Pregnancy 4 weeks
The 4th week of pregnancy in obstetrics starts from the first day of the last menstrual period, and corresponds to two weeks from the moment of fertilization.
Changes at 4 weeks gestation
The female sex hormone progesterone causes changes in the uterus to prepare it for bearing a fetus. Progesterone reduces the contractility of the uterus, contributes to the preservation and more reliable attachment of the ovum to the wall of the uterus.
Progesterone causes the formation of a dense mucous plug, which is located at the exit from the uterus and leaves only before childbirth. It will protect the future fetus from the penetration of a possible infection from the genital tract.
At the 4th week of pregnancy, the ovum turns into an embryo. At this stage, the ovum looks like a disc flattened on both sides, consisting of three layers of cells. Each of them will subsequently give rise to three embryonic tissues, from which the organs and tissues of the unborn child are formed. From the outer layer of cells originate nerve tissue, skin and mucous membranes, hair, lens, from the middle - bones and muscles, heart, blood vessels and kidneys, from the inner layer - the gastrointestinal tract, lungs and liver. By the end of the 4th week of pregnancy, the bend of the embryo's body is formed.
In the same period, the extraembryonic organs of the embryo begin to develop intensively, which support its existence until the placenta takes care of this. We are talking about amnion, chorion and yolk sac.
The amnion (water shell) surrounds the embryo with a protective shell that protects it from drying out and mechanical damage. In appearance, it resembles a bubble, and contains fertile waters.
Chorion (villous membrane) is the precursor of the future placenta.
The yolk sac contains a supply of nutrients, and the first 3 months of pregnancy performs metabolic and excretory functions.
The size of the fetus at 4 weeks of gestation is no more than 3-4 mm, but it is already firmly fixed in the wall of the uterus. An ultrasound scan at 4 weeks of gestation most often shows that the embryo is attached to the back of the uterus, closer to the side of the ovary from which the egg came out.
Feelings of a woman at 4 weeks of pregnancy
If a woman did not plan to become pregnant, then she may not be aware of her condition, since her state of health is approximately the same as before the next menstruation, and her stomach at the 4th week of pregnancy still does not change in a circle.
The emotional outburst in a woman that has arisen against the background of a hormonal shift is most often replaced by calming and tranquility, which is one of the conditions for carrying a pregnancy. This is the so-called pregnancy aura, when others notice that a woman's behavior has changed.
Discharge at 4 weeks of gestation from the genital tract is normally transparent or whitish, not abundant, odorless. Their appearance can be explained by the influence of hormones and increased blood flow to the small pelvis.
As a rule, the next period does not come. Bloody discharge at 4 weeks of gestation can be a sign of a miscarriage that has begun; in time, their appearance can be confused with the expected menstruation, without ever knowing about an interrupted pregnancy.
Mild pain in the 4th week of pregnancy that occurs in the lower abdomen is also similar to the harbingers of menstruation. They can be either a manifestation of the body's adaptation to a change in the uterus, or a sign of some kind of disease, for example, urolithiasis.
Examination results at 4 weeks of gestation
By the shape of the abdomen at 4 weeks of pregnancy, it is impossible to suspect it, since the increase in the uterus at this time is insignificant. A pregnancy test will show a negative or questionable result depending on the period of fertilization, because the level of chorionic gonadotropin in the urine is not high enough. But in the blood, it will show high values, as well as the pregnancy hormone prolactin.
If a woman controlled basal body temperature before this period, then she may notice a change in the schedule - the temperature at the 4th week of pregnancy remains high (37 - 37.4 degrees).
Ultrasound at 4 weeks of gestation allows you to see the corpus luteum in the ovaries, which is increased in size. At such an early date, this examination is usually done in case of problems with conception. Using high-precision ultrasound machines at 4 weeks of gestation, an implanted embryo can also be seen on the back of the uterus.
Recommendations at 4 weeks of pregnancy
If there is a suspicion of pregnancy, the expectant mother should exclude such bad habits as alcohol and smoking - they can lead to miscarriage or fetal deformities.
It is important to adhere to the correct regime of work and rest, a night's sleep should be full. Proper and safe nutrition is the key to a healthy pregnancy.
It is advisable to start taking folate tablets if you have not already done so. It prevents neural tube defects in the unborn fetus.
In the absence of bleeding from the genital tract and pain at the 4th week of pregnancy, a visit to the gynecologist during this period is not necessary.
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