Changes During Pregnancy - Week 4

Mother

You can use the pregnancy test kit at home later this week to confirm your pregnancy. Call your doctor and fix up an appointment for a prenatal visit once you find the results positive.

You may begin to experience the same symptoms as in Week 2, in greater intensity. You may experience a metallic taste in your mouth and your breasts might start hurting. Once the embryo is implanted, it produces a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). This hormone maintains the lining of the uterus and signals the ovaries to stop releasing an egg each month. This in turn stops your monthly periods. Some women may experience slight cramping and spotting of blood during this week as implantation continues. They may mistake this for a period as the implantation occurs around the time your period is due. Most women start wondering if they are pregnant only after they miss their period at the end of this week.

It is important to continue eating a healthy diet for both your own well-being and that of your developing baby.

Baby

By the end of this week, the group of cells that grow into your baby are attached firmly into the lining of your womb. This is called the embryo. The embryo (or more precisely the outer layer of cells) implanted in the uterus goes to work creating the interface between the growing embryo and the maternal system - the placenta. The embryo is attached to the placenta through a stalk which will later form the umbilical cord. This will support the transfer of oxygen and nutrients between the mother and the baby. During these initial stages, the embryo's nutrition is provided by the endometrium and nearby maternal tissues. The layers of cells in the embryo start developing into your baby's organs and body parts. The baby's spine and brain also start developing at this stage.