Body Changes at 4
Weeks Pregnant
At
4 weeks pregnant, the egg is now implanted in the wall of your uterus and has
become an embryo. Your body is now beginning the amazing changes that will take
place in the next 36 weeks of your life. These changes are reflected outwardly
as pregnancy symptoms. These are some signs to watch out for when you are 4
weeks pregnant;
Pelvic Cramp: This often feels
like a menstrual cramp, and it is as a result of your uterus now being home to
your fertilized egg.
Fatigue: This is usually
due to the increase in the blood production of your body. As your body is
trying to grow the new little life inside of you, you will feel tired more
often.
Tender breast: Your breast will
feel tender and sensitive due to increase in the blood flowing directly to your
breast and your heart beating faster to cope with the baby inside you.
Nausea: This is believed
to be caused by the extra hormones being secreted in your body. And it is more
common in the morning.
Frequent urination: This is due to the
pressure of the baby on your bladder.
Your Baby’s
Development
At
4 weeks pregnant, your baby is 1 mm long and about the size of a poppy seed. If
your egg was successfully fertilized, it’s now traveling to your uterus and is
attaching to the inner lining where it will become an embryo. The amniotic sac,
which will house and guide your baby, is now present, as well as the yolk sac
which will provide red blood cells and nutrients until the placenta takes over.
When this happens, your baby becomes attached to the placenta by the umbilical
cord. During your pregnancy, the placenta will serve as the baby’s source of
nutrients, blood, and oxygen. It also helps to dispose waste from your baby’s
body.
When
you are 4 weeks pregnant, your baby now consist of three cells which are the
ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm; these cells help to form your baby’s skin,
skeleton and internal organs. The neural tube also forms within the first 4-6
weeks of pregnancy, and this will later develop into the brain and spinal cord.
4 Weeks Pregnancy
Tips
Eat Healthy
Try
to maintain a balanced and balanced diet, and always keep in mind that you are
now ‘eating for two’ so be mindful of what goes into your belly. Also, try to
avoid smoking and drinking, it's not safe for the baby.
Exercise Regularly
Keeping
fit during pregnancy helps improve your health and that of your baby. Always
include some extra physical activity to your day, and if you love to hit the
gym, be sure to keep your doctor informed on the types and duration of exercise
to do as your pregnancy progresses.
Take Vitamins
Due
to the extra blood which your body is producing, you become prone to anemia at
4 weeks pregnant. Taking iron vitamins helps prevent anemia and reduces
fatigue. Folic acid has been proven to decrease the risk of certain congenital disabilities
that accompany the first weeks of pregnancy; it’s recommended that pregnant
women take prenatal vitamins which contain at least 27mg of iron and 1mg of
folic acid daily.
If you found this helpful, visit http://www.manyweekspregnant.com/4-weeks-pregnant/
for more
information on when you are 4 weeks pregnant.
