First month of pregnancy

After conception, changes begin in the woman’s body, by which one can guess that pregnancy has come. At first, the expectant mother may feel the usual malaise. But the emergence of more and more new signs suggests: it’s time to do a test and visit a gynecologist.

Day after day, the body of a woman carrying a child is preparing for the fact that he will now have to work for two. About what symptoms indicate the onset of pregnancy in the first month, how the child develops during this period and what the expectant mother should prepare for, we understand together with obstetrician-gynecologist Tatyana Smirnova.

Determining the duration of pregnancy

The formula is simple: the gestational age is counted from the first day of the last menstruation. For example, on May 5, a woman began her period, and on June 20 she comes to the doctor due to a two-week delay. The doctor conducts an examination, after which confirms the pregnancy. This is indicated by an enlarged uterus, changes in the mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix. Also, at the first appointment with a gynecologist, you can determine the period. As a rule, it is 4-5 weeks (1).

Key facts about the first month of pregnancy

Symptoms, signs and sensations

Для установления срока беременности врачи учитывают предположительные и вероятные признаки.

The hypothesized include:

• changes in appetite, taste, smell, 
• nausea and vomiting, salivation,
• weakness, malaise,
• irritability and tearfulness,
• dizziness and headaches 
• insomnia, 
• deposition of subcutaneous fat, 
• stretch marks on the abdomen, 
• skin pigmentation (on the face, along the white line of the abdomen, in the nipples and external genitalia). 

Such signs can be observed not only in pregnant women. But for the doctor, they have diagnostic value, because some of them occur before the objective signs of pregnancy.

Probable signs objectively confirm pregnancy: in women of childbearing age, menstruation suddenly stops, the mammary glands, uterus, and vaginal mucosa change. Let’s dwell on them in a little more detail.

Breast changes

The mammary glands are enlarged. When pressed, a clear liquid is released from the nipples – colostrum.

Change of internal organs

The uterus at 1 month of pregnancy increases to the size of a chicken egg. The cervix becomes drier. The mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix becomes bluish and becomes more loose.

Pain

During this period, the stomach may hurt as the uterus prepares to receive a fertilized egg that moves towards it to gain a foothold in the cavity. Round uterine ligaments are located on the front wall of the uterus, they begin to stretch, the uterus increases, and therefore the woman feels pain in the lower abdomen. This is not a threat of termination of pregnancy, but a variant of the norm (2).

Is there a period in the first month of pregnancy

Normally, a pregnant woman should not have a period. Some people have spotting for several months or even during their entire pregnancy. This is a menstrual-like reaction, but not menstruation. 

What does the belly look like

In the first month of pregnancy, a woman relies more on sensations: external manifestations are still not bright enough or are completely absent. For example, in the early stages, the stomach does not increase. It begins to grow by 12-14 weeks, when the uterus rises to the level of the womb. 

Развитие ребенка в первый месяц беременности

The embryonic period of development lasts from the moment of fertilization to 8-9 weeks of pregnancy, when the embryo acquires human-specific features (3).

1 weeks pregnant 

During this period, follicles mature in the ovaries, one of which will contain that very fateful egg.

There is no embryo yet, but serious preparatory work is underway for its appearance: the uterine cavity is cleared of the endometrium, which was not useful in the last cycle, follicle vesicles with developing eggs inside ripen in the ovaries.

2 weeks pregnant

The child is still missing. But the process of its origin is rapidly going on. The most active follicle ruptures and releases an egg ready for fertilization. And when the fastest and most tenacious sperm reaches this mature egg, it breaks through its membrane, the nuclei of male and female cells merge and a new life is conceived.

3 weeks pregnant

During this period, a germinal disc with a primary streak is formed – from many cells that are constantly dividing and developing. The size of a fertilized egg at the 3rd week of pregnancy is about 0,13 mm.

4 weeks pregnant

By the beginning of the 4th week, the fetal egg enters the uterine cavity, attaches to its wall and continues to develop. The embryonic disk acquires a cylindrical shape, the head and tail of the embryo are formed. By the end of the 28th day, a bend of the body appears, the length in the back reaches 4-5 mm.

Examinations in the first month of pregnancy

At the first visit of a pregnant woman, the doctor gets acquainted with her medical history, then proceeds to an objective examination: pays attention to the woman’s physique and weight, the condition of her skin, visible mucous membranes, measures temperature, height and body weight, blood pressure, evaluates the condition of the mammary glands and nipples , the presence of colostrum separated from them.

Other methods are also used to confirm pregnancy.

Gynecological examination using mirrors 

This is the simplest and at the same time mandatory method. Even in early pregnancy, it allows you to see the characteristic changes in the mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix.

Pregnancy test 

The pregnancy confirmation method is suitable if the period is very short and there are doubts about conception. Modern tests are highly informative, and even with a few days of delay, they show that there is a pregnancy.

Assays

At an early stage, it is important not to miss an ectopic pregnancy, when implantation does not occur in the uterine cavity, but in the tube or cervix. The signs are similar: at first, it may not differ from a normal pregnancy. Therefore, a blood test for the determination of hCG, the hormone of human chorionic gonadotropin, plays an important role here. With an ectopic pregnancy, its level is lower than expected at this time. 

All tests necessary for a woman in each individual case are prescribed by a doctor: a smear for STIs and others.

US 

Even in the early stages, ultrasound diagnostics is an informative and safe method of examination. On ultrasound, the embryo is clearly visible, which is fixed in the uterine cavity. Ultrasound research methods are used to diagnose pregnancy and its timing. And also in case of complications of pregnancy and fetal development.

Do’s and Don’ts for Expectant Mothers

“A pregnant woman can live a normal life,” says obstetrician-gynecologist Tatyana Smirnova. “But we need to reconsider and change what can affect the health of the child and the woman herself and complicate the course of pregnancy. This applies to both nutrition and lifestyle.

Healthy food

Pregnant women are advised to lean on vegetables and fruits, mainly grown in their region of residence. Citrus fruits are undesirable – they can cause allergic reactions and set the stage for diathesis in an unborn child. 

Useful: herbal teas (if there is no allergy to herbs), vegetable soups and salads, buckwheat porridge. The consumption of sweets should be reduced. Chocolate, coffee, hot spices are not recommended.

Getting rid of bad habits

It will not be superfluous to repeat: the expectant mother should refuse alcohol and cigarettes. The potential harm is great and the risks are beyond doubt.

We treat teeth and chronic diseases

Contrary to common stereotypes, it is possible and necessary to treat teeth during pregnancy.

Dental diseases are potential foci of infection that can adversely affect a child. They definitely need to be eliminated. 

For the same reason, it is necessary to deal with the treatment of chronic tonsillitis, tonsillitis. If there are diseases not related to gynecology (liver, heart, stomach, etc.), they should ideally be dealt with before conception, and during pregnancy, if necessary, be observed by narrow specialists.

Postpone cosmetic procedures 

During pregnancy, it is not recommended even to dye your hair, because the chemical components penetrate the woman’s body and can have a negative effect. It is advisable to use less cosmetics, limit cosmetic procedures using active chemicals and hardware technologies. Undesirable massage of the lower back, anterior abdominal wall during pregnancy.

You can sunbathe

Sun exposure in reasonable amounts is good. The body receives vitamin D, necessary for the prevention of rickets, the protection of bone tissue. Just do not abuse the sunbathing!

We dose physical exercises 

You can go in for sports in the first month of pregnancy if there is no threat of miscarriage and other problems. But exercises should not strain the anterior abdominal wall. 

Highly recommended special gymnastics to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, for better stretching of the perineum. It is better to swim in the sea than in pools, where reagents that are undesirable for the health of a pregnant woman can be used to purify water. The safest, but at the same time useful activity is walking. This is good for the muscles of the pelvic floor and perineum. You can just walk around the house on tiptoes, sit on a gym ball.

Popular questions and answers

In the first month of pregnancy, most women have a variety of questions. Including many are worried that, not knowing about the “interesting” situation, their actions could harm the health of the child. Obstetrician-gynecologist Tatyana Smirnova answers questions, dispelling popular fears and doubts.

Sources of

1. Normal pregnancy. Clinical guidelines. URL: https://minzdravao.ru/sites/default/files/2020/1/normalnaya_beremennost.pdf
2. What are some common signs of pregnancy? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health. NIH. URL: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pregnancy/conditioninfo/signs
3. Vinogradov S.Yu., Dindiaev S.V., Vinogradova E.E. Fundamentals of morphogenesis of intrauterine development of a person. URL: https://docplayer.com/29989946-Osnovy-morfogeneza-vnutriutrobnogo-razvitiya-cheloveka-materialy-k-izucheniyu-medicinskoy-embriologii-i-perinatologii.html