Week 1 of Pregnancy: Preparing And Identifying the Symptoms

When is the beginning of pregnancy week 1?

Pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period. Even though your child has yet to be conceived in week 1, you’re already in the time window that is part of the 9 months of pregnancy. Conception usually occurs about 14 days after the start of your last menstrual period, and pregnancy gestation is usually about 40 weeks. The average pregnancy lasts between 37 and 42 weeks.

Once your period finishes, the inner lining of your uterus (endometrium) begins to thicken again in preparation for the implantation of a fertilised egg. If implantation does not take place, your progesterone levels fall, and your body gets rid of the thickened layer and the unfertilised egg. This is the bleeding we call a period.

If your menstrual cycles are regular, a missed period is an indication of a possible pregnancy. After the egg implantation is complete, a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is released. Known as the pregnancy hormone, hCG helps nourish the pregnancy and tells your ovaries to stop releasing eggs. A pregnancy test is most accurate about a week after a missed menstrual period, when hCG levels are high enough to detect.

Is there a foetus at week 1 of pregnancy?

In your first week of pregnancy, your child-to-be is still a single-cell egg in your ovaries. In the next week, if successful, the egg will be fertilised by a sperm. The fertilised egg will then make its way down your fallopian tube before implanting into the inner lining of your uterus to start growing over the next 9 months.

Conception happens when the egg and sperm unite in one of the fallopian tubes to form a one-celled entity called a zygote, which contains 46 chromosomes (23 from the mother and 23 from the father). These chromosomes will determine the genetic make-up of your child, and ultimately all their physical characteristics. The sex of your child is determined at fertilisation. If the egg receives an X chromosome from the sperm cell, your child will be a girl. Receiving a Y chromosome means that your child will be a boy.

While your child’s body can’t be seen yet during week 1 of pregnancy, your body is preparing itself and you can start working towards a healthy pregnancy by implementing healthy lifestyle habits.

What are the pregnancy symptoms at week 1?

During the first trimester, your body undergoes many changes that can result in pregnancy symptoms. However, there likely won’t be any symptoms when you’re still on week 1 of pregnancy. Symptoms such as morning sickness and mood swings are in the cards for most women — but they won’t happen just yet. In fact, you won’t experience any early signs of pregnancy until a few weeks after conception. You may see some light spotting, but if heavier bleeding occurs, you should get medical advice from your doctor or healthcare providers. For now, make sure to take good-quality prenatal vitamins, pregnancy milk and folic acid to prevent neural tube defects.

How to prepare yourself for week 1 of pregnancy?

Before pregnancy symptoms present themselves, here are some things you can do and lifestyle changes you can make to ensure your body is healthy:

• Start taking prenatal vitamins, especially ones containing folic acid
• Start taking pregnancy milk, like Frisomum® Gold
• Track your menstrual cycle
• Get plenty of sleep
• Start exercising, with advice from your doctor or healthcare provider
• Eat healthier foods
• If you smoke, do quit
• Reduce your caffeine intake
• Find out about you and your partner’s family health history, and have a discussion with your doctor

As you start your journey into pregnancy — or even if you're still trying to conceive — it always helps to get health information from your doctor or healthcare provider. They will be able to give you expert advice and help you make sure that you're on the right track for a healthy pregnancy. In the meantime, you should be eating healthier to prepare your body too. If you’re not sure where to start, why not check out our article “What Healthy Foods to Eat During Pregnancy” to find out more!

Throughout this important window of time, it’s essential to ensure your body receives the nutrients it needs to prepare for a potential pregnancy. To address the specific needs of mums-to-be, maternal milk is often recommended as it helps balance both your and your future child’s nutritional needs safely. We have formulated Frisomum® Gold with both mum and child in mind, and its unique Dual Care+ formula supports you on your pregnancy journey. Some of the vital nutrients that Frisomum® Gold provides you with include:

Vitamin D - Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus¹.

Calcium - Helps in the normal growth and development of bones and teeth².

Vitamin B12 - Needed for red blood cell production and the healthy functioning of the nervous system³.

Folic Acid - Folic acid is essential for growth and division of cells. Folate plays a role in the formation of red blood cells. Folate helps to maintain the growth and development of the foetus⁴.

Iodine - Essential for the formation of thyroid hormones, which supports brain development⁵.

Low glycaemic index - The glycaemic index (GI) is a rating system for foods containing carbohydrates. It shows how quickly food affects your blood sugar (glucose) level when eaten on its own. The low glycaemic index (GI) could help the mother avoid being overweight during pregnancy.

When you’re deciding on which pregnancy milk powder you should choose to supplement your diet with throughout your pregnancy journey, it’s important to also consider the origins of the milk, how it was manufactured and processed, its nutrient content as well as which one helps you control weight gain during pregnancy. Frisomum® Gold preserves the natural nutrients of the milk to give you what you need in your pregnancy journey. Now that you are aware of the importance of maternal milk/susu, check out what Frisomum® Gold has to offer now!

What to expect from week 2 of pregnancy

While your body is adjusting itself to accommodate a new life in week 1, week 2 is when you are likely to be approaching ovulation. This is when you are most likely to conceive. You will not experience any pregnancy symptoms just yet. Instead, watch out for signs of this fertile period. These signs include changes in cervical mucus, abdominal discomfort or pain, spotting, a heightened sense of smell, breast tenderness and a heightened sex drive.

There is no foetus yet at this time as conception might not happen on the same day of your ovulation. However, during week 2 of your pregnancy journey, one egg becomes dominant and it releases oestrogen to stimulate the thickening of your uterine lining⁶. Once your oestrogen levels are high enough, they trigger a surge of luteinising hormone (LH). This hormone causes the mature egg to burst from its follicle and into the fallopian tube. If you’re curious to learn more about how to make the process an easy and smooth one, check out our week 2 of pregnancy article to better understand the changes that your body is going through now.

At this point in time, it’s still imperative that you continue taking care of your health by consuming foods that are high in vitamin B12, folic acid, iodine, vitamin D and calcium such as  Frisomum® Gold.  Frisomum® Gold consists of essential nutrients which are formulated with DualCare+™, to support mum's and their children's daily needs. Your body will be readying itself for implantation any day now, so while it’s a truly exciting time, you should try to relax as much as possible and focus on nourishing it and getting enough rest.

References:

1. Vitamin D. (2022). Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-d/ 
2. Calcium. (2022). Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/calcium/ 
3. B Vitamins. (2022). Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamins/vitamin-b/
4. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/vitamins-supplements-and-nutrition/#:~:text=Folic%20acid%20before%20and%20during,tube%20defects%2C%20including%20spina%20bifida.
5. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/MCFhealth/maternity/Pages/iodine-supplements-factsheet.aspx#:~:text=How%20much%20iodine%20do%20pregnant,micrograms%20per%20day%20when%20breastfeeding.
6. 2 Weeks Pregnant