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What happens to the baby at 4 weeks
So, mommy has been carrying a new life under her heart for a month, what happens to the baby at 4 weeks of pregnancy?
At this stage, the embryo is still very small, about the size of a poppy seed. At week 4, the laying of the main organs and systems of the human body begins: the nervous, circulatory system. The baby already has a single-chamber heart, which will then be divided into four chambers, like in adults. At this stage, the intestines and the reproductive system are laid, – says obstetrician-gynecologist Dina Absalyamova. – If at this stage there is an influence of negative factors, then either the impact will be extremely negative – up to the death of the embryo or severe defects, which will also result in the death of the fetus, or the negative factors will not affect at all.
Fetal ultrasound
The reason for the ultrasound of the fetus at the 4th week of pregnancy may be the fears of the doctor. If mom has had miscarriages in the past, it is better to undergo an ultrasound examination.
It will also allow you to identify an ectopic pregnancy, in which the fertilized egg is attached not to the uterus, but to the cervix, fallopian tube, ovary, intestines. As the embryo grows, the risk of tube rupture increases, and this threatens with massive intra-abdominal bleeding. That is why doctors prefer to play it safe and send a woman for an ultrasound, because an ectopic pregnancy at first successfully imitates a uterine one.
An ultrasound may also be indicated if a multiple pregnancy is suspected.
In a normal situation, there is no need to conduct such an examination at week 4, since no developmental pathologies or abnormalities can yet be seen.
“At the 4th week of pregnancy, an ultrasound of the fetus will allow you to see the fetal egg – the cavity where the embryo itself is formed, and the yolk sac – a small round formation that secretes hormones that support pregnancy at this time until the placenta is formed, while the fetus itself is practically invisible,” explains obstetrician-gynecologist Dina Absalyamova.
Photo life
At the 4th week of pregnancy, the baby is the size of a large peppercorn – its height is about 1 mm, and its weight is less than a gram. It is not surprising that outwardly it is not at all noticeable by the mother that she is expecting a child. A photo of the abdomen at 4 weeks of pregnancy may show a slight swelling in the waist area, but doctors are skeptical that this is not a growing baby, but most likely the gases that accumulate in the intestines due to the pregnancy hormone progesterone.
What happens to mom at 4 weeks
Although mom’s tummy at 4 weeks is still flat, her breasts are growing rapidly in preparation for lactation. The bust can literally grow 1-2 sizes in a couple of weeks. At the same time, discomfort may occur in the chest, as before menstruation. The areolas of the nipples in many women darken at this time. Pigment spots can appear on other parts of the body.
With mom at 4 weeks of pregnancy, hormonal changes occur. An increase in the level of the pregnancy hormone progesterone provokes problems with the gastrointestinal tract – constipation, gas formation, discomfort in the abdomen.
– At the 4th week of pregnancy, the mother notices increased weakness and fatigue, there are slight pains in the abdomen associated with implantation – the introduction of the embryo into the uterine cavity. If at this time a woman notices brown or red discharge, a visit to the doctor is required. This may be due to the threat of termination of pregnancy, because the blood means that the implantation is not very successful, explains obstetrician-gynecologist Dina Absalyamova.
During this period, the expectant mother needs to drink a lot and monitor nutrition. It is important to control the level of vitamin E and folic acid in the body.
What sensations can you experience in 4 week
At week 4, the mother may appear or intensify signs of toxicosis: nausea, vomiting, weakness. Doctors give several recommendations that will help to “outsmart” toxicosis:
- you need to walk at least an hour a day;
- waking up in the morning, without getting up, eat a handful of nuts or some cookies;
- you can suck on a slice of tangerine or lemon (not suitable for all mothers); try not to have a tight breakfast, it is better to eat a little, but every couple of hours;
- eat foods rich in protein;
- some women benefit from taking prenatal vitamins at night;
- you can use mints, mint gum, or peppermint tea.
In addition to toxicosis, some women at the 4th week of pregnancy experience other symptoms:
- weakness and lethargy;
- mood swings;
- frequent urging to the toilet;
- an increase in the volume of secretions (this is normal during pregnancy);
- pulling pains in the lower abdomen (the uterus grows and this is not always pleasant);
- pain in the chest;
- change in taste preferences.
Monthly
Some pregnant women are surprised to find that they are menstruating. Doctors warn that there can be no menstruation in an “interesting position” if spotting appears – this is an alarm signal. Probably, a hematoma is bleeding between the membranes of the embryo and the wall of the uterus.
The reasons can be different:
- the fetus was originally not viable and now the body rejects it;
- there is a deficiency of progesterone or an increased level of androgens;
- there are infections, viral or bacterial, that a woman has had in the first weeks of pregnancy. They provoke fetal death or missed pregnancy.
Stomach ache
At 4 weeks pregnant, abdominal pain is not uncommon. Unpleasant sensations are usually caused by a growing uterus, due to which the ligaments are stretched. The so-called pulling pains are connected with this. Sometimes discomfort is provoked by the digestive system. Due to hormonal changes in a woman’s body, the intestines begin to fail, heartburn and other discomfort can often occur.
Pain in the abdomen can also serve as harbingers of complications during pregnancy. Acute, intense pain often accompanies a threatened miscarriage, ectopic or missed pregnancy.
Brown discharge
Normally, during pregnancy, the discharge should be the same as before it, that is, transparent white, of a uniform consistency, odorless or with a slightly acidic odor. The only thing is that their number changes, the expectant mother has twice as many of them. If you notice that the nature of the discharge has changed, especially the color and smell, you should definitely inform the doctor about this, gynecologists remind.
Brown discharge hints that there is a source of bleeding in the woman’s body. It must be found and, if possible, eliminated.
Bloody issues
Bloody discharge during pregnancy is always a bad sign. Loss of time in this situation can be deadly for both mother and baby. The appearance of blood in the secretions signals several possible problems:
- about the threat of miscarriage;
- up to 12 weeks – about the presence of a retrochorial hematoma – a blood cushion between the wall of the uterus and the tissue that nourishes the baby (the larger the hematoma, the less chance the child has of survival);
- about placenta previa;
- about detachment of a normally located placenta, which disrupts the supply of oxygen to the fetus, and this is dangerous for his life.
If you notice blood on your underwear, do not waste time and call an ambulance.
Sometimes pregnant women may notice spotting after intercourse. Most often, the cause is injury to the mucosa, but inflamed erosion and even a tumor can bleed. All this is also a reason to see a doctor as soon as possible.
pink discharge
If the discharge has a color, including pink, and smells unpleasant, this is already a bad sign. Pink color means that something is probably bleeding somewhere, and this is very dangerous against the background of pregnancy.
Often, pink discharge provokes sexually transmitted diseases. A pregnant woman should immediately consult a doctor and solve the problem before it leads to sad consequences for the baby.
Popular questions and answers
the woman and the fetus can be damaged by the chemicals that make up the paint, for example, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, paraphenylenediamine, resorcinol;
the unpleasant odor that most paints have does not affect the condition of the pregnant woman in the best way, it can provoke nausea and vomiting, especially in the first trimester;
the result of dyeing may not be what you are used to: during pregnancy, due to hormonal fluctuations, the structure and oiliness of the hair changes, and you can get a completely unexpected color.
After each meal, stand or sit for 30 minutes, most importantly, do not lie down.
– avoid what provokes a migraine: lack or excess of sleep, stress, overwork;
– observe the regimen, eat regularly;
– provide yourself with a sufficient level of physical activity (swim, do yoga);
– drugs are best avoided, although paracetamol is considered conditionally safe for pregnant women, it is worth resorting to it only in extreme cases.
Of course, it is worth remembering that excessive physical activity can be dangerous for the expectant mother, so you should not be too active in bed. It is also better to choose poses in which there will be less pressure on the woman’s stomach, for example, on the side, on the man from above or on all fours.
Unrelenting pain is already a reason to be wary. Together with spotting, they may indicate complications, such as an impending miscarriage, ectopic or missed pregnancy. All these conditions require medical supervision.
It is not desirable to get sick in the early stages, but ARVI does not choose who to infect.
It is best to confirm a cold with a therapist, after which you can safely lie down at home. ARVI still goes away on its own after a week. It is better to bring down the heat by wiping with cool water. Medicines can be used only with the permission of a doctor, you can only gargle your throat and nose with saline solutions on your own.