The first month of pregnancy

Pregnancy’s initial month is filled with anticipation and a host of novel emotions. While some may have been anxiously awaiting this occasion, others may find it surprising. The body goes through major changes in these early weeks, even though they aren’t always apparent at first.

Changes in hormones initiate the process, readying the body to support the growth of new life. Some women may experience mild changes in their mood, such as increased fatigue, slight nausea, or even increased emotional outbursts. All of it is a result of the body adjusting to the amazing journey that lies ahead.

The first month lays the foundation for everything that comes after, even though it’s still very early. Knowing what’s going on can help expectant mothers get ready for the upcoming months and feel more connected to these early changes.

Topic	Details
Symptoms	Fatigue, nausea, mood swings, breast tenderness
Hormonal changes	Increase in hCG and progesterone levels
Fetal development	Formation of neural tube, heart starts beating
Doctor"s visit	Confirm pregnancy, blood tests, ultrasound
Nutrition	Increase intake of folic acid, avoid certain foods
Emotional support	Important to reduce stress, communicate with partner

General information

The first month of pregnancy can be thought of as the baby’s conception, and it will also be the first month of the embryo’s development. However, from the first day of the last menstrual cycle until conception, all calculations in obstetrics are traditionally done in obstetric weeks. As a result, there are four lunar or 4.5 calendar weeks in the first month.

You should be aware that a woman’s first week of pregnancy coincides with her last menstrual cycle. Furthermore, 4.5 weeks is roughly equivalent to 3–4 days from the time the next menstrual cycle is delayed.

As a result, a large number of fair sex representatives are ignorant for the first month. However, if the pregnancy is desired and planned, the woman will believe that she is in a position to raise a child and will act more cautiously if the existence of the baby cannot be conclusively confirmed by the end of one month.

What happens to the baby?

The first month of pregnancy is not only the beginning of a new life, but also the foundation of its future well-being, because the probability of fertilization and implantation depends on the woman"s health and lifestyle, and the genetic set of DNA will determine right now everything that will be characteristic of the new inhabitant of planet Earth – gender, hair and eye color, skin, his diseases and talents inherited from ancestors. During the first month, the formation of the fetus occurs at an incredibly fast pace, the process of organogenesis is underway. The embryo is formed, but the mother"s sensations associated with the onset of pregnancy do not always begin in this month. In each female cycle, several follicles begin to mature in the woman"s ovaries after the next menstruation, but after a few days, the undisputed leader is determined – the dominant follicle. It is he who has to grow more actively than others. The development of the rest will be stopped by special hormones that are produced at this phase of the cycle. The dominant follicle ruptures and releases an egg, mature and ready for fertilization. This happens in the second week of the cycle (in the second obstetric week of pregnancy). Most women ovulate on the 14-15th day of the cycle with a 28-day classical cycle. The released egg is very lazy, sedentary and its viability is limited to just one day. If sperm do not reach it during this time, the female oocyte dies and the body gets rid of it in another two weeks during a new menstruation.

Given the greater resiliency of male cells, sperm can wait for the oocyte in the genital tract if sexual contact occurred two to three days prior to ovulation. If contact occurred on the day of ovulation, sperm may have had time to reach the egg.

Of the tens of thousands of sperm, one wins. It manages to break through the membranes of the egg, after which it strengthens the membranes so that other sperm cannot penetrate inside. They are no longer necessary, because an important process has begun inside the oocyte – the fusion of the nuclei of the cells of the father and mother. Genetic information is exchanged. It is at these moments that it is decided who the child will be – a boy or a girl, whether he will be blond or brown-haired, tall or short, where his moles will be and whether he will have a talent for playing the violin. At the same moment, information about genetic diseases is transmitted, if the parents have them. The egg loses its status and is now called a zygote. It begins to smoothly move down into the uterine cavity through the tube where fertilization took place. It is facilitated by the vibrations of the villi of the fallopian tube. Zigota is a unicellular organism that seeks to part as soon as possible with such a status – after 30 hours it is divided into two, and after another 10 hours – by 4 new cells. After a few days, the number of cells becomes 250, etc. d. Having passed the morula stage, the embryo becomes a round, ball-like blastocyst, the size of which does not exceed 0.1 mm.

The third obstetric week of pregnancy corresponds only to the first week of embryonic development. Implantation occurs during these days. 4-5 days after the significant meeting of the oocyte and sperm, the embryo descends into the uterus and floats there until it sticks to one of the walls. It already has an inner layer, which is called the embryonic node, and an outer one, which will be responsible for implantation. The villi of the outer layer loosen the endometrium with the action of special enzymes, the endometrial cells are damaged, and the fertilized egg can sink into the uterus. The villi immediately begin to nourish the baby, connecting with the small blood vessels of the mother. Almost immediately after the baby is fixed, the intensive formation of embryonic structures will begin. The kid acquires the embryo petals, from which the organs will be formed. By the end of the first month, the baby looks like a tiny dot with a rich inner world (at the cellular level, of course). Its size by the end of the first month is no more than 1 mm.

The body produces a lot of progesterone right after conception, which makes the endometrium lusher and makes implantation easier. It now controls a multitude of functions; for example, the amount of progesterone dictates whether the pregnancy will end and whether the unborn child will receive enough nourishment to grow and develop.

• 1 week – menstruation ends, the uterine cavity is cleared of the endometrium, which grew in the last cycle and was not needed, since conception and implantation did not occur. The production of follicle-stimulating hormones begins.
• 2 weeks – the egg matures and leaves the follicle at the end of the week. Ovulation and conception occur.
• 3 weeks – the zygote, and then the morula and blastocyst descend into the uterine cavity. By the end of the week, implantation occurs, the embryo begins to receive beneficial substances and oxygen from maternal blood.
• 4 weeks – the amnion and chorion are formed. The first will become the amniotic sac, the second will gradually transform into the placenta. Embryonic petals have appeared: the inner one is destined to become the digestive and urinary organs, the middle one – the basis of the heart and blood vessels, genitals, bones and muscles, and the outer one will become the baby"s skin.
• 4.5 weeks – the heart is actively forming. One endocardial tube is formed from two, the laying of the primary sections of the organ begins. It will take very little time – no more than a week, and the tiny heart, still two-chambered, will begin to contract and beat. The laying of sex cells begins. The chord is formed, which divides the body into right and left sides, as well as the neural tube, which is destined to become the brain and spinal cord a little later.

The woman"s well-being

There are no novel experiences associated with the first week of pregnancy that a woman may encounter. Her uterus self-cleanse during her menstrual cycle, removing particles of thawed endometrium from the bloody liquid. The standard blood and urine test protocols are not altered, and the hormonal background stays normal and typical for the first part of the female cycle.

Ovulation occurs at the end of the second week and precedes it. A woman may feel intense sexual desire on the eve of ovulation; nature provides the means of boosting libido at the exact moment when a woman is fertile, or able to conceive a child.

Women usually exhibit these ovulation symptoms in the middle of their cycle.

• Discharge from the genitals becomes more abundant, viscous, the woman feels a constant feeling of moisture in the area of ​​​​the external genitalia. Often, such discharge is compared in consistency to raw chicken protein – if you spread your fingers, a viscous thread remains.
• Libido increases.
• At the time of rupture of the follicle, there may be quite noticeable pain on the left or right of the lower abdomen, in the area of ​​​​the ovaries.
• The basal temperature, which after menstruation was held at 36.5 degrees, makes a sharp jump up to 37.1-37.3 degrees.
• The sense of smell becomes more acute, the breasts slightly increase in size, their sensitivity increases. The reason for both is a change in hormonal levels.
• There may be slight bloating, since estrogens lead to fluid retention in the body.

When a person is planning a pregnancy, ovulation is typically easy to determine. Any pharmacy will sell ovulation test strips, which are a lifesaver in this situation.

Either total ignorance or excruciating anticipation of the outcome pervades the third week. The woman is unaware of the status of her pregnancy. Even so, until the fertilized egg is successfully implanted in the uterus, it is too soon for her to consider herself pregnant, even if she was certain of it. This process takes place this week. Obstetricians refer to this period of time as the preimplantation period. It is practically impossible for a woman to increase the likelihood of implantation because, in the event that the female body rejects the baby, neither medication nor behavioral techniques could save a half-millimeter baby.

By the conclusion of the third week, a woman who is unsure starts to search for indications of potential implantation.

Signs of implantation

Doctors’ opinions on this matter are very clear: there are no bright, distinctive symptoms or signs associated with implantation. Almost everything that occurs occurs at such a minute, subtle level that it is nearly impossible to feel. However, women assert that this process can be felt, depending on how sensitive and susceptible an individual is (it all depends on the nervous system).

Therefore, the emergence of such signs is likely to occur at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth obstetric week of pregnancy.

• A weak, aching pain in the back and lower back – pulling and slightly aching. Women tend to attribute minor unpleasant sensations to fatigue, overwork, changing weather, etc. .
• A weak pain in the lower abdomen, like before menstruation. If a woman does not focus on her feelings, but is busy with work, study, or something else, then she may not pay any attention to it at all.
• The temperature may rise (slightly above 37.0 and mainly in the afternoon). The woman"s face "burns", there are chills, or she is thrown from cold to hot – this is a side effect of high levels of progesterone, which is now "working" to feed and preserve the life of the baby. Many at this stage believe that they have caught a cold somewhere. But in the morning the temperature returns to normal, and by the next evening it rises again, and so on until the delay.
• Headache, slight dizziness may occur, drowsiness and weakness increase, women usually attribute this to fatigue.
• Often women say that on the day of implantation they felt an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth, as if an iron coin was placed under the tongue.

Normally, the "dry" period starts when discharge after ovulation becomes sparse. The nature of the discharge, therefore, won’t reveal anything specific unless implantation bleeding happens, which happens in roughly thirty percent of women, based on statistics.

The day of implantation, there is a small amount of bleeding. There are only a few drops of a dark, nearly brown color in the discharge; there is no red blood. This can be explained physiologically by the endometrium’s tiny capillaries being compromised during the process of the ovum’s villi dissolving the membrane’s cells.

Only those who have been waiting for this pregnancy for a long time and are knowledgeable about the symptoms and signs—such as those who have read up on them—will typically consider bleeding to be an implantation sign. Most women think that their menstrual cycle failed because of anxiety or work-related issues, which is why their menstruation starts a week earlier than usual. This usually doesn’t embarrass anyone; the embarrassing thing is that the sanitary pad gets clean and stops leaking a day or so later. And the menstrual cycle does not start a week later.

It is not dangerous for the mother or the fetus to experience implantation bleeding. There is no doubt about it. It also does not point to any deviations if it does not occur.

The production of the hCG hormone starts after implantation. It doubles every two to three days. The earliest signs of pregnancy caused by a shift in hormone levels can theoretically appear as early as 4-6 days after implantation, which is by the end of the 4th obstetric week or a few days before the delay.

Early symptoms of pregnancy

The balance of hormonal forces in a woman’s body starts to alter after implantation. The two main hormones are progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Large amounts of the first are already present, while the second steadily rises in the blood and only becomes detectable for test strips in urine by the first day of the delay (four full obstetric weeks).

On the first day of the delay, the test might not provide an accurate result if ovulation or implantation were somewhat delayed. As hCG is produced by the fetus’s chorionic villi, a blood test is thought to be a more reliable method of measuring the hormone. It is detected in the blood at 3.5 obstetric weeks (3–4 days prior to the delay) in a concentration that can be distinguished by laboratory techniques.

Depending on the specifics of each woman’s nervous system organization, by the end of the first month of pregnancy, there may be no discernible changes in health or the earliest signs may have already manifested.

After completing the task of preparing the endometrium for implantation, progesterone performs a number of other crucial roles. It starts to retain bodily fluid and encourages the accumulation of fat, which serves as a nutritional reserve for pregnant women in case of hunger. Additionally, progesterone functions as an immunosuppressant, reducing the woman’s immunity to prevent the embryo from being rejected because it is only partially native to the female body and has paternal DNA in the other half.

The intense blood supply to the pelvic organs and the loosening of all mucous membranes throughout the body are the results of altered hormonal conditions. Thus, a totally plausible explanation exists for a runny nose, which can appear out of the blue, as well as for general malaise. It’s also common for a woman to experience nothing at all.

The following scenarios are among the most typical indications of pregnancy, which appear in the first month, even prior to the delay or right after it.

• Drowsiness and fatigue – a woman feels broken due to decreased immunity and increased energy costs, which are required by internal processes occurring with the baby and with her.
• Mood swings – a side effect of progesterone is its effect on the psyche. The functions of the central nervous system are slightly suppressed. Because of this, women note sudden mood swings.
• "Tingling" and "shooting" in the uterus and cervix are associated with the relaxation of the uterine muscles caused by the action of progesterone.
• New hormonal phenomena that have come into effect can lead to increased sensitivity of the nipples of the mammary glands. The breasts increase somewhat and sometimes even hurt. The stomach may be somewhat bloated, constipation or heartburn often begins under the influence of progesterone.
• Urination may become more frequent and uncontrollable excessive salivation appears (usually in sleep).

When the temperature rises above 38.0 degrees and there is a simultaneous sore throat and a feeling that the body is "breaking," this is not a sign of pregnancy but rather of a cold or flu. Progesterone suppresses the immune system, which is why there is a risk of this kind.

Back pain and lower back aches are common symptoms of the body adjusting to new working conditions. A woman’s sense of smell increases. There are instances where a woman faints in the early stages of a stuffy room due to her body being overwhelmed by the changes that have already started.

Some start experiencing nausea and toxicosis by the end of the first month, which causes changes in the tests (higher hematocrit, more leukocytes, etc.).

What can and cannot be done at this time?

A woman can carry on a regular life during the first month of her pregnancy. This is typically the case because many pregnant women are unaware that they are carrying a child. A woman shouldn’t do those foolish things that she might come to regret if she planned her conception and believes in her heart that she might be pregnant.

Even wine and beer do not make the best allies for the development of healthy fetal organs. From a medical perspective, however, there is nothing horrifying about a woman who drank alcohol during the first month of her pregnancy without realizing she was pregnant (we are talking about infrequent, moderate intake, not about daily binge drinking). The baby won’t be affected by alcohol at all until the fourth week of pregnancy, when the chorion forms, because it only gets its nourishment from the reserves of the "yolk sac," not from the mother’s blood.

When a woman notices two stripes on the test after the fourth week, it’s crucial to stop drinking and smoking right away because the placenta, which could act as a barrier and shield, has not yet developed and the embryo is already receiving a lot of substances from the mother’s blood at this point.

Progesterone can cause noticeable mood swings, anxiety, and emotional instability, but you should try to maintain self-control and manage your stress to avoid letting it build up to the point where it becomes a chronic issue.

There’s nothing awful about it either if the pregnancy happened after the OC (oral contraceptives) were discontinued. Even if a woman took emergency contraception, but administered it late or improperly, and the medication’s effects did not materialize, the baby’s condition in the first month of pregnancy remains unaffected.

Everyone is allowed to have sex, with the exception of women who have had IVF treatment that involved embryo transfer into the uterus. If flying an airplane doesn’t make you uncomfortable, you can do so without any restrictions. While dental treatment is still legal, it is no longer advised. It is best to wait until mid-term, when both your health and the child’s risks are lower, or to do it during the planning stages of pregnancy.

Although it’s not against the law, taking antibiotics in the first month of pregnancy is not advised. The only circumstance that is deemed appropriate is when a doctor prescribes the medication and it is taken for a condition that could worsen the woman’s condition if antibiotics are not taken. Antibiotic use is associated with a risk of fetal developmental abnormalities, but this risk is not as high as it once was because newer generation antibiotics have emerged, and not all of them are teratogenic (damaging to the fetus).

Treatment for potential progesterone-related intestinal disorders only needs to modify diet to alleviate diarrhea or constipation. Drug therapy is not necessary. You need to calm down and start eating right—balanced, with an increase in vitamins and proteins—if a woman was on a diet and unexpectedly became pregnant, only to learn about it after the first month had gone.

Similar to alcohol, your diet—even if you followed a strict weight-loss plan and only ate lemons—is safe for the unborn child up until the fourth week of pregnancy, when he starts to receive nutrients from the mother’s blood.

Possible problems and ways to prevent them

Many issues, including the pregnancy itself, go undiagnosed during this month. Therefore, genetic mistakes may happen during the fusion of the parents’ germ cells, and chromosomal abnormalities—not all of which are compatible with life—cannot be prevented. This is the most frequent cause of non-prolonged pregnancy and the apparent death of the implantation-site embryo, which merely stops developing. In these circumstances, a woman starts her menstrual cycle, albeit with a slight delay, and it may be a little heavier than usual. It’s possible for a woman to be pregnant and unaware of it.

Down syndrome and several other chromosomal abnormalities do not result in embryonic death; therefore, until the 10th or 12th week of pregnancy, it is not possible to diagnose them or determine whether the unborn child will be healthy.

Implantation may take place in the tube or in the cervix after entering the cavity, not where nature intended. This pregnancy is ectopic. It is exactly the same as a normal one at this point; the only differences are that the tests reveal stripes a little later and an hCG blood test indicates a lower hormone level for the current cycle. Due to the fertilized egg’s small size, an ultrasound diagnosis is still premature.

However, some indications could raise questions. Women who have repeatedly aborted, taken ovulation-stimulating drugs for an extended period of time, or suffer from inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs are more likely to develop an ectopic pregnancy. Abdominal or pelvic stabbing pains that are fairly severe may manifest. In this instance, the primary symptomatic picture might show up as early as the second pregnancy month.

The primary cause of a frozen pregnancy at such an early stage is genetic abnormalities in the fetus, but detrimental factors can also stop the embryo’s development and vital activity. In this instance, the fetus spends two to four weeks inside the uterus. The type of miscarriage occurs when the uterus rejects it. At this point, a miscarriage is typically misdiagnosed as a delayed menstrual cycle.

Infectious diseases of both bacterial and viral origin—sore throat, flu, etc.—are not excluded due to weakened immunity. Hemorrhoids may develop or worsen in women who have a tendency toward constipation.

There are lots of exciting changes during the first month of pregnancy. Many mothers experience the initial symptoms, which can range from minor discomfort to emotional changes, even though the baby is still developing. It’s a unique moment that establishes the tone for the upcoming months.

Taking care of oneself is essential during these first few weeks. A balanced diet, adequate sleep, and abstaining from bad habits can all promote a healthy pregnancy.

Since every pregnancy is different, it’s critical to pay attention to your body and see your doctor if you have any concerns. This month is the beginning of an amazing journey full of hope and development.

Pregnancy’s first month is a critical period because it heralds major changes to both the developing baby and the woman’s body. The embryo is beginning to form key structures during this time, and early symptoms like nausea and fatigue may start to manifest. Expectant mothers who are aware of what goes through this early stage are better able to plan for the journey ahead and seek out the appropriate care and support.

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