The Ultimate Guide To Pregnancy: Weeks 3-7

Please note that each pregnancy is different and hence the pregnancy and the fetus develop at a different pace. Do not expect to be at exactly the stage as is described in the following paragraphs. Your pregnancy may be 15 days ahead or late. So it makes sense to check the signs and symptoms in that range of gestation age. Ideally pregnancy is dated from the first day of your last menstrual cycle. But ovulation happens only in the third week after this. Hence we begin this record from the third week of pregnancy.

Week 3: A woman ovulates at approximately three weeks after the first day of her last menstrual period. An egg is released from her ovaries and it moves down one of the fallopian tubes towards the uterus. If intercourse takes place during the period of ovulation there is a possibility of a pregnancy occurring. During ejaculation, millions of sperm from your partner are released but only one of them will succeed in the race towards the egg and will fertilize it while it is still in the fallopian tube. The baby is at this point a cluster of cells which will undergo rapid multiplication in the days to come.

Week 4: At this point, most women have not felt any differently or have not noticed any changes in their body. Some women do report a change in tastes. The fertilized egg has now reached the uterus and after floating around for approximately 72 hours, it finds a location and implants itself into the uterine lining. The blood vessels of the uterine lining nourish the egg and the placenta begins to form.

Week 5: At this time, most women might start to doubt that they may be pregnant. The monthly period is delayed. The breasts feel enlarged and tender and the aerola appears darker and bigger. The urge to urinate increases. Now the egg is called an embryo and is about 2 mm long. It is possible to see it with the naked eye. The spine and brain is beginning to form.

Week 6: Pregnancy hormones start making you feel sick and nauseous mainly in the morning but at times throughout the day. Your sense of smell is heightened and you may experience the urge to throw up at certain smells. If your care provider conducts a vaginal examination, your vagina now appears slightly blue rather than the usual pink. At this point, a urine test will be able to confirm the pregnancy. The uterus is now the size of a plum. The baby now has a head and a trunk and the brain has formed. The circulation system kicks in, the face starts to develop and the dental buds are growing in the jaw.

Week 7: Pregnancy hormones may make a pregnant mum feel dizzy or faint. Breasts feel heavy and sore. A vaginal examination will be able to confirm the pregnancy. The baby now has limb buds which resemble arms and legs. The limbs also have small formations which will be the fingers and toes. The spinal cord and the brain are now almost ready and the baby is approximately 1-3 cm long.

To know about the development at the other stages of pregnancy, read here on Weeks 8 – 12, Weeks 13 -18, Weeks 19 – 23, Weeks 24 – 28, Weeks 29 – 33, Weeks 34 – 40

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