Pregnancy symptoms week 4, The Bump

A full-term pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, or roughly nine months, counted from the first day of your last period. It is divided into three trimesters. Pregnancy symptoms week 4 are often the first ones women notice, because pregnancy hormones start rising after implantation.

Week 4 is around the time your next period would be due. According to MedlinePlus, the tiny ball of cells implants in the wall of the uterus during week 4 and starts to grow. Many women first suspect they are pregnant this week.

HOW MUCH BIG IS YOUR BABY AT WEEK 4?

At 4 weeks pregnant, your baby is a tiny ball of cells called a blastocyst, smaller than a poppy seed. It is settling into the lining of your uterus. Its inner cells will become the embryo, and its outer cells will form the placenta and membranes that nourish and protect it.

URINE PREGNANCY TEST AT WEEK 4

By the end of week 4, a home pregnancy test may turn positive, because hCG levels are rising. But testing on the day of a missed period can still miss a pregnancy. The FDA says about 10 to 20 out of 100 pregnant women will get a negative result on the first day of a missed period. For the most reliable result, test 1 to 2 weeks after a missed period, or ask your doctor for a blood test.

PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS WEEK 4

The same hormones that turn a pregnancy test positive also cause early pregnancy symptoms. Hormone levels are still low in week 4, so having no symptoms at 4 weeks is quite normal. These pregnancy symptoms week 4 include

1- Nausea

Most pregnant women have at least some nausea, and about one third have vomiting. Morning sickness often begins during the first month and usually eases by weeks 14 to 16, though some women have it longer. Call your provider if you vomit more than three times a day or cannot keep food or fluids down.

2- Mild cramping

You might feel mild cramping or bloating at 4 weeks, which can happen as the pregnancy implants. If cramping is severe or comes with heavy bleeding or one-sided pain, contact your health care provider right away to rule out problems such as an ectopic pregnancy.

3- A Missed period

A missed period is often the first clear sign of pregnancy. After implantation, hCG keeps the ovary producing progesterone, which maintains the lining of the uterus, so it is not shed as a period. Ovulation also stops during pregnancy.

4- Breast tenderness

Rising estrogen and progesterone prepare the breasts for feeding, which can make them sore, swollen and larger. The areolas may darken. Later in pregnancy, Prolactin hormone levels rise to prepare for milk production. Breast tenderness is a common part of pregnancy symptoms week 4.

5- Spotting

Light spotting around week 4 can happen when the pregnancy implants. It is usually light pink or brown and much lighter than a period. Heavy bleeding, bleeding with cramps or pain, or passing tissue needs prompt medical attention.

HP Thoughts: We are getting warm now! Onward to the fifth installment of our pregnancy series: Pregnancy Symptoms Week 6.

Sources

Fetal development, MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Pregnancy, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Morning sickness, MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)