Weekly Development of Pregnancy ( 0 – 6 Weeks )

About you
You are about to enter a new and exciting period for you. You are in the first weeks of a magical process that would cover 40 weeks in total. It is an incredible feeling to grow a baby inside you. The first week of pregnancy is when the fertilisation process continues and the baby does not exist yet. Pregnancy weeks are medically counted from the date of the expectant mother’s last menstrual cycle. In other words, you don’t normally become aware of any changes in your body until you miss your first period. Don’t forget, these are the very early stages; you haven’t yet missed a period.

The pregnancy tests sold in the pharmacies produce very reliable results when applied 3 to 4 days after missing your period. A blood test can reveal the definitive result. Many changes taking place in your body point to a pregnancy.

Possible early signs of pregnancy:
● Missed a period
● Nausea and vomiting
● Aversion to certain foods or food cravings
● Fatigue
● Frequent urination
● Changes and sensitivity in breasts
● A new sensitivity or a feeling in the pelvic area
● A metallic taste in the mouth

All these signs are the result of your hormones working overtime to prepare your body for later stages of pregnancy. It is normal to show all or none of the signs listed here. In particular, women with irregular menstrual cycles may not even become aware of their pregnancy for weeks. Even slight bleeding experienced when the embryo becomes attached to uterine wall could be confused with menstrual bleeding. This could also be true for women who experience slight episodes of bleeding during their pregnancies that can’t be medically explained. The important point we should remember at this time is the fact that signs and effects of pregnancy are unique to the person.
Experiencing hunger pangs in this process due to increased hormone production is another sign of pregnancy. An intake of the necessary nutrients during pregnancy is quite important. You must stay away from all your bad habits that could cause harm to your baby.

50% of mothers complain of nausea during the first trimester of pregnancy. Sometimes vomiting accompanies nausea. Expectant mothers usually feel sick in the mornings. This could start in the third or fifth week and can continue until the fourth month.

You can take some small measures to reduce your complaints of nausea:
● When you wake up in the morning, do not hurry to get up but first have a small breakfast of toasted bread, cheese and tea in your bed and attempt getting up after some time.
● Eat frequent meals of small portions, don’t leave your stomach empty for long, and if you have the chance, lie down for a bit after each meal.
● Slightly increase the amount of carbohydrates you consume. Food items like bread, potatoes, pasta, rice and fruits can be good for your nausea.
Remember, you should never take any medication without first consulting your doctor. And you should not neglect your regular doctor check-ups.

Your baby
Your baby is called an embryon for 2 months, and will be larger than 2 mm in size on the 21st day and starts to take shape. In addition to being observed under a microscope, it is now visible to the naked eye. Its appearance is in the form of a spinal cord with a round shape at the end constituting the head. The brain starts to develop in the head in this stage.

When the 4th week is reached, its primitive heart will be formed of two blood vessels and will have already started beating. The first organ of the baby you will see on the ultrasound will be your baby’s heart. This will establish the first heart to heart connection with your baby.

At the end of the 6th week, your baby will only be 4 mm long and weigh less than 1 g.

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