If I had my life to live over, instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
– Erma Bombeck
By now, you know you are going to become a mama. You may be ecstatic, or you may be becoming accustomed to the thought of having a child. As you would notice, right now, you may not be feeling any different (at least for the time being), and early pregnancy signs do not necessarily appear right away. You should definitely rejoice with your spouse, but you do not want to involve the rest of the world quite yet.
Your doctor should be your first call at week four of pregnancy to arrange your first prenatal appointment, where they can validate your pregnancy with a urine or blood test.
Your baby is smaller than a poppy seed in your fourth week of pregnancy—practically microscopic. The baby at this stage is known as a blastocyst, a tiny ball of cells, and is right now trying to embed itself in the uterine line where its growth will take place.
Your pregnancy hormones will increase in the body, and they will cause pregnancy some of the symptoms in your fourth week. Although it is natural to be four weeks pregnant and have no symptoms, you should be prepared for nausea and vomiting in the next coming days or weeks. Here is what to expect when you are in your fourth week of pregnancy:
It is perfectly natural to be exhausted and in need of a nap after even performing the smallest of chores. It is no surprise that fatigue is one of the most common early pregnancy symptoms—you are developing a child inside your body, so it is normal to be sapped of energy. Make it a habit to go to bed early and take naps whenever you feel tired.
While your belly may be a little swollen in the fourth week of your pregnancy, you almost definitely will not seem pregnant. But you ought to start behaving like a mom-to-be, which means pampering yourself and your unborn child.
If you have not already started before, start taking a prenatal vitamin in your fourth week of pregnancy. Look for one that contains at least 400 micrograms of folic acid and take it on a regular basis. Folic acid has been shown to help avoid birth defects, so this is vital. Add a reminder to add them to your basket next time you go shopping.
You might feel more comfortable loose clothes that allow your skin to breathe. Including dresses and pajamas and dress shirts or shorts, whatever makes you feel comfortable.
The ball of cells splits into an embryo (which will develop into your future child) and a placenta during the fourth week of your pregnancy. The neural tube, which forms the spine, head, and backbone in a baby, is already developed. The amniotic sac and fluid combine to create a supportive cushion for the infant. In an ultrasound of a four-week pregnant woman, all of this shows as a small dot called the gestational sac.
However, it is highly unlikely that you will get an ultrasound in your fourth week. When you call your OB and tell them you are around four weeks pregnant, they will wish you well and schedule your first prenatal appointment for about a month later.
The wait might seem long. However, if you are in good shape and there seem to be no apparent chances of pregnancy complications, you do not need to see a doctor this early. During the eighth or the ninth week of your pregnancy, the OB will be able to see a lot more, and you would also hear the heartbeat of your baby! So, for now, you need to eat well, drink plenty of water, refrain from indulging in harmful activities such as alcohol and smoking. Try to relax and rest out that pregnancy fatigue.
Your little blastocyst does not have a pulse yet, as it is just the fourth week. In the coming weeks, a blood vessel will develop, which will eventually become the heart and form the circulatory system. The heart will grow before the tenth week, but it will begin to beat in the fifth or sixth week. So, you will have the chance to hear the fetal heartbeat around your first appointment with the OB.
You may begin to feel nauseous and have aversions to certain foods, smells, and textures around the fourth week of your pregnancy. If this is the case, start making breakfast first thing in the morning and ask your spouse to cook meals for you so you do not end up getting sick before you even have a chance to eat.
It is vital to keep taking your prenatal vitamin, particularly if you are having difficulty regularly eating due to nausea. Unfortunately, for certain mothers, taking their prenatal vitamins in the morning or throughout the day may aggravate an already irritated stomach. If the morning sickness is getting the better of you, consider taking it with a little snack before bed, or divide the dosage, so you take half in the morning and a half at night. But please do not skip it as it is important for the baby’s growth.
Vitamin D is needed in your body for calcium absorption and the development and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones of both you and your baby. In the beginning, get at least 15 minutes of sun per day, then focus on your diet. Vitamin D is found in fortified milk products, eggs, sardines, and trout. Fortified breakfast cereal with additional vitamins and minerals can also be beneficial, especially when you have it with milk.
If you are struggling to eat nutritious food because of its texture, smell, or taste, try to hide them in your food. Try mixing dark, leafy greens with blueberries, mango, and banana in a fruit smoothie, as smoothies are the quickest and one of the most delicious ways to consume a lot of nutrients. Food that has been ground or finely diced can be hidden in saucy dishes. Tofu can be used in a variety of dishes. You may be able to get the nutrition you need without really noticing it if you get creative and use clever ways to consume nutritious foods.
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