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1st Trimester (weeks 1-13)

Week 4

About You

Week 4 is the fourth week of the 1st trimester. You probably have an idea that you may be pregnant, if you haven't already confirmed it with a home pregnancy test. Note that you are likely to get a correct result 1 week past your expected period. If your home test is positive, call your medical practitioner's office to schedule your first prenatal appointment (although most want to see you when you are 8 weeks pregnant, unless you have a specified health condition or previous pregnancy complications). If your pregnancy test is negative, try again in another week, as many urine tests are not sensitive enough to detect a pregnancy at 4 weeks.

If you are taking any medications (either prescription or over-the-counter), ask your local pharmacist whether it is safe to keep taking them.

You should also already be taking a multivitamin that contains at least 400 micrograms of folic acid, and if your pregnancy is confirmed, increase it to 600 micrograms.

The next six weeks of pregnancy are quite crucial to your baby's development, so be mindful what you are eating, drinking and taking into your body.

About Baby

Week 4 is the beginning of the embryonic period. From now until 10 weeks, all of the organs will begin to develop and some will even begin to function. As a result, this is the time when the embryo will be most vulnerable to anything that might interfere with development.

Right now your baby is an embryo the size of a poppy seed, consisting of two layers - the epiblast and the hypoblast, from which all organs and body parts will develop.

The primitive placenta is also made up of two layers at this point. Its cells are tunnelling into the lining of your uterus, creating spaces for your blood to flow so that the developed placenta will be able to provide nutrients and oxygen to your growing baby when it starts to function at the end of this week.

Also present now is the amniotic sac, which will house your baby, the amniotic fluid, which will cushion baby as it grows, and the yolk sac which produces baby's red blood cells and helps deliver nutrients until the placenta has developed and is ready to take over this function.

This week's activities for the pregnancy to-do list

✔ Take a pregnancy test if you've missed your period

✔ Make an appointment to see your doctor to confirm your pregnancy

✔ Tell your partner the news!

✔ Consider the alternative of a certified nurse-midwife

Note that this article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.

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