Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms – Week 4 Pregnancy

Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms – Week 4 Pregnancy

Article by Michaeline Miller

Week 4 of Pregnancy – Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms

Welcome to your Guide to Pregnancy – Week 4.

This is implantation week! The fertilized egg will settle into the nutrient-rich uterine lining and stay firmly connected there throughout the pregnancy. Once the egg has successfully implanted, the egg will divide into 2. One half will be the embryo and the other half will eventually become the placenta.

You may be noticing symptoms soon. Some may even be apparent…biggest one? Assuming you are on a 28-day menstrual cycle, the biggest symptom you will notice is your period did not make its scheduled visit this week! You can confirm the pregnancy with a home pregnancy test or a visit to your doctor’s office.

Every pregnancy is different; however the majority of women experience some of the same symptoms:

• Morning sickness or nausea. This may sail right past your or you may experience it 24-hours a day.• Fatigue – this could be extreme or you may experience a little more sleepiness.• Staining or spotting – in most cases this is the egg implanting in the uterine lining. Some women may mistake this for their period.• Tender breasts – feels like that tingling sensation when your arm falls asleep• Aversion to smells and foods• PMS-like symptoms. Mood swings, irritability, and crying

Depending on your menstrual cycle, you may have to wait until next week to get that positive pregnancy test. In the meantime, act as though you are pregnant by eating a well-balanced diet, exercising and continue to avoid alcohol, smoking and drugs. Even prescribed medication should be avoided. Talk with your doctor and let him or her know that you are either trying to conceive or already pregnant and let them know what prescribed medication OR herbal supplements/vitamins you are taking and make sure it is on the “ok” list.

In all the excitement of finding out if you are pregnant, it is important to note that your doctor may not schedule your first prenatal visit for several more weeks. If you are experiencing any of the following – do not hesitate to contact your doctor:

• Painful or burning urination• Fever over 101.5 F• Sudden swelling of hands, feet, face or eyes or a sudden weight gain not related to overeating• Sudden increase in thirst, especially if you are not urinating more• Lower abdominal pain on either side and does not subside• Bleeding with cramps or heavy bleeding with or without cramping• Blurred vision that continues for more than a few minutes.• Bloody diarrhea• Severe headaches

The joy that comes with a pregnancy undoubtedly will also bring out the worry-wart in you too! Particularly in the first trimester. You can’t see or feel your baby yet and for some, if it wasn’t for the positive pregnancy test, they wouldn’t even know that they were pregnant. It is not just physical symptoms that worry moms-to-be, it could very well be the LACK of symptoms. Just remember, every pregnancy is different. Take good care of yourself and not that a lack of symptoms is not a sign that something is wrong.

The first trimester is a tough one, you are pregnant, no one can tell you are pregnant, there is nothing to feel or see….but, relax, before you know it you will be feeling and seeing your little one squirm around and you’ll start sporting a little round belly-bump and your pregnancy will seem more real.

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