The fourth week of pregnancy is when most women find out that they are pregnant. When you are four weeks pregnant, your baby is around the size of a poppy seed and is developing in the inner lining of your womb (1). Most pregnancy symptoms are not clearly visible except for a few, such as a late period and tender breasts. Read on to know about the signs, symptoms, changes, growth, and do’s and don’ts while you are four weeks pregnant.
Changes Occurring In The Fourth Week Of Pregnancy
As the pregnancy progresses, many changes occur in the embryo and the mother’s body.
Amniotic sac/outer layer around the embryo gradually develops along with the placenta. Shape of the face also roughly starts to form with large circles for eyes. Baby’s heart develops and beats around 65 times per minute by the end of the fourth week, Blood circulation begins as the blood cells take shape (2).
Signs And Symptoms Of Pregnancy At 4 Weeks
Though the physical signs of pregnancy are not visible by the fourth week, the body undergoes various internal changes to accommodate the fetus and keep it nourished and protected. Following are the common signs and symptoms during this time (3):
Morning sickness due to an increased level of hormones Frequent bouts of fatigue due to higher physical and emotional demands Enlarged mammary glands due to increased levels of estrogen and progesterone pregnancy hormones, leading to breast tenderness
Darkening of the area around the areola (nipple) Frequent urge to urinate and episodes of constipation as the developing fetus starts to press against the intestines Mood swings due to a surge in hormone levels
The Belly At Four Weeks
Most first-time mothers don’t start showing the belly until week 12. However, if it is not your first pregnancy, you may start showing it earlier as your womb muscles are still stretched from your previous pregnancies (4).
The Do’s And Don’ts In The Fourth Week Of Pregnancy
Do
Sleep well: During pregnancy, get at least eight to ten hours of sleep per day to cope with the physical and emotional demands of your body and the baby. Have nutritious food: The food you eat is fuel for you and your developing baby. Hence, make healthy eating choices and maintain a balanced diet (5). You don’t need to eat for two!
Include folate in your diet: If you did not add folate or folic acid to your diet before getting pregnant, do so now. Consuming at least 400mcg of folate per day is important in the first trimester to help prevent two major congenital disabilities—anencephaly and spina bifida. Take prenatal vitamins: Prenatal vitamins are important for maintaining good nutrition during pregnancy and for the baby’s proper growth and development (6) Stay hydrated: Staying hydrated helps prevent preterm labor, kidney infection, and headaches. It also helps reduce the risk of constipation and hemorrhoids.
Don’t
Smoke: Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that pregnant women who smoke may have a higher risk of miscarriage (7). Drink alcohol: According to the CDC, all types of alcohol are harmful to the baby during pregnancy (8). The alcohol may pass on to the baby through the umbilical cord and cause miscarriage or physical or intellectual disabilities known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Consume too much caffeine: Research suggests that consuming less than 200mg of caffeine is acceptable in the first trimester (9). However, excessive caffeine could affect the fetus’ heart rate. Visit the sauna: Hot tubs or saunas increase the body’s core temperature, which may adversely affect the baby’s development and double the risk of miscarriage (5).
What To Eat
Consuming a balanced diet can help reduce nausea and constipation and aid in having a healthy pregnancy. Below are some advantageous foods for you and your baby (10).
Proteins: peas, nuts, beans, lean beef, pork, salmon, and trout Vegetables: carrots, pumpkin, red sweet peppers, tomatoes, and spinach
Grains: cooked or ready-to-eat cereals Fruits: bananas, mangoes, cantaloupes, prunes, apricots, oranges, and grapefruit
Potential Risks In The Fourth Week Of Pregnancy
Most cases of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy occur in the early months after conception (11). Some common potential risks during pregnancy include
Miscarriage: Miscarriage in the early months of pregnancy is known as a chemical pregnancy. The most common cause of a miscarriage in the first trimester is a chromosomal abnormality (12). Bleeding: Some women may experience light spotting or bleeding in the early days of pregnancy but have an overall healthy pregnancy throughout. However, any signs of bleeding or rupture of blood vessels during pregnancy should be reported to your healthcare provider to avoid complications. Ectopic pregnancy: Ectopic pregnancy is common and occurs in around one in 80 pregnancies in the UK. In this condition, the fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube instead of the endometrium. In the later stages of an ectopic pregnancy, the baby’s growth may severely damage the fallopian tube and cause pain and bleeding (13).
Screening Tests In The Fourth Week
Getting certain tests done in the early weeks of pregnancy can help determine pregnancy or fetal complications. Blood tests measure the amount of pregnancy-associated plasma protein and the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Abnormal quantities of either may indicate the risk of chromosomal abnormality in the fetus (14).
Chemical exposure to cleaning products, mothballs, wall paints, fake tan products (containing dihydroxyacetone), and hair treatment products Handling cat litter as it increases the risk of toxoplasmosis Undercooked meat and eggs. They may increase the risk of contracting infections such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, which may lead to serious illnesses
