Week 4 of Pregnancy: Symptoms And Tips

Even when you're already at the 4th week of your pregnancy journey, you might not see nor feel that many symptoms yet. Learn more about them as we give you a guide here.

pregnancy. At this point, you probably don't look pregnant yet. Most first-time mums don't show any indications of pregnancy until at least week 12. However, if you've had babies before, you may start showing sooner as the muscles in your womb and belly may already have been stretched from your previous pregnancy. Here we will discuss your 4th week of pregnancy as well as what are the symptoms you will be facing.

Week 2 - pregnancy recap

During the early days of pregnancy, there is still no foetus yet. Doctors count your pregnancy weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period. So, by the time you find out that you’re pregnant, you could be around 4 to 6 weeks pregnant - even if there was no foetus during the first two weeks. You could, however, watch out for signs of this fertile period. You would notice cervical mucus discharge, abdominal pain, some light spotting, a heightened sense of smell, tenderness of your breast which may feel rather sore and the hormones associated with ovulation are said to be responsible for increasing your desire to have intercourse. If you are now at this stage of pregnancy, learn more in our week 2 of pregnancy article about what you can do to ease the process.

Week 3 - pregnancy recap

At week 3 of your pregnancy, your child is just starting to become an embryo. Before your third week, your child was referred to as a zygote, which is the fertilised egg that contains the DNA of each parent. You may not feel that many changes, however, your body has already started to create a comfortable environment for your newly-fertilised egg. Your body will produce higher levels of hormones in order to provide nutrients to your child. You may experience a few symptoms such as breast tenderness, fatigue and nausea which is commonly known as morning sickness. If you are now at this stage of pregnancy, learn more in our week 3 of pregnancy article about what you can do to ease the process.

Here are some symptoms you may experience when you're 4 weeks pregnant:

• Missed menstrual cycle
• Bloating and feeling of being bloated
• Unusually fatigued or exhausted
• Breast pain or tenderness
• Heightened sense of smell and hypersensitivity
• Mild cramping (abdominal pain) and vaginal spotting

Note: The presence of blood could mean implantation bleeding, where implantation of the embryo has taken place. Please see your doctor if you get bleeding during pregnancy to get a proper medical diagnosis.

During the first trimester which includes week 4, some pregnant women might not feel any symptoms at all. But in the coming weeks, they are likely to experience the following:

• Morning sickness, nausea or even cluster headache
• New likes and dislikes (food aversions)
• Frequent urination or 'overactive' bladder
• Constipation and problems with digestion
• Emotional changes such as anxiety and mood swings

If you think you could be pregnant but haven't noticed any of the usual signs and symptoms of pregnancy, do keep in mind that there is still a possibility that you might be. Every pregnancy is different and some women sail through their pregnancy without adverse effects - some even enjoy more radiant skin and luscious head of hair. Regardless, be sure to seek medical advice from your healthcare provider and schedule an appointment for testing.

Your Body at 4 Weeks

Though your child is the size of a poppy seed now, your body is going to work hard and you will experience many hormonal changes over the next eight months. The blastocyst (fertilised egg) has travelled down your fallopian tube to reach your uterus. The egg cell, surrounded by an amniotic sac filled with fluids, implants to the uterus epithelium cells, and begins to form the embryo and placenta - a temporary endocrine organ. While even men produce some human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (0.02~0.8 IU/L) in their liver and pituitary gland, a pregnant woman produces way more in their placenta (20,000~200,000 IU/L). This is also why hCG count in urine is used in pregnancy tests. The hCG hormone is responsible for stimulating the corpus luteum, which in turn produces progesterone to maintain the pregnancy.

Your Life at 4 Weeks Pregnant

Whatever your syndrome, it's important to prioritise time for yourself. Here's a guide to help you manage your symptoms when you're 4 weeks pregnant and to understand what they are:

1. "Me" Time

   You've just learned about life-altering information - you're going to be a mother. You may not be ready to share the news yet, but do spend some time reflecting on how you feel. Write down what you're experiencing, or pen a letter to your future self. Share it with your partner or a friend over a long walk, or a quiet meal at home. Express your concerns and discuss your pregnancy symptoms. If this is your first time, parenting might feel like a faraway concept. Take it one step at a time.

2. Child-free Series Binge Watch

   You may start imagining the 9 months to come and how things will be once your child arrives. It's still early. If you find your mind is going 300 miles per hour, slow down and distract yourself with some laughs from your favourite movies or TV series. Try to get plenty of rest and relaxation.

3. Feed Your Appetite

   Most pregnant women will experience nausea and vomiting as some of the pregnancy symptoms. It usually doesn't start in the first few weeks. So, take this opportunity to satisfy your cravings and dine at your favourite restaurants, wearing your favourite clothes (as your clothing choice will start to narrow soon). That said, it is also a good time to cut down on the consumption of vices such as alcohol and smoking, which contain toxins that will adversely affect the embryo's health and development even at this stage.

4. Top Up on Vitamins and Nutrients

   Nutrition is important even before childbirth. Though you don't have to become a medical expert overnight, it helps to learn what your body needs at this point. Folic acid plays a key role in foetal blood formation and is crucial for the normal development of the neural tube, and can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spine. The CDC recommends 400mg of folic acid intake every day. Getting enough Vitamin D is also essential for good health throughout your pregnancy.

   • 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 foetus.
   • Vitamin D: Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus.

What to expect from week 5 of your pregnancy

At week 5, your child’s growth process is rapid. Your body will be working hard to keep your child growing healthily and this involves a large amount of hormones to be produced such as oestrogen, progesterone and hCG. The increase in these hormone production can cause you to have cravings and aversions, fatigue, nausea, bloating, mild cramping, light vaginal bleeding and even frequent urination.

If you wish to learn more regarding these changes as well as how you can smoothen the process and handle them better, do read our Week 5 of pregnancy article. It is sure to have a few tips on easing your pregnancy journey.

While there are no 100% proven guidelines on how to eliminate morning sickness, don't stress over it. Eating small and having frequent meals help to relieve nausea. Nibble on crackers that are rich in carbohydrates. Fibre found in nuts and seeds also helps with digestion. Be sure to drink a lot of water to prevent dehydration and eat foods that are rich in nutrients, minerals, and protein such as lean meat, cereal, dairy products, fresh and natural foods (fruits and vegetables).

Milk for Pregnant Mum: Frisomum® Gold consists of essential nutrients which are formulated with DualCare+™, to support mum's and their children's daily needs. Frisomum Gold® formula is also low in Glycemic Index (GI) to help pregnant mums maintain a healthy weight throughout their pregnancy. With a low GI score, each serving of Frisomum Gold® can help to control blood glucose levels, making it an ideal snack for pregnant women. Read more on what mums should drink during pregnancy.

The signs of pregnancy can differ from woman to woman. It is a good time to start building your support group for the motherhood journey ahead. When in doubt, please call on your relevant medical professional for advice.

Reference

1. Women Need 400 micrograms of Folic Acid Every Day
2. 4 Weeks Pregnant
3. Folic Acid Helps Prevent Serious Birth Defects of the Brain and Spine
4. Pregnancy Tests
5. HCG (Blood)
6. GI issues, and when to call the doctor
7. Weird Early Pregnancy Symptoms No One Tells You About