Fetal Development at 1 Week of Pregnancy

On gestational age 1 week the fetus has not been formed and the expectant mother is having menstruation. So, what are the characteristics of pregnancy in the first week? Check out the full explanation in the following review.

Calculation of Pregnancy 1 Week

Gestational age is a benchmark of time used to mark a process of pregnancy.

This time benchmark starts from the first day of menstruation experienced by the mother and ends on the expected day of birth (HPL) which occurs in the 40th week. Even though the HPL is calculated at week 40, there are times when a baby will be born at week 41 or 42.

1 week gestation NO occurs when you first get a positive result (two lines) on a test testpack. When you are late for your period and do an examination testpackit could be already entering the gestational age of 5-6 weeks.

If you are positive when you check testpackimmediately remember when the first day of your previous period was and mark it on the calendar, that’s the first day of your pregnancy.

Gestational age is calculated based on the menstrual cycle. Midwives and doctors will determine the first day of your previous menstruation as the first day of your pregnancy.

The formation of the fetus occurs around the end of the second week and the beginning of the third week, when the mother experiences fertility and sexual intercourse and the egg (ovum) is fertilized by male cells (spermatozoa).

So, at 1 week of gestation you have menstruation as usual. At this age, the body is preparing for ovulation. Around the 5th day of menstruation, the egg will mature and be ready to be released.

Some menstrual complaints may appear at this time, but chances are you are familiar with these symptoms because menstruation does occur regularly every month.

Also Read: 11 Preparations for Pregnancy that Must Be Known So that the Baby is Born Healthy

Can 1 Week Pregnant Be Checked Through Ultrasound?

As previously explained, 1 week of gestation is calculated on the first day of menstruation. That is, the expectant mother certainly does not realize that she is pregnant in the first week of pregnancy.

Therefore, an ultrasound examination cannot be done when the gestational age is only 1 week old. However, an ultrasound examination can indeed be done from the 1st trimester of pregnancy.

Pregnancy in general can only be detected or only realized when entering the age of 4 weeks; which is characterized by no menstrual process in the expectant mother.

When you realize that your period is late that month, you can do a pregnancy check with testpack. This tool will detect the pregnancy hormone in the urine.

If a positive result appears, then most likely you are pregnant. However, pregnancy checks with this test pack can give wrong results. Therefore, it is important to check with a doctor after carrying out a pregnancy examination with testpack.

1 Week Pregnancy Checkup

Some couples may not undergo pregnancy checks at this 1 week gestation. However, for couples who are planning a pregnancy, consultations can also be done. This is called a preconception or pre-pregnancy consultation.

Pre-pregnancy consultations can help increase the chances of pregnancy. During this pre-conception or pre-pregnancy consultation, the doctor can recommend various tips that you can apply with your partner to make pregnancy happen.

During a pre-pregnancy examination, the doctor will examine your overall medical history, history of vaccines, and whether there are sexually transmitted infections. In addition, the doctor may also evaluate lifestyle, diet, exercise, and other habits that can affect pregnancy.

Laboratory tests can also be done to find out if the mother has an infection that has the potential to complicate pregnancy or cause miscarriage, such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex. In some conditions, the husband can also do a sperm analysis.

Meanwhile, patients who have chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure should inform their doctor about their condition. You can ask your doctor about what steps can be taken to control the condition while preparing for pregnancy.

Apart from that, you should also consult your doctor about using drugs, be it prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or herbal supplements. Each drug carries a risk of certain side effects and some may affect pregnancy.

Therefore, consulting a doctor about the use of drugs is mandatory for those of you who are preparing for pregnancy.

Mother’s Body Changes during 1 Week Pregnant

The shape of the belly of a 1 week pregnant woman is of course no different from the shape of the stomach when not pregnant. The characteristics of a young pregnancy for the first 1 week will also appear a few weeks later.

Body changes at 1 week of gestation are basically body changes that occur during menstruation.

Every woman has different menstrual symptoms. Some people experience more symptoms than others.

Following are some of the symptoms that may occur:

• Bloated.
• Pimple.
• Mood swings and anxiety.
• Changes in sexual desire.
• Changes in bowel habits, constipation or diarrhea.
• Fatigue.
• Depression.
• Appetite increases.
• Headache.
• intolerance to alcohol.
• Joint and muscle pain.
• stomach cramps
• Breast pain.
• Weight gain due to fluid retention.

In the first week of pregnancy, the fetus not yet formed but the body is preparing for pregnancy. During menstruation, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) decays due to a decrease in the hormones estrogen and progesterone, then after cleaning it will be ready to be replaced with a new endometrial lining.

The ovaries (ovaries) then begin preparing eggs to be released during the fertile period. The inner lining of the uterus (endometrium) then begins to thicken again until it is ready for implantation (embedding of the embryo into the uterine wall).

Also Read: Benefits of Stroking the Stomach during Pregnancy Good for Fetal Development

Pregnancy Tips The first week

It is important to know, the various things you do when you are 1 week pregnant will affect the success of conception. Here are some tips that can be applied so that a healthy pregnancy can be realized, including:

1. Recognize When the Fertile Period

Having sexual intercourse at the right time can increase the chances of pregnancy. Therefore, recognizing the fertile period is something that must be done.

When ovulation (release of the egg from the ovary) occurs, the egg (ovum) has about 12-24 hours to live. If at that time the egg is not fertilized by sperm, then pregnancy will not occur. Sperm itself can survive for about 5 days in the uterus.

Sexual intercourse can be done before ovulation occurs until the time of ovulation. One way that can be done to check your fertile period is with the help of an ovulation calendar or fertile period calculator.

If needed, you can also use ovulation test strips which can show the fertile period by measuring hormone levels in the body.

2. Prenatal vitamins

If you are preparing for pregnancy, you should consider taking prenatal vitamins.

One of the most important nutrients in preparing for pregnancy is folic acid. However, prenatal multivitamin supplements can also contain several other nutrients, such as iron, calcium, and vitamin D.

Consumption of folic acid or pregnancy vitamins should be done 2-3 months before you get pregnant or get married.

3. Maintain Food Intake

Maintaining food intake before and during pregnancy is very important to maintain the health of you and your fetus.

The types of food that are recommended when preparing for pregnancy are as follows:

• Fruits.
• Vegetables.
• Lean proteins.
• healthy fat
• Fibrous grains.

Increased appetite during menstruation is a common thing. Even if your appetite increases, make sure you reduce your intake of unhealthy foods and replace them with healthier foods.

4. Increase consumption of water

Apart from ensuring that you drink enough water, you should also train yourself to reduce your intake of unhealthy drinks. Reduce intake of alcohol and sugary drinks which are not good for health during pregnancy and preparing for pregnancy.

Also Read: 10 Fruit Juices to Help the Pregnant Program

5. Regular Exercise

Sports are often not the main activity of choice during menstruation. However, many studies have shown that exercise can actually reduce discomfort during menstruation.

Exercise also helps maintain overall health so that the body will also be better prepared for pregnancy.

Of course, this exercise habit must be maintained during pregnancy. Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve physical and mental health. You will also feel more prepared for labor.

6. Control Stress

Stress can be one of the factors that make pregnancy difficult. Therefore, when preparing for pregnancy, don’t forget to always make yourself happy.

7. Quit Smoking

Smoking is basically not good for health, especially if you are preparing for pregnancy.

A smoker is usually more difficult to get pregnant than a non-smoker. In addition, smoking can also increase the risk of miscarriage. Therefore, don’t wait to get pregnant to stop smoking. It is better to do it immediately when you are planning a pregnancy.

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