Every week, serious changes take place in the body of the expectant mother. And if the first obstetric week is considered just preparation for conception, then the third is the beginning of the development of a new life. What happens to the woman and the embryo during this period of time? What are the features of the first 3 weeks of pregnancy in obstetric terms?

Once again about the timing

First, you need to understand what the 3rd week of pregnancy is. If we take into account the obstetric period, then this is three weeks after the onset of menstruation. The embryo at this time is about one week old.

With a regular cycle, ovulation occurs during this period of time. If fertilization occurs, the egg enters the uterus and becomes fixed there. This is how a new life appears.

Symptoms

Most women at this time do not know that they are pregnant. But there are also those who, at the level of intuition, feel the emergence of a new life within themselves.

Week 3 has its own characteristic features:

Breast

At this time, an increase in the size and sensitivity of the breasts is often noted. Sometimes the areola circles darken. We can say that all these signs and sensations resemble a condition a few days before menstruation (premenstrual syndrome).

Three obstetric weeks of pregnancy have another symptom: a marked decrease or increase in sex drive. Such changes are provoked by a change in hormonal levels.

Stomach

Since the fertilized egg is still very small in size, it is impossible to see an increase in the abdomen. Outwardly, he remains in a "pre-pregnant" form. It is too early to buy special clothes for pregnant women.

Allocations

Changes in vaginal discharge are another sign that conception has occurred. For a period of three weeks, light brown discharge is considered the norm. In most cases, they have a homogeneous structure and a sour smell.

Immediately after the egg is fixed in the uterine cavity, mucus mixed with blood may appear. Don't be scared. This is just evidence that the implantation was successful.

Despite the fact that a change in discharge is the norm, there are times when you still need to see a doctor:

• The color changes. The mucus becomes brown, yellow, etc.
• An unpleasant odor appears.
• The discharge changes its consistency, for example, it becomes cheesy.

All this can be a sign of the development of an infection.

Embryo development

What happens to the egg after conception? For a period of three obstetric weeks (immediately after fertilization), it is called a zygote and is just one cell.

Twelve hours pass, and the zygote is divided into two identical parts. After that, there is a division into four parts, eight parts (geometric progression). By the way, if the egg is divided into two or more identical zygotes, you can wait for the birth of twins.

After three days have passed, the zygote becomes like a blackberry. By this time, it has time to split into about thirty particles. At this stage, it begins to move into the uterine cavity.

The "journey" takes about three to four days. Upon completion, the zygote is attached to the wall inside the uterus. The implantation process takes approximately 36 hours.

Using special villi, the fertilized egg "chooses" the most convenient place for itself. It can be fixed both on the front wall and on the back.

During the period of "travel" to the uterus and fixation inside it, the zygote continues to develop. A fertilized egg is formed, inside which is a tiny embryo. It receives nutrients and oxygen from the mother's body.

In the process of dividing a fertilized egg, three types of tissues are formed:

1. Ectoderm. It forms the nervous system, nose, ears, eyes, hair and skin.
2. The mesoderm is essential for the formation of bones, cartilage, muscles, blood vessels, lymph, blood, and gonads.
3. Endoderm is responsible for the formation of the mucous surface of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract and liver.

At three weeks (approximately one week after conception), the embryo looks like a ball with a diameter of 0.2 mm. The weight of the unborn child is 3 mcg.

Already at this stage of development, the main signs of a child are laid: the color of his eyes, hair and gender. In addition, the development of the spinal cord and brain begins.

From the end of the third week of pregnancy, the embryo and placenta enter a phase of intense growth.

Diagnostics

How to diagnose a three week pregnancy? There are several ways:

• Measurement of basal temperature. After conception, it rises slightly (up to 37 ° C), as during ovulation. If conception did not occur, the temperature drops to normal levels.
• Ultrasound. This is the most accurate way to know if you are pregnant or not. The study is carried out using a transvaginal probe. It helps to find out if the egg has reached the uterus or is fixed outside of it. On the monitor, the embryo is visualized as a small light speck located inside the ovum.

• You can also determine the onset of pregnancy by the presence of EPF in a woman's body. It is an immunosuppressant that prevents the mother's body from rejecting the embryo with the paternal genes. It appears in the blood the very next day after conception. Such an analysis is extremely rare due to its high cost and complexity.

There is no point in doing a pregnancy test yet. The hCG hormone, which the tests determine, has already begun to be secreted, but its concentration in the blood, and even more so in the urine, is still very low.

How to behave during this period?

In order for the pregnancy to pass easily, and the child to develop correctly, you need to take your health seriously. The body is very vulnerable at such a short time. Any infection or virus can lead to impaired development of the embryo or even a miscarriage.

To avoid this, you need to follow a few simple tips:

Above all, you need to take all new sensations seriously. If you experience the slightest discomfort or discomfort, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor.

Correct diet

Separately, it should be said about the proper nutrition of a woman at the very beginning of pregnancy. As already mentioned, the third obstetric week is the first week after conception, the beginning of the development of the embryo. It is during this period that special attention should be paid to nutrition.

It is advisable to include the following foods and dishes in the diet as often as possible:

• stewed or boiled fish;
• vegetables and fruits;
• milk and dairy products;
• poultry, beef and veal;
• eggs;
• almond;
• raisin.

As for fruits, those that have a yellow skin - peaches, melons, apricots - are considered especially useful.

It has long been believed that a pregnant woman should eat twice as much - for herself and for the child. Don't do that. It is enough to consume about 2300 kilocalories per day. It is recommended to eat a little several times a day. Such a schedule will help avoid hunger and excessive stress on the gastrointestinal tract.

If you feel hungry between meals, you can have something to eat. Snacks include nuts, an apple, bread, yogurt, and other easy-to-digest foods.

From the moment of conception until the last day of pregnancy, you need to take nutrition very seriously. Don't force yourself to eat. For a period of three weeks, the body begins to rebuild. This can lead to loss of appetite. This is normal and will go away in a few days.

Doctors advise against drinking a lot of tea and coffee. It is advisable to at least partially abandon their use.

A large amount of caffeine negatively affects the development of the child's nervous system and disrupts the work of the placenta.

Folic acid

Week 3 is the ideal time to start taking folic acid. The lack of this substance leads to negative consequences:

• violations in the development of the child;
• premature birth;
• disruptions in the mental development of the fetus.

Most of all folic acid is found in meat, fermented milk products, cereals, lettuce, etc.

However, you will not be able to get the required amount from food alone. Therefore, the doctor will recommend purchasing it in the form of pills at the pharmacy. Also, experts advise taking vitamin complexes designed specifically for pregnant women.

3 weeks pregnant is the first week after conception. To determine whether fertilization has occurred or not, unusual sensations will help.

This period has a lot of characteristics characteristic only of it and plays an important role in the correct development of the child. Therefore, the expectant mother should be extremely attentive to her body.

Conception, most likely, happened at the end of the last week of pregnancy, and if not, then it will happen at the beginning of this week.

If conception does not occur at this stage, there is no pregnancy.

Size and weight of the fetus at 3 weeks of gestation

We will assume that the conception took place on time and successfully. The third week of pregnancy has come and the first week of life of a small embryo! If pregnancy is 3 weeks after conception, then we are talking about 5 obstetric week, and the embryo is already 3 weeks old.

A safely fertilized egg is actively moving towards the place of its future refuge for the next 9 months, into the uterine cavity. On this path, every second cell division takes place in a fertilized egg, which now does not stop for a minute. Doctors call such an egg morula, which means mulberry. Over time, the shape of the embryo becomes like a hollow ball filled with liquid. The inner shell of the ball forms the embryonic disc, while the outer provides further attachment to the uterus.

When the embryo reaches the uterine cavity, it attaches to the surface of the uterus. This embryo implantation period takes about 40 hours. By this time, the reserve of substances vital for the embryo comes to an end in the egg, and it begins to feed from the mother's body. Now the embryo is completely dependent on you, right up to its birth.

Further, the body of the embryo is stretched, becoming elongated and expanded in the lower part. Already at the end of 3 weeks, the embryonic disc folds into a tube, where a head is formed from the extended edge, and the narrowed edge is transformed into a tail-coccyx. And at the 3rd week of pregnancy, the germ cells of a small embryo are formed.

The third week of pregnancy ends, and our embryo already consists of about 250 cells. At 3 weeks gestation, the size of the fetus is approximately 4 mm. The weight of the embryo at this time is still extremely small. From that moment on, he begins to develop and grow rapidly.

Notes for the future mom

It is important to understand that it is the third week of pregnancy that becomes the beginning of the second crisis period of pregnancy, which will continue until the 7th week of your term. At this stage, the risk of embryo death from the influence of various negative factors is not so high.

But now the risk of the formation of various anomalies, pathologies and deformities in the unborn child is still relevant, because it was from the end of 3 weeks that the laying of all the systems and organs of the unborn baby began.

Right now, the rudiments of the cardiovascular, nervous, digestive and respiratory systems are being formed, the future endocrine system, the mouth and limbs of the baby are emerging. In general, it is imperative for the expectant mother to take care. Your nutrition, lifestyle, emotional and physical condition now require very close attention.

This is not difficult to do in the case of a planned pregnancy, but if you have a spontaneous conception, then the actual pregnancy can already be reported by its first signs: nausea, frequent urge to urinate, changed taste preferences. You just have to listen to your own body.

Pregnancy symptoms at 3 weeks

Sometimes a woman interprets the very first symptoms of pregnancy not as signs of pregnancy, but as signals of the next approaching menstruation. In terms of timing, the time for the next menstruation is really approaching, therefore, some changes in the state of health of the future mother, unaware of a successful conception, may well explain to herself the approaching menstruation.

The very first signs of pregnancy at 3 weeks, confirming the completed conception, are:

• swollen mammary glands in a woman,
• reaction to strong odors, nausea, vomiting,
• changes in appetite and usual food preferences,
• pulling pains in the lower abdomen,
• bowel disorder
• increased urination
• an increased basal temperature is maintained,
• increased fatigue.

Moreover, all of the listed signs are deeply individual. Some women, against the background of early pregnancy, have a significantly increased appetite, while others completely lose their appetite - they do not want to eat for a long time, and there is no feeling of hunger. An aversion to certain pungent odors may appear, and a little later, after a couple of weeks, the odors can make the expectant mother nauseous and provoke vomiting.
And all these "joys" pass against the background of a constant desire to sleep off and increased fatigue.

Vaginal discharge at 3 weeks

You are 3 weeks pregnant, and we will tell you what happens to the discharge during this period. Vaginal discharge now does not differ in abundance, although their intensity and quantity are individual for each woman. In general, the secretions have a uniform consistency, they are light or have a slightly milky color, there may be a subtle sour smell. Be aware that any suspicious changes in odor, color, or amount of discharge will require a doctor's consultation, as this could indicate a genital infection.

If vaginal discharge has a sharp unpleasant odor, curdiness, mucus appears in it, you should urgently visit your gynecologist.

Often, the expectant mother in the third week of pregnancy can find scanty bloody stains on her underwear. Do not be alarmed, it is just during this period that the egg is introduced into the wall of the uterus and is fixed there, as a result of which a small amount of blood may be released, and you may have that very feeling of a pulling belly. In this case, spotting in different women also differs in nature and quantity, but after a couple of days they completely stop.

3 weeks of pregnancy - the feelings of the expectant mother

It should be noted that some special universal signs and sensations in the third week of pregnancy are practically not noticeable, because for each woman this period is completely individual. As we already mentioned, it is often in the third week of pregnancy that the expectant mother perceives her condition as the approach of the next monthly period.

A swollen breast, accompanied by increased sensitivity of the mammary glands, can be misleading. In the mother's body, there is a serious hormonal change, which is accompanied by frequent mood swings, nervousness, irritability, moodiness, emotional instability. All these signs are typical for both PMS and the first weeks of pregnancy.

Early pregnancy can make you feel uncomfortable and tired. It seems that nothing is strong enough, and all the time I want to sleep.

Test and ultrasound at 3 weeks of gestation

Even at this stage of pregnancy, if you decide to use a rapid test to confirm it, the result cannot be considered reliable. For a second strip to appear on the test, which will indicate a positive result of conception, it is imperative that the level of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) increases sufficiently, which manifests itself in the urine and changes the color and number of test strips.

However, at the 3rd week of pregnancy, the concentration of the hCG hormone has not yet increased to such a level as to accurately confirm your pregnancy. Sometimes, in rare cases, the second strip may appear weakly on the test, but this is not at all a reason to rush for a second test for rechecking. You just have to wait until your period is due, and if it hasn't started, you can try the rapid test again.

In the case when you can no longer endure and wait, we recommend using the services of an ultrasound scan, where, even at such a short time, you can either deny or confirm the fact of pregnancy.

Some women believe that if the pregnancy is 3 weeks old, the photo of the fetus may already be interesting. This is complete nonsense, at 3 weeks of pregnancy, an ultrasound photo is simply not done, unless, of course, you are not interested in a photo of your own womb.

It is the third week of pregnancy that is a turning point, since after its expiration, one can confidently say whether pregnancy has come or not.

If the answer is positive and conception has occurred, the fertilized egg takes about a week to reach its destination - the uterus. There she safely attaches herself to one of the walls and becomes an embryo. She did not stop actively dividing immediately after fertilization and at the time of implantation it can contain up to several hundred cells, while the total size of the egg at 3 weeks of gestation remained the same as at conception.

Its dimensions are extremely small, only 2-3 μg, with a length of up to 0.2 mm. It is hard to believe that from this crumbs at the 3rd week of pregnancy, a baby will be born in 9 months.

At the same time, do not forget that all these three weeks from the moment of conception the zygote grew and developed, which means that at conception, two carriers of chromosomes were only two cells.

By the beginning of the third week, the zygote reaches the uterus, is fixed on the wall and turns into a blastocyst - this is actually pregnancy. This formation is the future embryo, which does not stop development and growth for a second. During the growth process, a cavity is formed inside the blastocyst, in which the embryonic disc is formed. End of the third week - the embryonic disc folds into a cylinder along the edges of which the head and tail of the embryo are formed.

Yes, in the third week of pregnancy, the embryo is extremely small, but right now the laying of internal organs is taking place. Modern medicine is charged with establishing the fact of pregnancy as soon as possible, since the formation of organs and systems from the third week of pregnancy means that not all expectant mothers are generally aware of pregnancy and will continue to poison themselves with alcohol, nicotine, stress and physical exertion, which leads to birth children with defects, since these cells were formed in the third week of pregnancy and it is impossible to fix it. Identifying the symptoms of pregnancy and giving yourself an account of it in time is a great way to give birth to a healthy baby.

Also, do not forget that the embryo is considered by your body, or rather by the immune system, an enemy, therefore, until hormonal changes occur, do not load the body with any irritants.

Symptoms of the onset of pregnancy - the third week

Due to the fact that the period of 3 weeks of pregnancy, which we are considering in the material, always shows a delay in menstruation, many will find out about the very fact of pregnancy much later, calming themselves and writing off the delay for inflammation and other problems. The most important symptom that can warn about pregnancy in advance is pain, similar to menstrual pain, manifested in the process of attaching the zygote to the inner wall of the uterus. The pains are noticeably weaker than menstrual pains, but still reminiscent of them, pulling and pushing of a spasmodic nature, which do not cause inconvenience, but at the same time make themselves felt. In addition, a number of signs have been derived that directly or indirectly speak of pregnancy:

• Nausea is an optional manifestation, but against the background of its absence earlier, it can be concluded that a new life appears in the body - pregnancy;
• A change in culinary preferences is the most common manifestation, while a woman is not aware of this;
• Odor intolerance is the most striking manifestation of pregnancy in the third week. Especially for the smells of fish, fresh meat and the like;
• Fatigue, weakness, weakness - the reason for this is the changed priority in blood circulation. With the appearance of the embryo, blood circulation is transferred to the pelvic organs, respectively, part of the blood flows from the brain;
• Frequent urination - many women in the third week of pregnancy confuse this symptom with cystitis or a woman's cold. In fact, this is due to the change in blood circulation and the renewal of the kidneys;
• Engorgement of the nipples of the breast and their soreness - for many, this is a sign of the onset of menstruation and these symptoms are ignored. If a woman knows her cycle well enough for her, these will be the first calls for an appointment with a gynecologist;
• Implantation bleeding is a pregnancy symptom in the third week, which many women mistake for menstruating a little earlier than expected. In fact, this is all unnecessary from the process of planting a zygote in the uterus; during implantation, it literally gnaws out the epithelium, freeing the blood vessels to join them. Such spotting at the 3rd week of pregnancy deceives women, especially those who do not want a baby. It is because of this pregnancy symptom that it is believed that menstruation can go through the fetus for some time.

The last statement is impossible, since menstruation is a consequence of the destruction of an unfertilized egg and the withdrawal of products of preparation for conception. Since it is the third week of pregnancy, the hormonal balance has already been rebuilt to maintain the embryo, and not to produce new eggs. Since they do not mature, then ovulation does not occur and the subsequent destruction of the unfertilized egg and menstruation. The shade of the implantation discharge can vary from pinkish to brown. The implantation period is about 40 hours, so in two days all the daubing should stop and this also serves as a signal that it is time to sign up for an obstetrician because the third week of pregnancy is over.

Sex in the third week of pregnancy

An excellent signal for those who are watching themselves or their half (meaning responsible future fathers) that pregnancy has begun is a sharp and dramatic change in female libido. In some cases, a sharp increase in desire is noticed, on the other hand, the complete absence of it. Here hormones and only they are to blame. If the desire has increased, enjoy the moment, since the sensations in the third week of pregnancy, thanks to hormonal changes, will be brighter. If the woman has completely cooled down - do not take it personally.

Feelings of the third week of pregnancy

Many women categorically declare that they fully feel their pregnancy from the very first days. According to medical research, the likelihood of such a feeling is. At the same time, there is not much difference between whether the expectant mother kept a diary of the cycle, or whether she was preparing for conception.

It is also worth noting that there are no obvious (measurable) signs in women who foresee the fact of pregnancy. They either just feel it, sometimes earlier than before 3 weeks of pregnancy or not.

Many people talk about the sensations of pregnancy, but in fact they simply impose stereotypes on themselves, instilled by television and the press. When most of the above symptoms are collectively attributed only to pregnancy. On the one hand, it is right for a woman to accept the responsibility of motherhood as early as possible.

Test in the third week of pregnancy

Despite the rapid increase in the level of the hormone hCG in the body, it will not be enough for a qualitative definition as a symptom of pregnancy in the third week. Oversensitive tests can give a result with a weak staining of the second strip, but these data are not very reliable and, most often, are a manifestation of a period later than 3 weeks of gestation.

The way to determine exactly at the 3rd week of pregnancy by the level of hCG is a blood test for the content of the hormone. If you cannot set the exact date, please return it with a delay of 2 - 3 days.

At the same time, its content in the urine is not very pronounced for the first weeks. For a guaranteed result of determining the fact of pregnancy in the third week, do not a pregnancy test, but a laboratory blood test.

Three weeks of pregnancy tests

Every year clinics and private offices come up with and prescribe an increasing number of tests for women in labor. In just 5 years, the number of such tests has almost tripled. However, there are those that need to be passed, at least in order to be aware of the course of pregnancy itself. If the preliminary analysis for hCG in the third week of your pregnancy gave a positive result, re-taking it in a couple of weeks will allow you to more accurately determine the timing, as well as the state of the embryo.

In addition to the hCG hormone, the corpus luteum does not stop synthesizing progesterone, preparing the uterus for embryo implantation, and at the same time calming the expectant mother at the level of the nervous system.

Ultrasound is a traditional method of establishing the fact of pregnancy, determining the sex of the child, the presence of twins or triplets, possible visible pathologies, and so on. A very important aspect of an ultrasound scan at a relatively short time, starting from the 3rd week of pregnancy, is the determination of an ectopic pregnancy, when the zygote is fixed or gets stuck in the fallopian tube. Further development of the embryo outside the uterus will not only destroy him, but it is quite possible that the expectant mother too.

Transvaginal ultrasound, if the symptoms of pregnancy at 3 weeks are confirmed, will also allow assessing the tone of the muscles of the uterus and, in case of violations, correct it in time in the right direction.

Disruptions of pregnancy. Symptoms of this at 3 weeks

It happens that the blastocyst cannot fix on the wall of the uterus. In this case, after a while she dies and comes out with blood. From this period, a new menstrual cycle begins its report, and the pregnancy is terminated in the third week. The discharge is abundant, sometimes with barely visible cells of the embryo.

During the period of blastocyst implantation, as mentioned above, light spotting may appear, taken by a woman for her period. If the discharge becomes thicker and more abundant, you should immediately visit a doctor to determine the condition of the embryo and help him overcome the crisis if necessary.

The problem of miscarriages lies in the male cell, which is foreign to the female body. However, nature has prepared protection for this case, because the birth of a child is the main task of a woman. The blastocyst is protected by a mechanism for the production of a special protein, which belongs to the group of immunosuppressive ones that lower immunity. From the beginning of her journey through the fallopian tubes at the 3rd week of pregnancy, she suppresses the woman's immunity so as not to die. It should be noted that pregnancy does not always persist. In many cases, the third week of pregnancy becomes a turning point in the development of pregnancy or its termination.

Alcohol in the third, important week of pregnancy

This is the most dangerous enemy of pregnancy in the third week. A kind of natural selection is now taking place. Alcohol inhibits the immune-dampening protein in the third week of pregnancy.

A weakened or, so to speak, a defective embryo will not withstand an alcoholic blow and will die, while a healthier and stronger embryo will survive.

So that you do not take this as advice on the forced termination of pregnancy at 3 weeks, it is worth noting that alcohol is generally alien to the human body. If nicotine is produced by a special gland for the decomposition of amino acids, then alcohol is 100% poison.

Agree, it would be foolish to poison a child at the time of formation of tissues and organs with 100% poison and then expect the birth of a full-fledged baby.

There is a very popular opinion that the pathologies of newborns appear if at the time of intercourse the parents were under alcohol - this is not the case. Sperm cells, and even more so an egg ready for fertilization, does not in any way come into contact with alcohol that has entered the bloodstream. But at the moment when the embryo at the 3rd week of pregnancy travels through the small pelvis, which is actively washed with blood in the predominant order, alcohol can cause many problems, albeit in the future.

Colds and pregnancy 3 weeks

If up to 3 weeks pregnancy was in question, then after overcoming the 3 week barrier and confirming the fact of pregnancy, it is worth taking care of the health of the future baby, and therefore of your own.

Limit physical and mental stress, stay in the cold or, conversely, in the heat, do not drink cold drinks. The 3rd week of pregnancy is the turning point when the embryo connects to your bloodstream, because everything that affects you, good or bad, also affects it.

Output

In this material, we analyzed the main symptoms of pregnancy, as well as what happens in the female body at the 3rd week of pregnancy, what happens to the zygote, and then to the blastocyst at the 3rd week of pregnancy, in order to fully understand all the processes.

Third week obstetric term pregnancy- a very important period, both for the expectant mother and for the unborn child. Firstly, most likely, fertilization has already occurred, and the woman is already really pregnant (that is, embryonic gestation), although there are no symptoms yet and a pregnancy test is negative. Secondly, the embryo begins to actively grow, its cells divide rapidly. The very first rudiments of various organs and systems are already being laid.

Sometimes fertilization is just taking place during the third week of the obstetric period. In this case, the woman may not know about her pregnancy until five weeks.

Signs and symptoms of 3 weeks pregnant

Many women do not have any manifestations, and they do not know that they are pregnant. But sometimes, already in the third week, the levels of hormones rise high enough, and some symptoms appear:
· Implant bleeding... Fertilization takes place in the fallopian tube. After about 4 days, the embryo enters the uterus, where it “floats” for another 2 days in a free state. Then, on the 6-7th day, there is implantation: the embryo is introduced into the wall of the uterus, moreover, it does it quite aggressively, destroying the mucous membrane. This may cause slight bleeding. You may notice the characteristic marks on the laundry.
· Nausea in the morning (some women also have vomiting). If you have this symptom in the third week, there is a high probability of one of two options: either you miscalculated the term a little, or you are pregnant with twins.

· Changes in the mammary glands. They increase in size, become more sensitive and painful, and the skin around the nipples darkens. This is how the body begins to prepare for breastfeeding.
· Lack of menstruation. Most women don't notice this, because many women shouldn't have their period after three weeks. But if your periods are less than 28 days, you may already suspect that your attempts to conceive with your partner have been successful.
· Increased fatigue. A woman may notice that she has become more and more tired at work. This is due to the hormone progesterone and the colossal amount of energy that the mother's body spends on the growth of the embryo.
· Frequent urination.
· Aggravated sense of smell. There are various explanations for this seemingly strange symptom. According to one of them, thanks to a heightened sense of smell, a woman feels male pheromones better, as a result, the chances of successful fertilization during ovulation... It is also believed that a woman begins to smell better due to the "side effect" of increased estrogen levels.
· Changing food preferences. There is a craving for certain types of food and even inedible items (for example, chalk), an aversion to foods that you previously liked.
· The increased basal temperature remains. If you measure the temperature in the rectum every day according to certain rules, you will notice that on the days of ovulation, it rises slightly. If your fever stays elevated for 18 days, you are most likely pregnant.
· Small cramps in the lower abdomen. This is a consequence of the implantation of the egg and, possibly, the enlargement of the uterus that has already begun.

When do you need to see a doctor immediately?

Alarming symptoms are heavy bleeding and abdominal pain. They may indicate ectopic pregnancy... In such cases, immediate medical attention is needed. The most common cause of ectopic pregnancy is inflammation in the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes.

Does the test show pregnancy at 3 weeks?

If you haven't had your period for 3 weeks, it's time to buy some home pregnancy tests and start getting tested. Modern test manufacturers claim that a positive result can be obtained at an obstetric period of 3 weeks and 4-5 days.

All pregnancy tests are based on the measurement of urine levels of a hormone called chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Usually, its concentration becomes so high that it can be detected 2 weeks after fertilization. The accuracy of modern tests is about 99%. The probability of error is minimal.

The test is best done in the morning, when the urine concentration is highest. If you want to get a reliable result, you must follow all the manufacturer's recommendations in the instructions.

If you get a negative result, this is not a reason to be upset. It may be too early. Repeat the test a week later. False negative results are not excluded: despite the high accuracy of modern test systems, sometimes, in rare cases, they "lie".

How much is the third week of pregnancy?

For convenience, gynecologists are guided by the obstetric gestational age - it is counted from the first day of the last menstruation (in reality, fertilization occurs about 2 weeks later).

Three weeks obstetric (also called gestational) term is approximately one week of embryonic term. The embryo is only 7 days old, it barely had time to attach to the wall of the uterus.

What happens to the fetus at 3 weeks of gestation?

So, the third week of the obstetric gestation period corresponds to the first week of the existence of the embryo. At this time, a lot of important things happen to him.:
· At the end of the second - beginning of the third week, the fertilization of the egg takes place.
The next 4 days, the embryo moves along the uterine ( fallopian) the tube towards the uterus. At this time, he does not forget to actively grow.
· For another 2 days, the embryo is in the uterine cavity in a free state.
· Then implantation takes place. The embryo literally "gnaws" the lining of the uterus and plunges into it. In the near future, until the umbilical cord and placenta have formed, the embryo will feed on the mother's blood.

By the end of the third week, the embryo is a ball with a diameter of 0.1-0.2 mm, inside it is a cavity with liquid. At this stage it is called blastocyst and consists of 200-250 cells. At the genetic level, his gender, eye color, hair color and many other signs are already predetermined. The end of the 3rd week of pregnancy is the first critical period of intrauterine development... Due to the active growth and formation of the rudiments of the most important organs, the embryo is very vulnerable at this time. Any negative effects can lead to his death and miscarriage. Therefore, a mother should be as careful as possible, monitor her lifestyle.

What happens to the uterus and abdomen at the 3rd week of pregnancy?

There are no external signs of pregnancy yet and cannot be. The belly will begin to grow at about 12 weeks.

In the third week of the obstetric period, the mucous membrane of the uterus thickens under the influence of hormones, preparing to receive a fertilized egg. The ovary begins to produce the hormone progesterone corpus luteum- a temporary endocrine organ, formed at the site of a bursting follicle, from which an egg came out.

Does ultrasound show pregnancy at 3 weeks?

Transvaginal ultrasound (using a special probe that is inserted into the vagina) at 3 weeks of obstetric gestation can be performed for one of two purposes:
· Establish the fact of pregnancy. Naturally, it is impossible to consider “how the egg is doing there” and whether the embryo is developing normally. The embryo is still too small, it is impossible to distinguish anything on it.
· To identify pathologies that can interfere with the normal course of pregnancy and affect the condition of the fetus. For example, uterine myoma.

Can you see something during an ultrasound scan? It depends on what stage of development the embryo is now at. If it is still moving through the fallopian tube, it will most likely fail to be seen. If it has already been implanted into the uterus and has grown a little, ultrasound will show something:

· It's time to buy some pregnancy tests and start getting tested.
· If you have not yet revised your diet - it's time to switch to a healthy diet.
· You have probably already started taking folic acid at a dosage of 400 mg daily.
· You should avoid smoking (including passive smoking), alcohol, caffeine, taking any medications (except those prescribed by your doctor).

Diet rules during pregnancy, common myths

Even at the planning stage of pregnancy, it is important to start adhering to a healthy diet (in fact, this is always important, but for a woman who is preparing to become a mother, it is doubly important).

There are no special diets for pregnant women. The main rule is that food should be healthy and varied so that your body receives all the substances, minerals, trace elements and vitamins necessary for the growth and development of the child.

You don't have to "eat for two." You may notice that your appetite has increased, but you shouldn't try to eat as much as possible. A varied and complete diet is important, not the amount of food in kilograms or calories. Breakfast is of the utmost importance. Eating well in the morning can help you avoid eating junk food and other unhealthy foods before lunch.

Eat at least five different types of fruits and vegetables throughout the day... They will provide you and your child with vitamins and minerals. The fiber found in plant foods helps prevent constipation and normalize digestion. Fruits and vegetables can be eaten in any form: fresh, frozen, canned. Fresh food must be washed thoroughly. If pathogens enter the body, this will by no means contribute to the successful course of pregnancy.

Starchy foods should make up just over a third of your diet.... This group includes: potatoes, bread, pasta, rice, oats, millet, corn, corn flour. They are a valuable source of vitamins, energy and fiber, and help you to eat well without gaining extra calories.

Your Body Needs Adequate Protein... It is found not only in meat, fish, poultry and eggs, but also in some plant foods: beans, soybeans, nuts. The meat should not be fatty. You need to remove the skin from the bird. You should have two servings of fish in your diet every week. Any animal products must be well cooked.

Dairy products provide you and your baby with calcium... Eat milk, yoghurts, cheeses, but when buying them in a store, always carefully study the packaging: the fat content should be minimal.

Avoid saturated fat and sugar... Sugar contributes to excessive weight gain, creates additional stress on the pancreas, and leads to tooth decay. Saturated fat also leads to weight gain and is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. A sample list of foods to avoid: butter, sugary spreads and creams, chocolate, cookies, chips, baked goods, ice cream, muffins, cakes, sugary sodas.

3 week: Determination of pregnancy - video

Conception begins with the penetration of the sperm into the egg. The combination of the genetic material of the egg and the sperm forms a zygote. She, in turn, quickly undergoes a fission process. First, it is divided into 2 cells, then 4, then 8, and by dividing it reaches 32 cells. After this time, the embryo is negligible in size.

A fetus at the 3rd week of pregnancy is usually called an embryo (at the eighth obstetric week of pregnancy, the embryo becomes a fetus).

At the moment, the embryo, or embryo, is in a very small water sac of amniotic fluid. At this time, the embryo receives nutrition not from the body of the expectant mother, but from the yolk sac, in which the process of hematopoiesis is now taking place.

Possible problems

Ectopic pregnancy

A fertilized egg is usually anchored in the endometrium inside the uterus. However, there is an extremely small probability of the egg cell gaining a foothold in another place of the woman's reproductive system, that is, outside the uterus, which will be called "ectopic pregnancy" from a gynecological point of view. If not in the womb, then where? - you ask. For example, in the fallopian tube, or on the ovary.

The likelihood of a fertilized egg to gain a foothold outside the uterus is extremely small.

What symptoms and signs can tell the expectant mother in the early stages of a possible ectopic pregnancy?

1. Severe pain with a pattern of increasing intensity.
2. The area of ​​pain is not in the lower abdomen, but on the left or right (that is, in the place of improper implantation of the embryo).
3. When this area is palpated by a gynecologist, the pain intensifies.

Modern medicine, in general, and gynecology, in particular, have achieved considerable heights and advanced achievements. Sparing methods of getting rid of an ectopic pregnancy have already been developed. The peculiarity of these methods is that the procedure does not interfere with the healthy course of pregnancy in the future.

Frozen pregnancy

In the early stages of the "interesting position", in the first trimester of pregnancy, there is some degree of probability of such a problem as a frozen pregnancy. Medical science, in general, and gynecologists in particular, call the main cause of this pathology genetic defects. In addition to them, the causes of a frozen pregnancy can be infections in the body of the expectant mother, inflammation or violation of recommendations for the lifestyle of a pregnant woman. If you suspect a frozen pregnancy, it is very important to seek medical help in a timely manner.

Abortion

Spontaneous termination of pregnancy is also called "miscarriage".

Spontaneous abortion or miscarriage is the rejection of an embryo already implanted in the endometrium of the uterus. This action is manifested by bleeding from the vagina or constant bloody discharge, a sharp sharp pain in the lower abdomen of the expectant mother and pulling pain in the lower back. The faster a woman reacts to these symptoms, the faster qualified medical assistance will be provided, which means that the consequences will be more painless.

Pain and cramping

Some women during this period are worried about mild and periodic pain in the lower abdomen. A pulling, mild pain in the indicated area resembles an uncomfortable sensation, as before a menstrual cycle. This pain (we repeat, without an acute and sharp character, on the contrary, pulling and not intense) is normal for the third obstetric week of pregnancy. It signals that:

1. The blastocyst is preparing for implantation in the uterine cavity;
2. In other words, the birth of a new life inside the expectant mother is about to begin.
3. Thus, everything is in order, no medical intervention is required.

Discharge in the 3rd obstetric week

Not all women feel hormonal changes in the third week, but only the most sensitive ones. In some, bloody discharge can be seen. Do not ignore this, because such discharge may indicate placental abruption or other possible problems. In this case, a pregnant girl should immediately seek qualified medical help.

Vaginal discharge in the third obstetric week should normally be colorless and odorless.

Breast changes

Wise Mother Nature has thought of everything in the structure of the female body. If a girl wants to become a mother, and a new life is born under her heart (a blastocyst through an embryo and an embryo becomes a fetus, that is, an intrauterine baby), this means, according to the laws of Nature, that a Woman is already in a new status - very soon she will need to feed her child breast milk. Therefore, in the early stages of pregnancy, the mammary glands of the expectant mother are already beginning to prepare for the restructuring of their functions. The breasts, and especially the nipples, become very sensitive. The halos may darken a little, the volume of the breast gradually grows, the vessels on the skin appear - this organ is more intensively supplied with blood.

Ultrasound of the fetus at 3 weeks of gestation

Keep taking folic acid and prenatal vitamins. Monitor food and fluid intake. Bad habits should already be a thing of the past. Do not rush to do an ultrasound scan, at this stage it is still not informative enough. Even modern high-resolution sensors will not be able to visualize the embryo. The only indication for ultrasound examination in the third obstetric week of pregnancy is specific symptoms to exclude an ectopic pregnancy. In any case, consult your doctor. When it comes to ultrasound images, a photo at the 3rd week of pregnancy (according to the obstetric counting method) is almost impossible to find on the net. It is still very early to use this survey method.