Week 3 of Pregnancy

Key Takeaways from Week 3

• The sperm and egg meet. Usually, around week two or three of pregnancy, the strongest sperm passes through the cervix (the uterine entrance) and travels up the fallopian tubes to meet the egg. When the sperm fertilises the egg, conception takes place.

• When the egg is fertilised, your baby becomes a zygote, which is a single cell. Even though it is a single cell, it has all of the DNA required for life, including 23 chromosomes from the egg and another 23 from the sperm. These 46 total chromosomes will decide your baby's gender, hair colour, eye colour, physical characteristics, and even a hint of that personality you're looking forward to meeting.

• As the zygote proceeds down the fallopian tube, it splits into several new cells, becoming a large ball of cells known as a blastocyst. The hard outer shell will develop into the placenta, which will feed and protect the embryo that is still developing. Your baby is taking shape and settling into your uterus.

• If your ovaries produce more than one egg, you may bear more than one baby. You may have non-identical twins, triplets, or more.

• If you are in Week 3 of your pregnancy you are in your first trimester.

• 37 more weeks remaining in your pregnancy.

Baby's Development at Week 3

The embryo starts to form; implantation continues.

• Baby Weight: Too early to compare with anything
• Baby Length: Too early to compare with anything
• Baby Size: Comparable to a grain of sand or salt

Pregnancy Symptoms This Week

• During the third week of pregnancy, your body changes rapidly. As your baby develops, so will you, and you may feel specific pregnancy symptoms throughout this period.
• Your missing menstruation may indicate that you are pregnant. At this stage, you may wish to purchase a home pregnancy test to confirm.
• You may be experiencing spotting or implantation bleeding. Don't worry, it may not be your period. Implantation bleeding is defined as mild bleeding or spotting that occurs seven to 14 days after fertilisation. There is no clear method to determine what the bleeding is, but the best way to find out is to wait a few more days before taking a pregnancy test.
• Morning sickness may appear, although it does not always occur in the morning. If you are pregnant with twins, you may have double the problems with this early pregnancy symptom.
• Your nipples may change colour, and your breasts may become uncomfortable and sensitive as they prepare for nursing.
• During the first three weeks of pregnancy, you may have cravings for certain foods and strong aversions to others.
• Bump? No. Bloated? Perhaps. You will most likely not start showing until approximately 12 weeks, however bloating and gas may occur as early as three weeks.
• Your body is busy preparing for your baby, which might drain your energy.

Your Body at Week 3

Hormone levels rise; possible early signs like fatigue or nausea might begin.

The healthy foods and prenatal vitamins you take will be the foundation of your baby's growth, so do your best to consume nutrients that will assist your baby's brain to flourish.

You may be excited to see a difference in your look, but a belly does not exist yet. Though you may feel bloated, most pregnant women do not begin to show until about week 12 or later, so you have a long way to go before you seem pregnant.

Before you start eating for two, keep in mind that physicians indicate that most women gain up to 2 kgs overall throughout the first trimester, which lasts 13 weeks. So you certainly don't have permission to start really indulging at this point. In truth, all you need to do is eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet and take a daily prenatal vitamin with at least 400 mcg of folic acid. Doctors recommend waiting until the second trimester before increasing your daily calorie intake. Once you reach week 14, you should add around 300 (good) calories per day.

3 Week Ultrasound

At 3 weeks pregnant, an ultrasound may fail to identify your unborn child. That super-teeny fertilised egg (known as a morula) is smaller than a grain of salt and is on the move, but as early as week 4, your doctor may notice your uterine lining thickening, indicating that the little morula has arrived at its destination for the rest of the pregnancy (your uterus).

Tips for Week 3

• Being three weeks pregnant is a critical period for you and your baby. Here's some additional professional advice on how to transition to this new stage while keeping you and your baby safe.
• You will not gain weight instantly. Most women gain up to five pounds during the first trimester.
• Awaiting that missing period: Because you haven't missed your period yet, you're unlikely to realize you're pregnant this early.
• Choose a prenatal supplement that contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is excellent for you and essential for your baby's brain and vision development. DHA is naturally present in salmon, a fatty, low-mercury fish that is safe to consume while pregnant.
• Doctors recommend that pregnant women consume more low-mercury seafood, such as flounder and haddock. Pregnant women should avoid mercury-rich seafood such as marlin and swordfish. If you dislike or are unable to eat fish, prenatal vitamins might help supplement your diet.

Checklist for Week 3

Knowing what to accomplish week by week will help you feel more prepared and less stressed. Include these new tasks on your to-do list this week.

• In certain situations, such as when you are at risk of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, your doctor may request that you come into the office for a blood sample. Blood tests may detect lower levels of hCG than urine tests, so you may discover you're pregnant sooner with a blood test than with an at-home test.
• Do your homework—calculate your due date and study up on the first trimester.
• Continue taking prenatal vitamins containing folic acid.

Medically approved by Dr Neerja Goel, Senior Gynecologist, Sharda Care- Healthcity

Frequently Asked Questions on Week 3 of Pregnancy

1. How can I confirm pregnancy at home?
   You will either urinate on a pregnancy dipstick or urinate in a cup and then insert the dipstick into the urine. It can take a few minutes to get the results. At-home pregnancy tests claim to be around 99 per cent accurate. However, they may occasionally provide a false positive or false negative.
2. When should I see a doctor after getting pregnant?
   The most typical time to schedule a first checkup is during eight weeks gestation, or approximately a month following the first missing period and positive pregnancy test.