✓ Fourth week of pregnancy

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Fourth week of pregnancy

During the fourth week it is going to occur the absence of the menstrual cycle, which is the most obvious sign of the onset of a pregnancy. At the end of this week a woman is more likely to undergo a pregnancy test (and thus ascertain her condition), also because the production of the hormone chorionic gonadotropin is now in full swing - or Beta HCG - which is precisely the substance detected by the tests to ascertain the interesting state.

Read also: Beta HCG: values and meaning in pregnancy

Symptoms in the fourth week of pregnancy

By the fourth week of pregnancy, many women are already beginning to feel the first, sometimes more evident, symptoms of gestationhowever, it is not so uncommon for a subject to feel nothing for a long time.

In addition to the "jump" of the menstrual cycle, therefore, here are some of the most frequent symptoms:

Nausea: especially in the morning it is very common to wake up with an unpleasant sensation that can also be accompanied by vomiting and dizziness. The increased sensitivity to smells and tastes can exacerbate this problem which however tends to disappear within the first trimester and should not cause much concern for the health of the mother and baby on the way.
Losses: despite the absence of a period, it may happen that you have to manage small vaginal bleeding which, however, are milder and more tenuous in color than menstrual ones. These losses are due to the implantation of the embryo. However, if the episodes continue even in the first trimester and the color of the discharge remains bright red, it is better to consult a gynecologist.
Belly pains: Another common symptom is increased pressure in the lower abdomen, which causes stomach cramps and pains. Helping yourself with a healthy diet can be the key to reducing such inconveniences.
Sensitivity to odors: a pregnant woman's body is much more receptive to smells and tastes. This is because evolution has led the female body to be wary of perishable substances and foods that could threaten the health of the fetus.
Darker Nipples: the hormones of pregnancy intensify the blood supply and therefore also the nipples (and the vulva) can take on a darker color.

Read also: Signs of pregnancy: the first weeks

What to do in the fourth week of pregnancy?

Maternity test

Of course, before you start managing a pregnancy, you need to safety you really be about to have a child. So on the first day of being late, it's always a good idea to take a maternity test after you are done refrain from urination (i.e. without having peed!) for at least four hours, in order to have a higher concentration of Beta-Hcg.

Beta-Hcg test

In most cases it's not useful but in special situations the doctor may order a blood test to check the levels of this hormone in the bloodstream.

Nutrition

It is perfectly normal to feel hungrier during pregnancy. However, for the health of the child and the mother itself it is good to follow one diet how attentive, varied and regular, since everything that feeds the future mother ends up feeding the fetus as well. You can start by eliminating the raw foods or those too fat, favoring fruit and vegetables (well washed) and foods rich in vitamins and proteins. It is essential to ignore those who say "eat for two": it is not healthy.

Also read: 10 tips on diet during pregnancy

The fetus in the fourth week

At this stage we do not yet speak of the fetus but of embryo. However, the development of the new life is already progressing at great speed: organs e apparatuses they began to form and so did the arts begin to take on a "sketchy" shape. Now the embryo, smaller than a seed, is still too small to be observed even by ultrasound equipment, however in many cases it is possible to see the gestational chamber, the structure that is created inside the uterus to house the embryo.

SOURCE: NHS; Baby Center

Questions and answers

What is seen during the fourth week of pregnancy?

It is still too early to see the baby bump and even inside the embryo is too small to be seen by the ultrasound. However, the gestational chamber can be seen.