4 Weeks Pregnant
YOU
You may be beginning to suspect you are pregnant. This is
the week when you may miss your first period. Your embryo secrets
hormones that trigger a number of changes in your body: your
ovulation cycle stops, so therefore does your period, your
cervix mucus thickens, your uterine wall softens and your breasts
may feel heavy and tender as they begin to grow. These are some of
the early signs of pregnancy. The strength of your immune system
will also be reduced so that your embryo is allowed to grow and not
treated as a foreign body and rejected.
A pregnancy test at this stage may show a positive result.
Pregnancy tests measure the amount of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
(hCG) in your body, this is a hormone that is secreted by the
developing embryo and helps to maintain it's growth. hCG can be
measured in either your urine, using a home test kid, or by having
a blood test done.
YOUR BABY
Once implanted, the outer layer of your blastocyst forms a
protective cocoon around your embryo and connects with blood
vessels to form the placenta, the support system for your growing
embryo, which includes amniotic sac (the watery area in which your
embryo floats), the chorion (cushioning around the amniotic sac)
and the yolk sac (which produces blood cells until your baby's
liver matures later in the pregnancy).
Things to Consider:
• If you think you might be pregnant, start taking a
daily folic acid supplement. Folic acid is an important nutrient
for fetal development. Taking folic acid as soon as you stop using
contraception is a good idea. Studies have shown that taking a
folic acid supplement reduces the risk of some birth defects such
as Spina Bifida.
• Stopping or limiting smoking, drinking alcohol or taking
recreational drugs.
• It's a good idea to let your GP know you are hoping
to get pregnant, or are pregnant. If you are taking prescription
drugs or herbal or homeopathic remedies you will need to discuss
this with your doctor or pharmacist, as your medication may need to
change.
• Try to avoid taking over-the-counter medicines. If you do,
be sure to tell your pharmacist that you are pregnant as some
medications are not considered safe during pregnancy.
• If you currently take vitamins, it's a good idea to switch
to a good pregnancy multivitamin. Your pharmacist will be able to
give you advice on which ones are right for you.
• Finding a few good pregnancy books.
• Finding out how to soothe sore breasts. Some things which
may help are ensuring you have a comfortable bra, and having a hot
bath or shower.
• Think about your exercise routine, and whether you will
need to make any changes to it. See here for some great tips on
exercise during pregnancy.
• Start thinking about the changes you'll need to make and
how to get your life ready for a baby. Do you qualify for Paid
Parental Leave? Are you planning to give up work? If so, how will
you survive on one income? If not, how much leave will you take and
what are your childcare options? Where will baby sleep? What about
car seats, buggies and nappy bags? Check out the Product Reviews
section of our message board to find out what other OHbaby! mums
and dads recommend.
• Could you be expecting more than one baby? It's possible if
you've had fertility treatment or there are twins in the
family.
• Adequate vitamin intake, especially folic acid, protein,
calcium, and iron, is essential for nourishing your baby. A folic
acid supplement - which, ideally, you've been taking since before
you conceived - is particularly important because folic acid helps
prevent defects of the neural tube (the head, spine, and related
structures), which forms very early in pregnancy.
• Your intake of protein, which is used to create new tissue,
should double during pregnancy - you should be eating at least 60
grams a day. In addition, calcium, at least 1,200 milligrams, is
necessary for the development of bones and teeth, so make sure
you're getting a good dose of dairy products, leafy green
vegetables, and legumes. Iron is essential during pregnancy as you
support the continual increase of your baby's blood volume. Good
sources of iron include red meat, legumes, eggs, and leafy green
vegetables, and you should consume at least 30 milligrams of iron
daily.
• Don't be downcast if your pregnancy test is negative or
your period starts. In an average cycle, you have around 25% chance
of conception, so it may take a few months, but if you've been
trying for a year or more (or for six months if you're over 30),
ask your GP for a referral to a fertility specialist to discuss
your options.
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