Week 4 of pregnancy: baby side
The embryo measures between 2 and 4 millimeters. Its weight is still negligible.
Its development at 4 weeks of pregnancy
From shrimp, the embryo becomes a hippocampus: it lengthens further. Its head becomes more prominent and it actually appears to have a tail. At the moment, he has no growths for his legs. We also notice pulsations, it is the first “heartbeat”! Of course, the heart of the embryo is not yet fully formed. It only has two cavities (instead of four, eventually).
At this stage, the most advanced system is the central nervous system : the neural tube is now formed and, at its end, the brain is forming (that’s why the head seems so big). The liver will start to appear, before the rest of the digestive system. At this stage, the embryo is nourished by the yellow body (ovulation residue) while waiting for the placenta to form.
Week 4 of pregnancy: mom’s side
Our pregnancy is not yet visible. We may feel like we are in between: we know we are pregnant, but our pregnancy is undetectable from the outside. We feel sensations, similar to those which characterize the premenstrual syndrome: a tense and painful chest, a sometimes variable mood. We then feel in turmoil: during this period, we can be irritable, even downright unpleasant with those around them. In question: hormones, again and again!
Our blood vessels relax, which leads to a drop in blood pressure. We do not stand too long to avoid any risk of dizziness. The nipples and their areolas (the skin around them) become darker.
Our exams
If we have not yet done so, we make an appointment for our first prenatal consultation, before the end of the third month, either with a liberal midwife, or at the maternity ward, or with our gynecologist.