If you believe that you are pregnant but have hey to confirm it, don’t panic. Some women can take a test in the second week and confirm but some need another week or so. By the third week you should be able to confirm with a doctor’s test whether or not you are pregnant. It is very important that you choose an OB/GYN right away. You want to try to stay with one doctor throughout the pregnancy. You should be excited once you hear the happy news. When a new mom to be finds out that she is pregnant she is thrilled and wants to shout it out to the world. Old superstition tells us that we should wait until the third month, but the truth is that the first few months are very careful times but something could go wrong any time. If you want to tell people then it should be your choice.
Now would be a good time to make a list of questions that you and your partner may have. Your first doctor’s appointment will be routine, they will take blood pressure, possibly perform a pelvic exam and they will ask many questions as it pertains to history of both families. You will also receive prenatal vitamins; these are a very important part of your pregnancy. You should take them every day; they can help with the baby’s growth and development as well as give you all of the vitamins and minerals that you need.
Baby’s Development
By the third week of pregnancy you won’t feel it but the baby will be going through a spurt of development. The baby is made up of cells and these cells are quickly forming. At this stage of your pregnancy the baby is called a Blastocycle, which will be protected by the placenta, and the baby will soon start to produce HCG, which are more commonly called pregnancy hormones. The amniotic fluid will start to form and this is where the baby will be protected and fed throughout the pregnancy.
In the first weeks of pregnancy, the baby’s heart, gastrointestinal tract and spinal cord are developing. You won’t be able to see the baby yet on a sonogram. By the third week the embryo will be fixed to the uterine wall and the backbone and brain will soon start to form. This is where the prenatal vitamins are essential. They will help in the development. The baby is about .2 to .5 mm in size.
Changes In Your Body
You won’t be able to feel any changes to the baby but you will soon notice some changes to your body. In the first few weeks you may or may not experience morning sickness. Every woman is different and will experience pregnancy their own way. Morning Sickness can last up until 4 months of pregnancy. The baby now has 46 chromosomes, the baby’s skin color is established as well as fingers and toes can be seen. There are some women who may have a bit of vaginal discharge. Please don’t panic, it is normal. You can call your doctor if you are really worried about it. You have to remember that every woman is different and some discharge may be more than others or less. Don’t ever feel embarrassed to call your doctor. Some women may have some spotting. If these symptoms persist then your doctor may want to do an exam. You may start to feel some weight gain as the pregnancy goes on. This is also normal, a normal or safe amount of weight would be anywhere from 25 to 35 pounds. Your doctor will explain what is a safe weight loss. Some women may gain more and others may not.
Right now, you should be aware of something called Gestational Diabetes. This happens to women when they are pregnant and it clears up once the baby is born. You should speak to your doctor about this and ask any questions that you may have about it.
What To Expect
Week three of pregnancy is just the beginning. There isn’t much that you can do at this point. You may be experiencing morning sickness, talk to your doctor about taking any over the counter medication. Even in the earliest stages of pregnancy, there is nothing like the present to start taking care of yourself. You will also start to feel a variety of emotions, sometimes all at once. You may feel depressed, tired, happy or overly sensitive. This is normal, as the pregnancy hormones level out; they will wreak havoc on your body for the first three months.
Tips/Advice
Now is a great time for you to stop smoking if you are a smoker. If you want to adjust the way you eat, now is a great time to talk to adjust your diet. Exercise is a great way to stay in shape while pregnant as well as help your body bounce back after child birth. Strenuous activity is not recommended, low impact workouts are good. You can look online for other ways to stay in shape or ask your doctor. You should also never feel like you are asking a lot of questions, if this is your first pregnancy then it is understandable that you have many, many questions.
