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Congratulations! Welcome to the miraculous, unique, and incredible journey through pregnancy, which officially begins this week. Your body is busy prepping for your soon-to-be pregnancy. It’s time to gear yourself up for evolution, the first step towards having a baby.
Baby Development at Week 1
Trying to get pregnant for the first time gives you mixed emotions of happiness and concern. This first week is when you see your menstrual period and marks the start of your pregnancy journey.
It is also when your 40-week pregnancy countdown begins, about two weeks before you conceive your baby. This is because your due date is determined by counting from the first day of your most recent menstruation.
Body Changes at Week 1
This week, your uterus has to shed its unfertilised egg from your last menstrual cycle, and that’s why you’re having your period now.
It may seem strange that your pregnancy is dated from the first day of your period cycle. If your average menstrual cycle is 28 days, the first two weeks after the beginning of your period are when your body is most likely to release the mature egg from one of your ovaries (ovulation).
Your uterus lining starts to thicken to accept a fertilised egg, and your most fertile days will be days 12, 13 and 14. However, ovulation occurs around day 21 if your average menstrual cycle is 35 days, and your most fertile days will be days 19, 20, and 21.
There is a high chance of getting pregnant during the most fertile time if a sperm meets with your egg. If everything goes well, fertilisation might occur, and you will conceive around week three. Therefore, your physician will calculate your pregnancy from the start date of your last period.
Choosing a doctor at the start of your menstrual period is advisable, as it is a critical time for preparation. In addition, you and your partner should talk more openly about your feelings and expectations and make healthy lifestyle choices.
If you have just taken a pregnancy test that turns out positive, then your pregnancy is likely to have gone a longer way than you thought, and you can consider moving on to know about your pregnancy at week 4.
Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 1
There is no baby developing during the first week of pregnancy. Symptoms during this week are not attributed to pregnancy but to your menstruation due to fluctuating hormones. Symptoms may Include:
- Bloating in the belly before & during your period
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Tender Breasts
- Exhaustion
- Constipation
- Lower back pain and cramps
- You’ll get moody and irritable
- Headache
- Food cravings
Health Tips for Week one
Eating well and living an active lifestyle will be superb because now is the time to create a health-promoting environment for you and your future pregnancy.
Health Tips for Week one
Balanced nutrition will provide your body with the required vitamins and nutrients needed while expecting. In addition, it will support and increase the energy your body needs to keep some of the pregnancy discomforts at a moderate level. Nutritious foods will also enhance the long-term health of your future child.
The nutritious diet recommended for pregnancy includes dairy products, legumes, sweet potatoes, salmon, broccoli and dark leafy vegetables, lean meat, berries, whole grains, avocado, and ample water intake.
During pregnancy, the requirement of Folate in the body is increased to maintain the demand for rapid cell division and growth of maternal tissue, placental, and the fetus.
The natural form of vitamin b9 is Folate which is found in foods. At the same time, Folic Acid is a synthetic dietary supplement converted into Folate in the body after consumption and is also used in fortifying foods.
Taking folic acid supplements and nutritious foods containing folic acid, especially at the beginning of your pregnancy, can significantly reduce the risk of congenital disabilities, including cleft lip and palate, as well as neural tube defects like spina bifida.
Preparing for pregnancy includes physical readiness and mental and emotional preparation. Hormonal changes, stress, and anxiety can significantly impact mental health, which in turn can affect pregnancy outcomes.
However, addressing mental health concerns before conception can benefit both you and your child.
When trying to conceive, it’s essential to consider what you incorporate into your routine and what you eliminate. It’s crucial to refrain from alcohol, drugs, and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
According to the CDC, these substances can significantly impact the health of a developing baby and increase the risk of genetic disorders, respiratory issues, low birth weight, foetal alcohol syndrome, and other health complications.
Health Tips for Week one
Balanced nutrition will provide your body with the required vitamins and nutrients needed while expecting. In addition, it will support and increase the energy your body needs to keep some of the pregnancy discomforts at a moderate level. Nutritious foods will also enhance the long-term health of your future child.
The nutritious diet recommended for pregnancy includes dairy products, legumes, sweet potatoes, salmon, broccoli and dark leafy vegetables, lean meat, berries, whole grains, avocado, and ample water intake.
During pregnancy, the requirement of Folate in the body is increased to maintain the demand for rapid cell division and growth of maternal tissue, placental, and the fetus.
The natural form of vitamin b9 is Folate which is found in foods. At the same time, Folic Acid is a synthetic dietary supplement converted into Folate in the body after consumption and is also used in fortifying foods.
Taking folic acid supplements and nutritious foods containing folic acid, especially at the beginning of your pregnancy, can significantly reduce the risk of congenital disabilities, including cleft lip and palate, as well as neural tube defects like spina bifida.
Preparing for pregnancy includes physical readiness and mental and emotional preparation. Hormonal changes, stress, and anxiety can significantly impact mental health, which in turn can affect pregnancy outcomes.
However, addressing mental health concerns before conception can benefit both you and your child.
When trying to conceive, it’s essential to consider what you incorporate into your routine and what you eliminate. It’s crucial to refrain from alcohol, drugs, and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
According to the CDC, these substances can significantly impact the health of a developing baby and increase the risk of genetic disorders, respiratory issues, low birth weight, foetal alcohol syndrome, and other health complications.
Pregnancy Week one dos'
- Include prenatal vitamins in your diet after consulting your doctor.
- Start prenatal vitamins with 400 mcg of folic acids every day.
- Bring all the necessary changes in your lifestyle and eating habits.
- Do exercise regularly as it helps curb the demands of labour and motherhood.
Pregnancy Week one Don'ts
- Quit drinking alcohol
- Quit smoking
- Don’t take medicines without consulting your doctor.
- Avoid high caffeine consumption
- Steer clear of excessively vigorous exercise routines.
- Refrain from consuming diets high in processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats.
- Reduce your exposure to chemicals and toxins present in pesticides, plastics, and household cleaning agents.
- Stay away from recreational drugs including marijuana.
Advice for Partners
- Get examined and treated for likely sexually transmitted infections.
- Limit alcohol intake and quit the use of tobacco and drugs.
- Encourage healthy conversation for a strong connection.
- Learn to cope with her mood swings during the pregnancy rather than argue with her.
- Help plan antenatal care, which means helping her in choosing a doctor.
- Be empathetic, which means trying to put yourself in her shoes. This will allow you to feel what she is going through.
- Give her a massage. A good massage of 5-10 minutes can work as a wonder.
Key Facts
- The 40-week pregnancy countdown begins approximately two weeks before conception occurs.
- Conception will likely occur around week three of pregnancy if fertilisation happens during the fertile window.
- There is no baby developing during the first week of pregnancy. Symptoms during this week are not attributed to pregnancy but to your menstruation due to fluctuating hormones.
- Addressing mental health concerns before conception can benefit both mother and child.
- Include prenatal vitamins in your diet after consulting your doctor.
- It is important not to take medicines without consulting your doctor.
- Partners can improve their fertility by cutting down on alcohol and quitting tobacco and recreational drugs, as these habits can adversely affect sperm quality, hindering conception.
Frequently Asked Questions
During pregnancy week 1, your body is preparing for ovulation. This marks the start of your menstrual cycle, where the lining of the uterus begins to thicken in anticipation of a potential fertilized egg. However, actual conception typically occurs around week 2 of pregnancy, so no embryo has formed yet at this stage.
You have 39 more weeks to complete your pregnancy journey at one week pregnant.
During week 1 of pregnancy, you are still in the first trimester. The first trimester typically lasts from week 1 to week 12 of pregnancy.
In normal pregnancies, no ultrasound is performed in the first week. However, if you are undergoing treatment to get pregnant, the doctor may advise an ultrasound to check for fibroids and follicles in the ovary.
Some people may experience early signs of pregnancy as soon as one week after conception (around week 4) when the fertilised egg implants itself into the uterine wall. However, others might not notice any symptoms until several months into their pregnancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
During pregnancy week 1, your body is preparing for ovulation. This marks the start of your menstrual cycle, where the lining of the uterus begins to thicken in anticipation of a potential fertilized egg. However, actual conception typically occurs around week 2 of pregnancy, so no embryo has formed yet at this stage.
You have 39 more weeks to complete your pregnancy journey at one week pregnant.
During week 1 of pregnancy, you are still in the first trimester. The first trimester typically lasts from week 1 to week 12 of pregnancy.
In normal pregnancies, no ultrasound is performed in the first week. However, if you are undergoing treatment to get pregnant, the doctor may advise an ultrasound to check for fibroids and follicles in the ovary.
Some people may experience early signs of pregnancy as soon as one week after conception (around week 4) when the fertilised egg implants itself into the uterine wall. However, others might not notice any symptoms until several months into their pregnancy.
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8. Office of Women’s Health. Your menstrual cycle
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