4th Week of Pregnancy: Baby is the Size of a Poppy Seed

By the 4th week of pregnancy, you would have surely missed your period. This event would have made you want to take a home pregnancy test, which confirms a positive outcome. Congratulations on your big news!

What Happens in the 4th Week of Pregnancy?

Your baby is now definitely inside you and making your belly it’s home. You may notice the 4th week pregnancy symptoms but there will be close to no change in your belly’s size or shape.

Mom-to-be

After the fertilization has completed, the zygote travels to the uterus through the fallopian tube. Here in the uterus lining, it readies itself to be buried for the next 8 months. The journey of the zygote is completed by the 4th week of pregnancy. Your hormone levels will take a quick spike.

Baby

The size of your baby would be similar to that of a poppy seed right now. It is only a group of cells at this point. These group of cells are medically known as a blastocyst. Though you would not know it, your baby has started a lot of work. For starters, the blastocyst goes through division in the 4th week of pregnancy. These groups of cells divide into two – an embryo and placenta. Your baby undergoes a lot of development this week. The making of amniotic sac and fluid begins, along with the baby’s brain, spinal cord and backbone.

4th Week Pregnancy Symptoms

Since a lot is happening in your body, you would experience some changes. There may not be a bump yet but you are likely to feel bloated. 4th week pregnancy symptoms include:

• Bloating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Mild cramping
• Light Spotting
• Mood swings
• Morning sickness
• Fatigue
• Food cravings
• Sore breasts

Pregnancy Scan at 4 Weeks

When you miss your period, the first call you should make is to your gynaecologist. Before spreading the good news, you should ensure that you are healthy enough to carry a baby. Your healthcare provider will only conduct basic health checks and pregnancy scan at 4 weeks. The baby is microscopic at this point, so may not be visible to the naked eye, through the ultrasound.

You should make your visit to the doctor at the earliest to have a 4 weeks pregnant ultrasound. Your gestational sac can be screened this week.

Taking Care at 4th Week of Pregnancy

Though officially your pregnancy starts on the first day of your last period, by the 4th week of pregnancy you have enough evidence for the same. A healthy pregnancy is defined by well-being at every phase. Follow the given points to care for yourself:

• Start taking prenatal vitamins (with 400 mg of folic acid)
• Make sure to get enough Vitamin D
• Quit smoking and drinking alcohol
• Avoid secondhand smoke too
• Eat healthy fats
• Take a nutritious diet
• Try to relax as much as possible