Tests and ultrasound
An ultrasound at 4 weeks of pregnancy can already please the expectant mother with good news. However, it is carried out at this time in very rare cases. Firstly, many pregnant women do not yet know that they will soon become mothers and simply do not think about any ultrasound, and secondly, some women believe that it is undesirable to conduct an ultrasound examination at such an early stage.
You can try to do a simple pregnancy test at home (rapid tests are made in the form of strips or other similar devices). But at 4 weeks you shouldn’t really trust such a test: despite the fact that the outer layer of the embryo has already begun to produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), it is not yet enough for a home test. But a blood test for hCG often gives a positive result, since the content of this hormone in the blood is much higher.
What's happening to mom
In the fourth week, external signs of pregnancy are not yet obvious. But the body is already actively restructuring. A woman may not be aware of her situation at this time, since the symptoms resemble the precursors of menstruation. By the end of the fourth week, pharmacy tests can already determine pregnancy.
Feel.
In the fourth week, signs of pregnancy become clearer. Increased production of progesterone provokes constipation and bloating. Frequent urge to urinate also causes discomfort. Early toxicosis may appear. Physiological sensations and emotional mood change:
- Mood swings.
A sharp change in mood from euphoria to apathy, causeless tearfulness, and sensitivity to words and reactions appear. Sometimes unreasonable fears appear. - Drowsiness and fatigue.
The body retains energy for restructuring, so even after rest and full sleep, the desire to sleep does not go away. - Changes in taste.
Habitual food can be disgusting or tasteless. At the same time, new unexpected addictions may appear. - Odor intolerance.
The urge to vomit from the aroma of your favorite perfume or the smell of familiar dishes is already a reason to buy a pregnancy test and check your suspicions. - Appetite.
A change in appetite can either increase or manifest as a complete refusal of food. - Chest pain.
In the fourth week, the mammary glands enlarge, causing pain. Nipples become especially sensitive. - Stomach ache.
The uterus stretches and increases in size, which can cause pain.
Changes in the body.
In the fourth week, active production of hormones and restructuring of the entire body continues. The fetus is already attached to the wall of the uterus and receives all the necessary nutrients from it. The formation of the placenta begins, which will take on the burden of fetal development from the twelfth week of pregnancy until the birth itself. Blood circulation in the mammary glands increases, the breasts prepare for the upcoming lactation.
External changes.
Significant visible changes occur in the breasts in the fourth week. Breast volume increases (sometimes by a size) within a week. A vascular network appears. The halo darkens and pigmentation may appear in other areas of the skin. The volume of the abdomen does not change and does not outwardly indicate an “interesting position.”
Lifestyle, nutrition and vitamins
Week 4 is, as a rule, the last week when a woman cannot yet reliably know that pregnancy has occurred. If you were planning a child and did everything to conceive, lead a healthy lifestyle, give up alcohol, smoking, taking antibiotics, avoid contact with sick people, try to be calmer, picky about food and drinks. And don't forget about vitamins. But remember: only a doctor can give you a detailed answer to the question of what vitamins to take and in what quantity.
What other changes occur in the mother's body?
- During implantation of the embryo into the lining of the uterus, substances are released into the body that reduce the mother's immunity to prevent the production of large numbers of white blood cells.
- During a healthy pregnancy, discharge from a woman's genitals is white or clear and often has a sour odor. The amount of secretions may increase, which is considered normal, taking into account hormonal changes.
- It is also possible that spotting and spotting may occur. This is the so-called implantation bleeding. If the discharge is scanty and brief, then there is no need to worry.
Prenetics is a way to find out the risk of chromosomal abnormalities
already from the 10th obstetric week. Recommended for every pregnant woman. Duration of two days!
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Development of the embryo at 4 weeks of pregnancy
At this time, the germ layers - inner, middle and outer - begin to form. The cells of the inner leaf serve to form internal organs: liver, bladder, pancreas, lungs, respiratory and digestive systems. The middle leaf forms the skeleton, muscular system, cartilage, heart, kidneys, gonads, lymph and blood. The cells of the outer leaf are responsible for the skin, nails, tooth enamel, epithelial tissue of the ears, eyes, nose, and the nervous system.
During this period, the chorion, amnion and yolk sac also develop. Thanks to them, the embryo receives comprehensive protection and in the future will be provided with everything necessary for development. The chorion soon transforms into the placenta, the amnion into the fetal bladder. As for the yolk sac, this organ, which provides nutrition and respiration of the fetal egg, after 12-13 weeks of pregnancy will cease its functions, shrink and “retract” into the fetal cavity.
Alarming symptoms
During pregnancy, a number of problems may arise with the adaptation of the embryo in the womb, which lead to rejection of the fetus from the walls of the uterus. In the early stages, it is also important not to miss an ectopic pregnancy.
If the pregnancy proceeds normally, then menstruation will not begin. In the case where the zygote is not implanted into the endometrium (uterine lining) due to defects in conception, hormonal imbalances or complications, menstruation will come. In such cases, they do not talk about miscarriage. In most cases, the fact of conception goes unnoticed. Bleeding becomes a cause for concern if pregnancy is confirmed.
Discharge.
Normally, discharge during pregnancy should remain light, homogeneous, odorless (a slight sour odor is allowed), as before conception. Only their number can change. If the discharge has a strong unpleasant odor, becomes abundant, changes color and consistency, you should consult a doctor. The cause of such changes may be sexually transmitted infections.
Brown discharge.
Scanty brown discharge may be the result of an egg attaching to the endometrium. The body creates a special protective plug from mucous secretions. It closes the cervical canal of the uterus and serves to protect the fetus from infections and bacteria. The plug normally comes out before childbirth.
Bloody issues.
Bloody discharge during a confirmed pregnancy is always an alarming sign. Red or scarlet discharge may indicate bleeding. The reasons for this may be the threat of miscarriage, problems with the placenta, or injury to the mucous membrane. Prolonged, scanty discharge accompanied by pain may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.
"Period".
If pregnancy is established, menstruation cannot occur. Bloody discharge is a sign of complications:
- The body rejects the nonviable fetus.
- Hormonal disbalance. Lack of progesterone or high levels of androgens.
- Frozen pregnancy. Infectious diseases in the first weeks can provoke fetal death.
Stomach ache.
In the fourth week of pregnancy, abdominal pain may be associated with changes in the female body. The uterus begins to grow and stretch the ligaments, this provokes nagging pain in the lower abdomen. A malfunction of the digestive system can cause bloating, constipation and discomfort. Such pain is not a pathology. Increasing acute pain is a possible symptom of a threatened miscarriage, ectopic or frozen pregnancy.
Temperature.
In the first months of pregnancy, a woman's temperature may rise slightly. This is explained by the body’s reaction to the changes taking place and the increased production of hormones. A temperature of 38 degrees or higher may indicate a cold or viral disease. Self-medication during pregnancy is unacceptable. If necessary, the doctor will select approved medications that will not harm the baby.
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All texts for pages about mother and baby were kindly provided by RAMA Publishing - these are chapters from the book by Svetlana Klaas “Your Favorite Little Man from Conception to Birth”, reviewer Irina Nikolaevna Kononova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Ural State Medical Academy (Ekaterinburg).
When to see a doctor?
If you feel normally, you can still postpone a visit to the doctor. If the test result is positive and there is nagging pain, signs of early toxicosis, or atypical discharge, you should consult a doctor.
Possible actions of a gynecologist if a woman feels well at the 4th obstetric month:
- Taking anamnesis;
- Visual examination, examination on a gynecological chair;
- Prescription of vitamin-mineral complexes containing, among other components, folic acid.
Signs of disease and a history of miscarriages require specific treatment. Women who have problems conceiving and become pregnant using IVF or ICSI are under the supervision of a doctor from the first days of pregnancy.
Watch a video that will tell you why you need to do a genetic analysis, what happens in the female body, about hereditary diseases - cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, Down syndrome and screening for chromosomal pathologies:
Restrictions in the life of a pregnant woman
Restrictions on the use of medications during pregnancy are not accidental.
Substances included in medications remain in the body for some time after taking them, and therefore can affect both the quality of sperm and eggs before conception, and the formation and development of the Baby after conception has occurred. If it is absolutely impossible to avoid taking medications, then it is better to consult a doctor and choose the safest medications. Every time you are prescribed medication, remind your doctor that you are planning to conceive a child, especially if its development has already begun.
Although homeopathy, aromatherapy, and herbal medicine are safer than traditional medicines, their use should also be cautious - and only after consultation with a doctor.
But the health and life of a small creature can be threatened not only by diseases and medications, but also by:
- X-ray examinations of the abdominal cavity, pelvis, back (lower back) in the second half of a woman’s menstrual cycle (since she may be pregnant without knowing it) and even more so during the period of “non-occurrence” of the next menstruation. X-ray radiation has oncogenic and mutagenic effects;
- harmful working conditions for future parents. The most dangerous in this regard are professions in which you have to come into contact with chemicals (this includes, for example, such a seemingly harmless profession as a hairdresser). Radioactive radiation, chemicals, metals (mercury, lead), drugs (for example, tetracycline) cause abnormalities in the chromosomal apparatus at the level of eggs and sperm.
Fetal changes
The 4th week of pregnancy is characterized by particularly intensive growth of the embryo. At first it resembles a small, unshaped disk the size of a poppy seed. Its weight ranges from 0.3-0.5 grams.
At this stage, 3 germ layers are formed:
- Ectoderm - skin, neural tube and all epithelial structures develop from its cells.
- Mesoderm - gives rise to bones, muscles, and the vascular system.
- Endoderm is the basis for the formation of internal organs (intestines, liver, etc.).
At this stage, it is already possible to recognize the basic facial features of the unborn child. Its food tube opens from the side of the head and with further growth it will turn into the oral cavity. The rudiments of the heart, organs of hearing and vision appear. The primary kidney with a primitive system of excretory tubules is actively developing.
Another very important aspect that potentially affects both the expectant mother and the baby is the synthesis by the fetus of substances that can suppress the woman’s immune system. They are produced to prevent the body of the fair sex from rejecting the fetus. It is because of this influence of the baby that exacerbations of chronic diseases and an increase in the chance of developing colds are possible.
The positive side of this activity is the reduction in the intensity of any autoimmune processes. Often, psoriasis, diabetes mellitus or systemic lupus erythematosus recede under the influence of these substances.
Risks and complications
The most dangerous event at this stage of fetal development is the incorrect formation of organs. It can lead to the child being completely unviable in the future. In such cases, the woman’s body is able to anticipate this and activate the process of embryo rejection. Due to such fatal developmental anomalies, early spontaneous miscarriages occur. If a woman did not know that she was pregnant, then she may not understand the reason for the bleeding. They are often perceived as late periods.
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Methods for calculating gestational age
The main method for determining the duration of pregnancy is the method used by the gynecologist at the antenatal clinic, or the obstetric method. He calculates the gestational age from the first day of the last menstruation and prescribes routine instrumental and laboratory tests based on this date.
The embryonic counting method takes the date of ovulation as a starting point and lags behind the obstetric period by about 2 weeks. Women may believe that their pregnancy began on the day when the expected menstruation did not arrive. To avoid confusion when communicating with your doctor, it is recommended to adhere to the obstetric method.
