Week 3 of pregnancy

Introduction

Pregnancy whether it is planned or unplanned is one of the most exciting yet most challenging journeys of a woman’s life. Pregnancy brings a whole bunch of experiences with it i.e. physical, emotional, psychological, and even financial. It is a rollercoaster ride of nine months that makes women feel elated, anxious, tired, or euphoric. In short, these nine months can never match any other experience of a woman’s life.

If you have planned to get pregnant and waiting for your next period, voila you are nearly just two weeks away from getting your confirmation call. And if you have not planned your pregnancy, you might get a surprise after a week or two if you miss your period. In any case, if you want to know about the initial symptoms of pregnancy you are at the right place.

We have already discussed week 1 and week 2 of pregnancy, now in this article, we are going to see what week 3 of pregnancy looks like. What are the symptoms and what are the checks you should follow in week 3 of pregnancy?

Don’t skip any line if you want to get every related information of week 3 of pregnancy. Let’s get started.

Ovulation, Fertilization, and Implantation

As we have already discussed in week 1 and week 2 of pregnancy that your pregnancy can occur at any point in your whole menstrual cycle but usually it happens after one week of your last period. The ovary releases the egg and it travels down the fallopian tube and stays there for at least a week. Luckily, during that time if a sperm reaches there and meets the egg fertilization happens. If it has to happen, fertilization is usually completed by the end of week 2.

After the process of fertilization is completed, the structure of the egg starts changing and no other sperm can enter the egg anymore. The fertilized egg is now called a zygote soon to be called your baby. The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus through the uterine tube hence completing the process of ovulation. So what’s next? This process of ovulation has officially started your journey of pregnancy although you have not got your confirmation call yet. Don’t worry you’ll get it very soon mommy.

After ovulation the very next step of this long journey is implantation. Implantation mostly happens in week 3 and it’s one of the most important steps of the whole pregnancy process. But what is implantation? Keep on reading you will get all your answers.

During implantation, the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus which serves as an oxygen and nutrient carrier for the zygote (soon to be a baby). At the place where the egg attaches to the uterine wall, a group of cells is converted into the placenta. Yes, the very familiar name you must have heard. The placenta is a powerhouse of oxygen and food for your growing baby. After the placenta is formed and the implantation process is completed pregnancy hormone i.e. human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is released, which doesn’t only increase the production of estrogen and progesterone but also prevents the ovaries from ripe more eggs.

After this process is completed, your body gets signals that no more periods for 9 or more months as no new egg is released from the ovaries. Although at this stage, women don’t know they are expecting or not if you get your tests done that we have discussed in weeks 1 and 2 of pregnancy, chances are you will get a positive result.

As your pregnancy journey progresses, you will start experiencing strong symptoms than before. So, what week 3 has brought with it? Let’s have a look at that.

Symptoms of Week 3 of pregnancy

Week 3 of pregnancy brings you a step closer to getting your confirmation call as your next period is just a week away. But, it is also possible that you might get to experience mild or strong symptoms that can make you get your strip test done.

Although all pregnancies are different some of the common symptoms that women notice in their early pregnancy include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Extreme tiredness
• Soreness or tenderness in the breast
• Frequent urination
• Heightened sense of smell
• Aversion to some foods
• Food cravings
• Mood swings

Some of these symptoms are common before periods as well, so if you were planning for a pregnancy or had unprotected sex it’s always better to get a strip test done a home. That’s the easiest way to confirm your pregnancy.

Woman’s body in week 3 of pregnancy

It’s very early to expect any change in your physical appearance as in week 3 even if you are pregnant your baby is just too small to make your body change. Your belly is the same as before but not for a long time. Enjoy your old clothes as long as you can.

Baby’s development in Week 3

Okay, so there is nothing that changes in your physical appearance but what about the baby? You might get disappointed but your baby is still too small that even doctors can’t tell which stage of ovulation or conception the fertilized egg is at. That’s why doctors usually start counting the pregnancy journey from the first day of your last period. The embryo at this stage is as tiny as the head of a pin. But, don’t worry they grow faster than you can even think and will make you feel their presence very soon. 

Pregnancy Tests

Anxious to know if you are pregnant or not? It’s better to get a pregnancy strip test done. It’s a very easy process and you can do it at home. Even if it’s negative, don’t lose hope because you might get a positive result after some days when the HCG hormone speeds up its release.

Check our articles for week 1 and week 2 of pregnancy to get all details about pregnancy tests.

Checklist for week 3 of pregnancy

Getting a healthy baby and a healthy lifestyle for yourself during pregnancy is not a very tough job. You just need to keep some checks regularly that won’t even take a lot of time. The checklist for week 3 of pregnancy is as follows:

• Regularly take folic acid at least 400micrograms
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle i.e. do regular walks or light exercise
• Eat a healthy diet. Add fruits, vegetables, and organic food to your diet
• Quit smoking or alcohol. They are your baby’s enemies
• Stay positive and happy

Conclusion

Pregnancy is no doubt a plethora of emotions, demands, and challenges for a woman’s life but making peace with the changes you experience and knowing that this tiring journey will bless you with the most beautiful reward at the end. Focus on your well-being, eat healthily, and keep a track of your prenatal appointments and you are good to go till the end.