Pregnancy

Pregnancy Week 3

Baby Development

During week 3, you are technically pregnant. But your baby is still a cluster of rapidly multiplying cells. About 30 hours after fertilization (conception), the fertilized egg(zygote) will divide into two cells. It will reach your uterus in about four days and take two to three days to bury itself in your uterus tissue (implantation). The baby’s sex, if a boy or girl, is also determined at the time of fertilization.

Changes in mother

As of now, outside your body, it seems as if nothing is happening. But if the egg, released on ovulation, is fertilized by your partner’s sperm, your body will prepare to nourish your baby for the next nine months. It’s difficult to tell if you are pregnant. But if conception occurs, you will count as two weeks pregnant Doctors use your last menstrual period to arrive at your due date. Theoretically, the first day of your last period is the first day of your pregnancy. As ovulation occurs around the 14^th day of your cycle, conception happens when you are already two weeks pregnant, in theory!

After ovulation and egg release, the remanent follicle will convert to a yellowish body called the corpus luteum. It will produce pregnancy hormones, progesterone, and estrogen to support the baby until the placenta develops in about ten weeks.

Pregnancy Due Date Calculator

Pregnancy Week 3 Symptoms

Pregnancy symptoms this week vary from person to person. Early pregnancy doesn’t always produce noticeable symptoms; some women may feel no symptoms. Common symptoms are:

A heightened sense of smell may occur due to a surge in pregnancy hormones, one of the early signs in pregnancy. If it bothers you, be away from the kitchen and keep the windows open. Go low on perfumes, and wash your clothes more often.
Mild cramping. You might feel a mild cramping sensation as the growing embryo attaches to the uterus wall and may occur in the abdomen, pelvis, or low back area. The cramps may feel like a pulling, tingling, or pricking sensation.
Implantation bleeding (spotting) is an early pregnancy sign that differs from the menstrual period. It is light bleeding that involves a single spot of blood or a slight pink discharge. The bleeding may last from a few hours to a few days.
Nausea and bloating. During pregnancy, the hormones relax the muscles of your body, and the relaxed digestive tract muscles slow down digestion, leading to gas and bloating in your gut. It may also lead to constipation sometimes. Eat high-fiber foods like fruits, whole grains, and green vegetables to avoid them.
Sore breasts, including swelling and tenderness. You may feel an exaggerated version of how your breasts feel before a period.
High Basal body temperature this week. To track it, have a basal body thermometer and measure your temperature after you wake up in the morning, before getting out of bed.

Important Tips

What to do

Take it easy and relax. You might experience a lot of mood swings due to hormones. Talk to your partner or a close friend if you feel anxious and stressed.
Eat a hearty breakfast. Your meals should contain all vitamins, especially Vitamin D. You can eat mangoes, fish, eggs, and milk products.
Have calcium-rich foods like milk, yogurt, cereals, etc., and get plenty of proteins like eggs, chicken, dairy, and legumes. Stay hydrated.
The best time for conception. On average, ovulation occurs around the 14^th day of your menstrual cycle, and you are likely to conceive if you have sex during the three days leading up to it. Signs of ovulation include changes in basal body temperature, mild cramps, breast tenderness, and increased vaginal discharge.
Detecting ovulation. If you find it difficult to conceive, noticing the time of ovulation and having sex around it might help. Ovulation test strips can help determine when sex is most productive for pregnancy. You can buy the kits online or at a drugstore near you.
Take sufficient good sleep. Form better habits and follow good sleep practices like a regular bedtime routine.

What to avoid

Avoid any foods and smells you might find disgusting, even though you loved them before the pregnancy.
Avoid particular food items that make you gassy.
Avoid steam baths, saunas, and hot tubs. High body temperature, especially in early pregnancy, is associated with an elevated risk of neural tube defects in newborns.
Avoid coloring of hair. Wait until your second trimester of pregnancy, even if you urgently need to color your hair. Make it work with minimal use of chemicals and minimum chemical contact with your scalp.
Cut down on coffee. Once pregnant, limit caffeine to about one cup of coffee daily. Excess caffeine can adversely affect your baby.
Quit smoking, drinking liquor, or intake of drugs.

When to Consult a Doctor

Talk to your doctor if you are bleeding or having pain or discharge.

Takeaway

Healthcare providers generally count your start of pregnancy from the first day of the last menstrual period. But you can conceive only around the 14^th day of your menstrual cycle after ovulation. Ovulation is the period of maximum fertility when you are most likely to conceive if you have sex.

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