TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Month Pregnant – Conception
A woman’s body readies for pregnancy well before conception. If you are planning on conceiving, visit your gynecologist. A doctor may suggest taking prenatal vitamins as long as three months before conception or as soon as pregnancy is confirmed if the pregnancy was unplanned. In healthy American women, folic acid is considered a crucial ingredient in prenatal vitamins. Women should have an intake of at least 400 mcg daily to prevent birth defects [1]. This is also the time to quit smoking and drinking.
Number of Weeks Pregnant
For pregnant women, pregnancy brings new changes to their bodies every week.
It can be a bit confusing to determine many weeks pregnant you are. Doctors can help provide a more exact answer, but by the time a woman has missed her first period, the pregnancy is usually at about 4 weeks. The age of the fetus is essential to gauge growth and know when to perform tests.
There are two ways to define the age of a baby:
Gestational age
Gestational age is determined from the last normal menstrual period. Most pregnancy references including ultrasounds use this measurement.
Fetal age
Fetal age refers to the actual age of the baby from the day of conception. Typically, fetal age is about two weeks less than gestational age [2].
1 Month Pregnant – Week By Week Everything You Need To Know During Weeks 1 – 4
1st Week Of Pregnancy: Prepping
During the first week of pregnancy, there is one egg and a lot of sperm ready to make the dream of having a baby become a reality. A lot of changes are already occurring during this first week. The body is gearing up for ovulation. Vaginal bleeding may occur as the body releases last month’s unfertilized egg and the uterine lining. This is known as the menstrual period. Mood swings, bloating, lower back pain and cramps are also quite common. Some women also experience menstrual migraines. These hormone-related headaches can be quite uncomfortable. Although the uterus is working hard to prepare for a baby, you may not know if the egg is fertilized for another month.
2nd Week Of Pregnancy: Ovulation And Fertilization
To get pregnant, you must time intercourse with ovulation. Two days before ovulation and the day of ovulation is optimal. Ovulation usually occurs between day 11 to day 21 of a woman’s body cycle [3]. This can be more difficult if your cycle fluctuates. Taking a basal body temperature can help. When a woman ovulates, her temperature naturally increases. Keeping a diary of your basal body temperature can help reveal your personal fertility pattern.
During ovulation, a woman’s body releases an egg from the ovaries, and the lining of the uterus becomes thicker to prepare to receive a fertilized egg. If a sperm successfully attaches itself to an egg, fertilization may occur within 12 to 24 hours. This occurs in the fallopian tube. The egg journeys to the uterus where it is implanted in the uterine wall. The egg then divides itself into cells to create the embryo which will develop features such as a spine, hands and legs. As the weeks progress, the embryo becomes a fetus.
Most women are unaware that they are pregnant during the second week. Many women check with pregnancy tests. However, the human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG is low at this point and may not produce a positive result on a pregnancy test. However, there are highly sensitive tests that claim that they can detect pregnancy at this early stage.
Women may also experience some pregnancy symptoms as they enter two weeks of pregnancy. These symptoms may include tender breasts, frequent urination, fatigue, bloating, mood swings, nausea and gas. Women may also develop an increased sense of smell due to hormonal changes.
3rd Week Of Pregnancy: Fertilization Time Complete
At this point, the single cell is growing. After a sperm has fertilized the egg, it is called a zygote. The zygote divides itself into several cells and eventually a blastocyst while the other cells create the placenta.
After a few days of cell division when the embryo becomes a blastocyst, it reaches the womb (uterus) around day five and embeds itself into the uterine wall around day six. Once the blastocyst moves away from the fallopian tube, it is then occupied by the Corpus Luteum which is a group of yellowish cells producing progesterone and estrogen to support the growing blastocyst. HCG levels increase during the first trimester before decreasing during the second stage of pregnancy.
The blastocyst will make the uterus its home for the next nine months. As the cells continue to divide and grow, they become an embryo. The embryo is surrounded by amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is a clear, yellow fluid found within the first 12 days following conception within the amniotic sac. The placenta begins to form about 8 days after conception. It should be noted that the placenta does not fully develop until the end of the first trimester.
Some women report a heightened sense of smell triggered by changing hormones. When estrogen is released in the body, it can make a sense of smell stronger. Unfortunately, this can make morning sickness worse. If this new superpower is making you feel sick, stay away from environments where smells emanate as they can trigger nausea and vomiting. If perfume is making you run to the bathroom, stop using any skin care products that have scents.
During the third week of pregnancy, protein is vital in meals as it helps with tissue building. Choose portions of lean protein such as skinless chicken, lean beef or lentils. Include enough calcium in your diet because little ones require it for development. Yogurt and milk are two of the best sources of calcium.
4th Week Of Pregnancy
At the fourth week, a baby is the same size as an apple seed. There are plenty of important developments happening at this stage. The brain and central nervous system are forming in the neural tubes, as well as the circulatory and heart system. At this point in a pregnancy, a baby’s lungs and intestines are also forming.
Many women assume that the symptoms that they are feeling during the 4th week of pregnancy are related to their periods. However, pregnancy hormones are going strong, and the result may be nausea and vomiting. Sore breasts are another telltale sign of pregnancy because of the spike in progesterone and estrogen. That feeling of being bloated may actually be a 1 month pregnant belly.
Risks
The early stages of your pregnancy are both joyous and scary at the same time. There are some risks such as implantation bleeding. Some women may just be experiencing their menstrual cycles while others may experience miscarriages. A pinkish discharge may be a sign that the egg has planted itself in the uterine wall. This is quite normal and will not cause any harm. However, a trip to the doctor is recommended if this is accompanied by nausea, abdominal pain and dizziness.
Prenatal care is crucial. It is during the first months of pregnancy that many birth defects may develop. This can increase the risk of miscarriage. Pregnancy loss can also result due to problems with the amniotic sac, amniotic fluid or placenta. Sometimes, an ectopic pregnancy develops. In this case, the fertilized egg attaches itself outside the uterus, typically in the fallopian tubes. An ectopic pregnancy will result in a pregnancy loss. A health care provider will closely monitor a pregnant woman’s blood sugar, weight gain and blood pressure.
Normal Signs Of Pregnancy
Towards the end of the first month of pregnancy, there may be some changes to your body and behavior. For many women, the only sign is that their periods are late. Sometimes, a 1 month pregnant belly feels more like being perpetually bloated. Taking a pregnancy test may help you determine if you are pregnant or not, and a quick trip to a doctor can confirm the results.
Pregnancy symptoms may disrupt day-to-day activities.
At 1 month pregnant, here are some symptoms that you may or may not experience:
- Frequent urination
- Mood swings
- Missed menstrual period
- Morning sickness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Cramps
- Spotting
- Bloating
Symptoms vary widely among 1 month pregnant women. Some women do not exhibit any signs of pregnancy at all. A 1 month pregnant belly may not be apparent in some women, while others may have a small pouch. Never compare your pregnancy with others. Every experience will vary. Even within the same woman, each pregnancy experience may vary.
What to do at 1 month pregnant
There are some who prefer to keep things mum during their early pregnancy. This is a personal decision. The first few weeks can be tough with all the symptoms that you are experiencing, and the possibility of miscarriage is a scary thought. Tell your family and friends when you feel comfortable. Whatever happens, what you are feeling and experiencing is something for which support can be very helpful. Whether that support is many people or just one is completely up to you.
1 Month Pregnant Resources:
[1] ShareCare; Tulane Lakeside Hospital for Women and Children Maternal & Fetal Medicine, Gabriella C. Pridjian, MD.
[2] ShareCare; Intermountain Healthcare, Family Medicine, Stephen Clark, DO.
[3] Mayo Clinic; Pregnancy week by week.
