Blog
1-4 Weeks Pregnant
Sunday 16th April 2017
Although you may not even know you're pregnant, by week 4 your body is already going through some significant changes. Learn when your baby's genetic make-up becomes set and how your placenta will soon begin to form to support them, along with nutrition tips for weeks 1-4 of pregnancy.
The start of your baby's journey
Fertilisation takes place around 14 days after the start of your last period. At that point, the fertilised egg that will eventually become your baby is technically called a zygote.
During the 90 hours after fertilisation, the cells divide and subdivide into a pinhead-sized solid mass of cells that gradually makes the journey from your fallopian tube to your uterus.
Around 6-10 days after ovulation you may notice some light spotting as the bundle of cells, now known as a blastocyst, attaches to the wall of your womb.
"Because of the way pregnancy is measured, you are considered to be 2 weeks pregnant at the time of fertilisation."
Whether you're aware of any subtle changes or not, your baby, now known as an embryo, already has the basic building blocks of their body in place. The rapidly multiplying cells form distinct layers within the embryo. These will soon become your baby's internal organs; the skeleton and muscles; brain; nervous system; and external body parts, such as skin, eye lenses and nails.
Even though there are incredible developments taking place, at 4 weeks, or 2 weeks after fertilisation, the only sign of pregnancy may be the lack of your usual premenstrual symptoms.
The placenta: Building a super organ
In the 4th week of pregnancy, your baby is receiving all the nourishment they need from a tiny yolk sac. But very soon your placenta will begin to form. This life-sustaining organ will supply your baby with the oxygen and nutrients they need to grow and develop. It also passes antibodies to your baby, which will provide essential resistance to infection throughout pregnancy.
Another function of the placenta is hormone production. These hormones help your baby grow and develop while supporting your own physical changes from the earliest stages of pregnancy. Progesterone and relaxin, for example, both have a relaxant effect on your muscles, allowing your uterus to adapt and make room for your growing baby.
Vitamin C: Supporting healthy cells for life
Vitamin C is a vital nutrient to include in your balanced diet in the first 4 weeks of pregnancy. As your body adjusts and prepares to support your baby, it plays an important role in keeping cells healthy and contributes to normal collagen function. Collagen gives support and structure to tissue and organs such as skin, blood vessels and cartilage, and is one of the building blocks of your rapidly growing placenta.
"A balanced diet containing fruit and vegetables can provide all the vitamin C you need in pregnancy."
The daily recommended nutritional intake (RNI) of vitamin C during pregnancy is 40mg a day, and an extra 10mg a day during the third trimester. A large strawberry provides around 10mg.
An equally important role of vitamin C is to aid the absorption of non-haem iron (the iron found in plant sources such as spinach) into your bloodstream. Iron is a key component of your blood, helping to transport oxygen around your body and to your baby. A healthy supply of this mineral is essential for your baby's normal cognitive function.
NEXT STEPS
Add one of the following vitamin C-rich foods to your mealtimes to increase your absorption of iron from plant sources such as green, leafy vegetables:
- Steamed broccoli
- Raw spinach
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Brussels sprouts
- A kiwi fruit
- Blueberries
- Freshly squeezed fruit juice
- A squeeze of lemon or lime
