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Pregnancy week 4

A week by week guide to what's happening to you and your baby

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU
Congratulations. You'll be hearing that word a lot. You've looked at the positive test a hundred times to make sure it hasn't reverted to negative, but it's true. So from this point on, get healthy: eat well and exercise in moderation. Have lunch-time naps. Everything you do is for two, so take a deep breath and let your body build a baby.Physically, you may be experiencing any of the following symptoms: missed period, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, bloating, a feeling of fullness, light cramping, poor appetite, frequent urination, and breast tenderness. If you've had some minor spotting in the past week, it may be ‘implantation’ bleeding, which is not a cause for concern. Some women have no symptoms at all and feel absolutely wonderful. This, too, is perfectly normal.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY

The fertilised egg has made its seven- to ten-day trip to the uterus, where it implants into the endometrial surface. It is now called a blastocyst and it has divided into two parts. While you are reading this newsletter, the first part is forming the placenta and the second part will become the embryo. The two layers that make up the amniotic bag of waters are newly formed, and the very beginning of the connecting stalk - which will become the umbilical cord - has appeared. Until your placenta is fully functioning, the yolk sac, now present, will feed your baby.

HEALTHY EATING

Start taking folic acid every day. Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that reduces neural tube defects in babies and is especially critical prior to conception and during these early weeks of pregnancy. Some studies have suggested that folic acid may lower the incidence of miscarriages and reduce the likelihood of a pre-term delivery. Folic acid can be found naturally in fortified cereals or wholegrain breads, dried peas and beans, leafy vegetables, fruit and yeast.

For more on folic acid during early pregnancy:

FACT OF THE WEEK

As soon as you discover you are pregnant, schedule your booking-in appointment with your GP or midwife. This will take place around your tenth week of pregnancy. Early prenatal care is essential. These initial weeks are some of the most important in your baby's physical development.

Learn more about what will happen on your first visit to the doctor.

And find out what's happening when you get to week 5 of your pregnancy.

For a list of all the pregnancy week by week articles click here



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