencing are that of your period. So, at 1 week pregnant, your symptoms may be your typical monthly discomfort that last from three to seven days, including:
- Vaginal bleeding. You body is shedding the uterine lining, which holds last month’s unfertilized egg.
- Lower back pain and cramps. As your body releases the lining, your uterus contracts, causing your back and abdomen to ache.
- Bloating. Fluctuating hormones is the culprit behind your bloated belly right before and during your period.
- Mood swings. Raging hormones during this period can irritability and wreak havoc on your emotions.
- Headache. Menstrual migraines, is a very real issue, which many women suffer from during their period. This is, no surprise, also hormone related.
The human egg is the largest cell in the human body. A women is born with approximately 1 to 2 million immature eggs in her womb, and by puberty only 300,000 remain. Of these, only about 400 to 500 will be ovulated during a woman’s reproductive lifetime.
1 WEEK THE PREGNANT BELLY
Inside your 1 week pregnant belly, your body isn’t just releasing last month’s egg but it also begins to form a new uterine lining that will hold next month’s egg.
Fun fact: Did you know that the human egg is the largest cell in the body? The egg is actually the size of peach fuzz which your body releases one (or in rare cases, two) eggs somewhere between day 10 and day 19 of your menstrual cycle. It can be fertilized for about 12 to 24 hours after that. So that would mean, ladies, having sex before then increases the chance of pregnancy, since sperm can live in your body for up to six days.
The first signs of pregnancy isn’t obvious—in fact, many women miss their period at week 4 before they start to feel “different.” However, some common early signs of pregnancy in the first weeks after fertilization include breast soreness or tenderness, nausea, fatigue, and frequent urge to pee.
At the first week of your pregnancy, it is best to start prepping your body to carry your baby. It always helps to have a healthy weight and a lifestyle that is keeps smoking and drinking at bay. If possible, reduce your caffeine intake to no more than two cups of coffee a day (we’re talking 230ml cups—not the venti!)
HOW IS MY BABY 1 WEEK PREGNANT?
As you’re merely experiencing the symptoms of your period, you’re not likely to have a 1 week pregnant ultrasound.
But if you’ve been trying for a while to get pregnant and have seen a fertility specialist, you may have had an ultrasound to check for fibroids, to check for the number of follicles (which grow into eggs) in your ovaries and/or to gauge the thickness of your uterine lining.
Now, all you need to do, is to rumble in the sheets because, ladies, you’ve got a baby to make!
WHAT TO DO AT 1 WEEK PREGNANT
Reminders for the week:
- Stop unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking, and excessive intake of caffeine
- Start taking prenatal vitamin with 400 mcg folic acid daily
- Remember to track your cycle to pinpoint your most fertile days
