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When does week 1 of pregnancy start


You and your pregnancy at 1 to 3 weeks

Your weeks of pregnancy are dated from the first day of your last period.

This means that in the first 2 weeks or so, you are not actually pregnant – your body is preparing for ovulation (releasing an egg from one of your ovaries) as usual.

Your "getting pregnant" timeline is:

  • day 1: the first day of your period
  • day 14 (or slightly before or after, depending how long your menstrual cycle is): you ovulate
  • within 24 hours of ovulation, the egg is fertilised by sperm if you have had sex in the last few days without using contraception
  • about 5 to 6 days after ovulation, the fertilised egg burrows into the lining of the womb – this is called implantation
  • you're now pregnant

Find out more about trying to get pregnant.

You at 1 to 3 weeks

The first thing most women notice is that their period does not arrive.

Find out about the signs and symptoms of pregnancy

The most reliable way of finding out if you're pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.

Once you think you could be pregnant, it's important to get in touch with a midwife or doctor to start your pregnancy (antenatal) care.

You can do this by contacting:

  • your GP surgery – if you're not registered with a GP, you can find a GP
  • your local hospital's maternity unit – find maternity services

Things to think about

In the early days and weeks of pregnancy, you may not know if you're pregnant.

But you can do the following things:

  • take a folic acid supplement of 400 micrograms a day while you're trying to get pregnant and until the 12th week of pregnancy
  • take a vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms a day
  • avoid some foods to protect against infections
  • stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your baby's health

You can get supplements from pharmacies and supermarkets, or your GP may be able to prescribe them for you.

If you want to get your vitamin D or folic acid from a multivitamin tablet, make sure the tablet does not contain vitamin A (or retinol).

You can get vitamin supplements containing folic acid and vitamin D free of charge if you're under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding and qualify for the Healthy Start scheme.

Sign up for Start4Life's weekly emails for expert advice, videos and tips on pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Go to you and your baby at 4 weeks pregnant.

Page last reviewed: 12 October 2021
Next review due: 12 October 2024

1 Week Pregnant: Symptoms, Tips, Baby Development

Reviewed by

Dr. Anna Klepchukova

Intensive care medicine specialist, chief medical officer, Flo Health Inc., UK

Contents

    You’ve probably heard that pregnancy is counted from the first day of your last period. Doctors do this because it’s very difficult to accurately measure the exact day of conception. This means that during week 1, you were actually not pregnant yet, but your body was already preparing for this event.

    Although this week is considered to be the first week of pregnancy, you were actually on your period. Your baby won’t be conceived during the first two weeks of pregnancy!

    Like we said before, the first week of pregnancy isn’t measured from the date you conceive. As a rule, the estimated delivery date is calculated by the gynecologist from the first day of the last menstruation, since it is often impossible to determine the exact day of conception. It occurs approximately 2 weeks later during ovulation.

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    Pregnancy is calculated this way because, even if you know the exact date when you ovulated — a lot of women don’t — it’s still very difficult to be certain of the moment in which your baby was conceived. Especially if you’re trying to get pregnant, you’ll probably be having intercourse several times around your ovulation. So by the time you miss your period and find out you’re pregnant, you’ll probably be around 4 weeks pregnant!

    Your baby at week 1 of pregnancy

    Believe it or not, there’s no baby yet during your first week of pregnancy. During the first days of pregnancy, the egg that will be released — and hopefully fertilized — is starting to mature inside your ovaries. During your period, around 20 eggs or ova are still inside their ovarian follicles, and they start to prepare for next month’s ovulation. Only one, or occasionally two, eggs will actually be released into the fallopian tubes each cycle to be fertilized.

    How big is your baby at 1 week pregnant?

    While there’s no baby to be measured yet, your body is preparing itself for pregnancy. A woman’s egg is the largest single cell in the human body, and it begins to mature even during the first week of pregnancy.

    This process is called the ovarian cycle, and during the first days of pregnancy, you’ll be entering the follicular phase. The beginning of this phase coincides with the start of your period. At first, a hormone called FSH or follicle stimulating hormone causes many immature follicles to begin preparing for ovulation. 

    But by days 5 to 7 of your cycle, one egg has become dominant. The dominant egg usually has a stronger blood supply and produces more estrogen. Estrogen will also stimulate the thickening of your uterine lining.

    During the follicular phase, this dominant egg matures and then waits for ovulation.

    Pregnancy week 1 fetal development

    Since the conception hasn’t happened, there’s still no fetal development during the first week of pregnancy. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t start working towards a healthy pregnancy. 

    Your egg and the father’s sperm are already gearing up for pregnancy. Having a healthy pregnancy largely depends on the quality of these two cells, which have to contain 23 chromosomes each. These 23 chromosomes contain all of your and your partner’s genetic information. When all 46 chromosomes are combined, you get a baby!

    Even if there’s no baby yet, creating healthy lifestyle habits and taking prenatal vitamins before pregnancy can maximize your chances of conceiving a healthy baby.

    During the first week of pregnancy, you’re actually going through your last menstruation before the baby. Since your estimated gestational age will be counted from the first day of your last period, technically the first day of your pregnancy will be the same as the day when you start menstruating.

    During these days, your body will be getting rid of last month’s egg and uterine lining. Especially during the first two days of pregnancy — or the first two days of your period — most women experience a heavier menstrual flow. This will help your body prepare for a new cycle.

    Once your period ends, a new egg will already be maturing, and your uterine lining or endometrium will start to thicken again. This lining is where the fertilized egg will implant itself after conception, ready to start growing.

    Week 1 pregnant belly

    There won’t really be a baby bump during the first week of your pregnancy, or really, for the next few weeks. Since you’ll be menstruating during this week, it is possible that hormonal changes might make you feel a bit bloated due to fluid retention. Other women experience cramps during their menstruation or abdominal tenderness. 

    Every woman has different symptoms during their period, and this one shouldn’t be any different from your previous menstruations

    Week 1 pregnant symptoms

    Since conception hasn’t occurred yet, you won’t experience pregnancy symptoms from day 1. For many women, their first real symptom of pregnancy comes a month later when they miss their period. But you might experience menstrual symptoms during the first days of pregnancy. Some of the most common menstrual symptoms include:

    • uterine cramps
    • breast tenderness
    • back pain
    • headaches
    • mood changes
    • acne or pimples
    • fatigue
    • diarrhea or constipation

    Week 1 pregnant ultrasound: do you need it?

    You don’t really need an ultrasound during the first week of pregnancy. However, your doctor might perform one if you haven’t had a pre-conceptional checkup or if you’ve had trouble conceiving. At this point, an ultrasound can help diagnose anatomical abnormalities that might make it harder for you to conceive, such as fibroids or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

    Week 1 pregnant lifestyle

    If you’re trying to conceive, there are many lifestyle changes you can adopt to improve your chances of getting pregnant. Some of these new habits include:

    • Starting a healthier diet: there isn’t a specific fertility diet, but eating healthier foods can help you get pregnant faster. Include foods like leafy greens, mercury-free fish, seeds and nuts, complex carbs, fruits, and plenty of water in your diet to prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy.
    • Avoid certain substances: even if you’re not technically pregnant, staying away from alcohol, tobacco, excessive caffeine, simple carbs, trans fats, and environmental pollutants can improve your chances of having a healthy baby.
    • Start exercising: it’s never too late to get healthy once you’ve decided you want a baby. Exercising is a great way to reach a healthy weight before a baby!
    • Get enough sleep: studies have shown that women who don’t get enough sleep can have more trouble getting pregnant.
    • Track your cycle: use a menstrual calendar like Flo to determine exactly when your cycle begins, how many days it lasts, and the approximate date of your ovulation.

    Sex at week 1 of pregnancy

    Most women aren’t on their fertile window during their period, and during the first week of pregnancy, you’ll still be around 14 days away from ovulation. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start practicing!

    Sperm can live up to 5 days inside the uterine cavity, so even having sex a few days before ovulation can result in a pregnancy. Once you’ve decided you’re ready to conceive, avoid using lubricant. Some lubricants can change the pH inside your vagina and make it harder for sperm to swim.  

    Week 1 pregnant checklist

    Even before conception, these are some things you can do to make sure your body is in top shape for a pregnancy:

    • start taking prenatal vitamins before pregnancy
    • track your menstrual cycle
    • set up a pre-conceptional visit with your doctor
    • quit smoking
    • reduce your caffeine intake
    • start exercising
    • get plenty of sleep
    • eat healthier foods
    • gather your and your partner’s family histories

    What to ask your doctor?

    If you’ve decided you’re ready to try for a baby, it’s time to get a pre-conceptional checkup. Your doctor can advise you on any necessary lifestyle changes, which are the best prenatal vitamins before pregnancy, and how to calculate your estimated delivery date. If you’re tracking your cycle, this information can help your doctor determine these dates.

    Pregnancy is commonly divided into 3 terms, each of which takes a little more than 13 weeks. Full-term babies are born from 39 weeks to 40 weeks and 6/7 weeks of gestation.   And if you’re pregnant with twins, it is advisable to deliver twins at 38 completed weeks' gestation or later to avoid neonatal complications. Keeping track of your cycle will allow your doctor to be certain of these dates even before the first ultrasound.

    Even though there’s no baby during the first week of pregnancy, your body is already preparing itself for conception. That means that there are already many things you can do to improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy. Follow a healthy lifestyle during the first days of pregnancy and you’ll be taking care of your baby even before it’s here!

    References

    https://www.thebump.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/1-weeks-pregnant https://www.babymed.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/1-week-pregnant

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    First week of pregnancy - Juno

    First week of pregnancy - Juno

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    First week of pregnancy

    The most interesting thing about the first week of pregnancy is that there are two (weeks) of them. The first obstetric week begins on the first day of menstruation, the first embryonic week is counted from the moment the egg is fertilized. It is important for all expectant mothers to remember this difference and clarify which week the doctor leading the pregnancy is talking about. nine0003

    CONTENTS

    • 1. First obstetric week of pregnancy
    • 2.1 week: what happens in a woman's body
    • 3. Feelings of a woman and signs of pregnancy at the 1st obstetric week
    • 4. Signs of pregnancy
    • 5.1 weeks: what happens to the fetus, pregnancy diagnostics
    • 6.Hints and tips

    First obstetric week of pregnancy

    The first week of menstruation can turn into the first week of pregnancy if fertilization of the egg and implantation of the ovum occurs in this menstrual cycle. If pregnancy did not occur in this cycle, the countdown starts again in the next cycle.

    Good to know

    Obstetric 1st week of pregnancy begins on the 1st day of the last menstruation, and 1st embryonic week is counted from the moment of fertilization of the egg. That is, 1 week of pregnancy in obstetric terms precedes ovulation and fertilization. Conception usually occurs between 2 and 3 obstetric weeks. nine0047

    1 week: what happens in a woman's body

    As already mentioned, there is no actual pregnancy at this time. All changes that occur in the female body correspond to the normal menstrual cycle. So, the 1st week of pregnancy begins with the fact that on the 1st day of menstruation, the pituitary gland secretes follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), under the influence of which a follicle begins to develop on the ovary. In a woman's blood, the concentration of the hormones estrogen and progesterone decreases and the amount of prostaglandin, a substance that causes uterine contractions, increases. Thanks to them, the surface of the uterus becomes loose, the layer of the endometrium exfoliates and comes out with menstrual bleeding. nine0051 After the end of menstruation, the hormonal background changes again. At the end of the first week of pregnancy, the growing follicle stimulates the production of estrogen. Under its influence, a new endometrium begins to grow in the uterus. In about ten days, he will be ready to receive a fertilized egg.

    If there is a need for an ultrasound, it is prescribed at the end of the first week of pregnancy (usually on the 5th or 6th day of the cycle), when menstrual bleeding has already stopped. The doctor will see the growing follicle and will be able to accurately predict the date of ovulation (the release of the egg from the follicle). Sexual intercourse on the eve of ovulation and on this day increases the chances of getting pregnant, so the results of ultrasound will be useful for couples planning a baby. nine0051 Another way to calculate your ovulation date is to measure your basal body temperature. On the day of ovulation, it will rise sharply, the difference can be up to half a degree. Further temperature measurement will help determine the date of implantation and the fact of pregnancy.

    Good to know

    When planning a pregnancy, pay attention to the following interesting point. Spermatozoa, which are carriers of the “girl” chromosome, are quite tenacious: they can wait up to 7 days for an egg. Spermatozoa-"boys" live not so long - from several hours to 1-2 days. If you want to try to conceive a girl, it's worth trying somewhere three or more days before ovulation. If a boy, the day of conception should fall directly on the period of ovulation. nine0047

    Feelings of a woman and signs of pregnancy at the 1st obstetric week

    In the first weeks of pregnancy before the delay, the expectant mother will not feel anything unusual and new for herself at this stage of pregnancy. All sensations in the early stages will be familiar to her, corresponding to the state during menstruation, because the first week of pregnancy begins on the first day of menstruation.
    For each woman, these sensations are individual, but for the majority, as a rule, the stomach pulls in the first weeks of pregnancy, there is aching pain in the lower back, and the chest becomes painful. Characterized by general malaise and sudden mood swings. If the stomach hurts a lot in the first week of pregnancy, a woman should consult a doctor. nine0003

    Good to know

    Often during menstruation, a woman's lower abdomen hurts so much that she is forced to take painkillers. If a couple is planning a pregnancy in this cycle, it is better for the expectant mother to refuse such pills.

    When should a specialist be consulted? For example, if during menstruation the stomach hurts so much that the woman loses her ability to work. If the pain continuously torments for more than two days, the discharge has become very profuse and does not stop even on the 5th or 7th day of menstruation. nine0003

    Signs of pregnancy

    If we take into account the obstetric period, then the first signs in 1 week are absent. On the first day, the woman's body has just begun preparing for ovulation and possible conception. Therefore, of course, the typical symptoms of pregnancy, such as toxicosis, morning sickness, sore breasts and changes in the figure, do not bother a woman at this time. The expectant mother may encounter them starting from about 5 obstetric weeks. But here, too, everything is very individual: in some women, the symptoms of pregnancy are absent for a long time, while in others they appear already on the first day after conception. nine0003

    1 week: what happens to the fetus, diagnosis of pregnancy

    At this stage, only the prerequisites for the appearance of the fetus arise, and successful fertilization, which can occur in about two weeks, depends on many factors. Accordingly, ultrasound of the fetus at this time is not done. It should be noted that even in the first days of pregnancy (meaning the embryonic period), there are no reliable ways to confirm successful conception.

    With the help of ultrasound in the first weeks of pregnancy on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th day of delay, it is most likely impossible to determine the presence of an embryo. The fetus in this study can be seen at about 5 or 7 days of delayed menstruation. The level of the hCG hormone (chorionic gonadotropin), which is produced in a woman's body during pregnancy, does not increase in the early stages, so on the first day of the delay, the test may also not show two cherished strips. Positive results can be detected only from 12-14 days after the conception of a child. nine0051

    Useful tips and advice

    It is very important for expectant parents to follow a healthy lifestyle, because an egg and a sperm cell are already maturing in their body - two cells that form an unborn child.
    If one of the spouses is undergoing treatment, taking medications or doing some procedures, be sure to check with your doctor if it is permissible to plan a pregnancy in this menstrual cycle, how this can affect the development of the child. X-rays are also dangerous for the baby. The best solution during this period would be to conduct pregnancy under the supervision of specialists, so that the expectant mother and baby are always under supervision. nine0003

    Expectant mothers are advised to avoid unfavorable working conditions and high physical activity. Any stressful situations should also be excluded.
    Avoid large crowds, carefully observe hygiene rules so as not to contract a viral infection.
    A varied, balanced diet for the expectant mother should include meat, fish, dairy products, complex carbohydrates, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Do not abuse foods that can cause allergies (citrus fruits, honey, etc.). nine0051 It is better to coordinate the intake of multivitamins for pregnant women with a gynecologist, he will help you choose the drug, taking into account the characteristics of health and place of residence (in some regions, there is not enough iodine, fluorine or other trace elements in the water, and the doctor will help take these factors into account).

    Compliance with these simple recommendations will ensure the correct and full development of the fetus from the very first day. Remember that a mother should lead a healthy lifestyle not only in the first weeks of pregnancy, but also throughout the entire period of bearing a child in her stomach. nine0003

    Sharing a useful article from nestlebaby.ru.

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    Endometriosis during pregnancy: risks and complications

    Pregnancy and endometriosis, it would seem, are incompatible concepts. We talk in the article about how endometriosis affects the onset of pregnancy, and what to do if you were diagnosed with endometriosis during pregnancy. nine0003

    11/20/2022

    Endometriosis: causes and treatment

    Among gynecological diseases, endometriosis occupies one of the first places. In this article, we will analyze what endometriosis is, what are the causes of its occurrence and how to treat it.

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    Endometriosis in women over 40: causes and treatment nine0103

    Endometriosis is a fairly common disease among women over the age of 40. In our article, we analyze in detail the symptoms of the disease in female patients after 40 years of age, how to properly prevent and treat this disease.


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    1 week pregnant: signs and symptoms, how to confirm

    Getting ready to become a mother? Especially for you, we have prepared a weekly pregnancy calendar. The first week of pregnancy is an important period on which a lot depends in the future, especially if this is your first child and all the sensations are new to you. Although the body does not yet give any specific signals, the future baby is already beginning to take shape. We will tell you how to recognize your position at the beginning of pregnancy. nine0003

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    How is the pregnancy

    Pregnancy test

    Delayed menstruation causes

    Intuition tells some women that something global is happening in the body. They are ready to catch the first signs of pregnancy, believing that in the early stages, including at 1 week, everything will be obvious. They immediately predict the sex of the unborn child and choose a name. There are not so many lucky women who can guess their position. nine0003

    Others do not notice changes in their condition for quite some time. Moreover, the first signs of the birth of a new life can be easily mistaken for the harbingers of menstruation. No matter what your heart whispers, there are certain medical criteria that can answer all questions regarding this magical time. Let's talk about pregnancy at the 1st and the beginning of the 2nd week.

    How the gestational age is calculated

    The restructuring of the body in the early stages of pregnancy, especially if it is only 1 week, is just beginning. There are two approaches to determining the term: obstetric and embryonic. Many women worry about the difference in the dates of the expected birth, announced by the doctor and calculated by them. But their worries are in vain. nine0003

    The fact is that obstetric week 1 begins on day 1 of the last menstruation - this is the easiest way to calculate. Doctors all over the world are guided by this method. The same formula is offered by most calculators and calendars on the Internet.

    And embryonic is the true term of pregnancy and the very 1st week after conception. But neither a woman nor a gynecologist can accurately determine it. Usually two weeks are added to it, and the obstetric term comes out. Thus, it turns out that the first week of pregnancy is the beginning of the third obstetric week. nine0003

    So that you can better understand what pregnancy and 1 week is like, we will share some interesting facts about conception.

    • Spermatozoa can live in a woman's body for up to a week or longer, but they lose their ability to fertilize much earlier.
    • Conception only occurs within 48 hours of ovulation (when the egg is released from the follicle).
    • Two spermatozoa cannot merge with one egg at once, but if this happens, this is an anomaly leading to the destruction of the embryo. nine0018
    • The division of a fertilized egg due to accidental destruction of the zygote membrane leads to the development of identical twins. Know that two or more children come from one egg and one sperm.
    • In some cycles, ovulation occurs more than once and more than one egg is fertilized. Twins are born. So genetics is far from the first place here!

    Signs of pregnancy at 1 week

    As you already understood, the first week of an “interesting situation” is a rather arbitrary concept. Pregnancy usually occurs on the 12-14th day of the cycle. Therefore, 40 weeks of pregnancy are counted from the first day of the last menstruation. nine0003

    At 1 and 2 weeks, the pregnancy itself has not actually occurred yet. Therefore, there are no unusual manifestations or strange sensations at this time. The body is just getting ready for a new important stage in your life. So don't expect 1 week to bring you all the signs of early pregnancy - weakness, nausea and the desire to eat pickles with strawberries. Your stomach will not hurt, like other unpleasant moments you are unlikely to visit. Signals will not appear for at least another two weeks. nine0003

    Pregnancy symptoms at 1 week

    But some of the more sensitive women may experience pregnancy even at 1 week if they experience the following symptoms:

    • change in taste and sense of smell formation of colostrum
    • nagging pain in the lower abdomen
    • frequent urination
    • sudden changes in mood

    In some cases, these signs are similar to the onset of early menstruation, hormonal surges, and sometimes we are talking about the occurrence of diseases. It is not worth trusting these feelings when discussing 1 week of pregnancy on the forums. There is also a psychological factor. Especially for those expectant mothers who carefully plan their pregnancy, keep an ovulation calendar, regularly measure their temperature, and so on.

    How to determine pregnancy at 1 week

    We readily believe that at 1 week of pregnancy, many people really want to see changes in the mirror and a slightly grown belly. But the embryo is still too small to somehow be reflected in the figure. So far, it's not even a fruit yet. nine0003

    A baby at the 1st week of pregnancy is called an embryo, and it will become a fetus at the 6th week. The embryo is in a sac with liquid, from which it feeds. Its size does not exceed 0.1 - 0.2 mm. Modern medical technologies sometimes make it possible to detect even such a crumb.

    Test

    The first and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Tests can detect pregnancy already on the first day of delay, but this will most likely not be the 1st week. A few drops of urine are enough to detect hCG, the pregnancy hormone, in your body. If the test shows two stripes, you will soon become a mother. Sometimes the second stripe is barely noticeable. This should also be regarded as a positive result. To remove doubts, do a second test in two or three days. nine0003

    In order not to get upset ahead of time, remember: at the 1st week of pregnancy, the test most often shows a negative result. This is due to the fact that fertilization often occurs in the middle of the cycle. Not 1 or 2 weeks of pregnancy should pass, but the 3rd should come, so that we can already talk about a delay in menstruation.

    hCG

    The pregnancy hormone - human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) - is determined by a special blood test. At the very beginning, it can reach 25 to 155 mIU / ml. Before pregnancy, this figure is less than 5. Its level begins to rise immediately after conception. In early pregnancy, from 1 to 3 weeks, the values ​​​​increase one and a half to two times every two days. And by peak week 11, their number is estimated at several hundred thousand units. After that, the hormone gradually declines. nine0003

    Keep in mind that if you have a positive hCG result, it is recommended to retake the test after 2-4 days. This is required in order to trace the value over time. For example, if the first value of your analysis is 100 and the second is 400, then you are pregnant, and this indicates that your 1st week of pregnancy is over. And if the first value is 400, and the second is 49, then this may indicate a possible stop in the development of the fetus.

    ultrasound

    At 1 week of pregnancy, ultrasound may not be informative at all. Do you remember the size of the embryo? Even the best devices are not able to see it. So it is not yet possible to get the first black and white photo of the baby.

    Learn more