For many women, they don’t experience pregnancy symptoms until a few weeks after conception starts. It’s common to notice pregnancy symptoms at 4 weeks when the body starts taking on noticeable physical and mental changes. Additionally, cells start to divide in the baby’s body that will later make up the child’s brain, spinal cord, and other body parts.
Knowing the most common pregnancy symptoms at 4 weeks could be key to experiencing a happy and healthy pregnancy. And more importantly, any mother would want to know how well their baby is developing because major changes start to occur in the baby’s life at just a few weeks.
So, let’s take a look at some major changes for mom and baby during 4 weeks gestation as well as some tips for making sure your pregnancy progresses with ease.
1. What to Know about the Baby at 4 Weeks
4 weeks into your pregnancy, your little tyke truly is a little tyke. A common size for an embryo (or a blastocyst at this point in the pregnancy) is about 3mm long. If you need a better visual, your baby is about the size of a mustard or poppy seed or smaller. During this period, many things are developing for the baby. First, cells are starting to separate into 3 different parts. These 3 parts will eventually become these major body parts:
- Brain, spinal cord, and back
- Circulatory system
- Lungs, stomach, and urinary system
As far as the baby, he or she is now growing in your plush amniotic sac which will be their “house” for the next several months. Your placenta is also developing at this time along the uterine walls. The placenta will send vitamins, nutrients, and oxygen to the baby in the amniotic sac via the umbilical cord.
2. How Your Body Is Changing and Common Pregnancy Symptoms at 4 Weeks
Pregnancy symptoms at 4 weeks are non-existent for some mothers but hit like a ton of bricks for others. At 4 weeks, one of the most common symptoms is the lack of a period or a very spotty one. If the latter, this is likely due to the embryo detaching from the uterine lining. Hence, why you may see light spotting as opposed to typical menstrual blood flow.
Physically, you may experience a wave of fatigue. What is usually a normal 8 hours of sleep turns into 13. While there are conflicting medical reasons to pregnancy fatigue, many blame it on higher than usual levels of progesterone.
Fluctuating hormonal levels could also mean larger, tender breasts, too. Sky-rocketing estrogen and progesterone levels are preparing your breasts for milk production so swollen boobs are to be expected.
Lastly, you may find yourself snapping at everyone! Moodiness is also one of the most common expected pregnancy symptoms at 4 weeks. The heightened levels of hormones mean the neurotransmitters in your brain are reacting differently to certain stimuli.
3. Tips to Consider When You’re 4 Weeks Pregnant
Outside from the many physical changes you and your baby are experiencing at 4 weeks, there are several tips you can take advantage of to ensure this phase progresses smoothly.
- Ditch the bad habits NOW! Because of the very crucial developments taking place with your baby, it’s vital that you cease with your unsavory habits now. Smoking and drinking are the first things to cross off your list. Carbon monoxide and alcohol could severely damage the baby’s neurological development, so shelve the Virginia Slims and Bourbon immediately! If you enjoy strenuous workouts, ease up a little. Consider a brisk walk to a hyperactive run. Trade your weight lifting classes for yoga or aerobics. Your body is catering to a delicate being so now is definitely the time to start taking it easy.
- Take your vitamins seriously. At 4 weeks, you and your baby will need many nutrients to ensure a healthy pregnancy for the next several months. Start taking in more folic acid to prevent neurologic birth defects. Up your calcium game to strengthen your baby’s bones as well as yours. Foods with iron are a great way to ensure your baby gets plenty of extra oxygen through the bloodstream. Lastly, consider taking iodine supplements. Iodine is helpful to prevent severe mental and physical deformities, as well as preventing miscarriages and stillbirths. An easy way to get all of these vitamins and more is through prenatal supplements. Your OBGYN can provide them or you can get them over-the-counter.
- Ease up on the junk food. Everyone enjoys a nice burger and fries occasionally, but now is the time to leave McDonald’s and Burger King in the fry cooker. Reduce the burgers and upgrade to more lean meats like white chicken and fish at 4 weeks. And you’ll want to maintain a healthier diet throughout your pregnancy. Lean meats, leafy greens, and fruits will provide an abundant amount of crucial nutrients, including the ones listed above. Junk food often comes loaded with sodium, sugar, fat (not the good kind!) and other foulness that could wreak havoc on your heart health. And what affects your body will affect your baby.
- Get a due date. While some medical professionals advise against visiting the OBGYN at 4 weeks (some say to make a first appointment at 8 weeks), it may be a good idea to get an approximate due date at 4 weeks. This will come in handy when considering other major events in your life. Are you buying a house? If so, you know to have something large enough for you and your growing family come the baby’s birthday. Knowing the baby’s introduction date will provide you the time frame to start financially planning for your new addition. Many parents take this time to consider 529 education accounts for their children, life insurance policies, and other financial safety nets. Additionally, become familiar with the pregnancy leave policy at work. Knowing how much time you have for leave will provide you the peace of mind in planning for your little one’s arrival.
