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What are the signs in the first month of pregnancy. Folic acid is at the top of the list of essential vitamins. Laboratory examination methods include

After conception, a woman's body undergoes rapid hormonal changes. The results of this process often affect the well-being of the expectant mother, as well as changes in her menstrual cycle. By the end of the first month of pregnancy, the changes that have taken place in the body rarely go unnoticed, and having backed up her guesses with tests and analyzes, a woman will find out that she is expecting a baby.

Hormonal changes

In order for the ovum to successfully develop in the uterine cavity, the woman's endocrine system begins to produce certain concentrations of hormones, on which the preservation of pregnancy depends. If they are not enough, then the gynecologist prescribes an additional correction of hormones with synthetic analogues.

Progesterone- the level of this hormone increases by the end of the first 4 weeks and is 10-30 ng / ml. It is necessary to maintain pregnancy, causes an increase in basal temperature, the absence of menstruation and general malaise in the form of weakness and drowsiness.

Testosterone- during the carrying of a child, the concentration of the hormone in the blood gradually increases. After the first 4 weeks, it increases by about one and a half times compared to the norms for a non-pregnant woman.

Estradiol- with the onset of conception, there is a sharp increase in the amount of the hormone. So, before pregnancy, the rate of estradiol in the follicular phase is 57-227 pg / ml, and at the end of 4 weeks of gestation, these indicators rise to 380-680 pg / ml.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)- this hormone begins to be intensively produced after implantation of the ovum into the uterine cavity. Every two days, its concentration in the blood doubles and by the end of the first month reaches 1500-5000 mIU / ml.

An imbalance in hormonal levels while carrying a child can provoke a miscarriage or a frozen pregnancy. Therefore, in the first weeks, it is better to monitor the concentration of hormones using tests.

Changes in symptoms

Some women by the end of 4 weeks of pregnancy still do not feel the signs of their position, but some expectant mothers already have the following symptoms:

  • The appearance of nausea, vomiting
  • Increased fatigue
  • Increased sleepiness
  • Irritability or vice versa - excessive calmness
  • Unstable psycho-emotional state
  • Addiction to a certain type of food
  • Disgust for certain scents
  • Breast tenderness (mainly on the sides)
  • Darkening of the nipple areola
  • Tingling sensation from one side of the lower abdomen
  • Cessation of menstruation

A pregnant woman may experience all of these symptoms or only a small part of them.

Required examinations

The first month is not yet burdened with a large number of tests and examinations. Many gynecologists are in no hurry to register for such a period (as a rule, they try to wait 6-8 weeks). But there are procedures that must be completed already at this stage.

Monitoring hCG over time - involves the periodic collection of a blood test to determine the concentration of the hormone in the blood. Such manipulations will allow you to track a frozen pregnancy in time, find out about the presence of twins or triplets, determine that the ovum is attached not in the uterus, but in the fallopian tube.

Ultrasound procedure - is carried out no earlier than 21 days after ovulation. In a shorter time frame, the device will most likely not see anything yet. Ultrasound will determine the presence of pregnancy in the uterus, the number of babies, the size and shape of the ovum, the place of its attachment, as well as the presence of tone in the uterus or detachment.

Changes in the development of the embryo

Throughout the first month of pregnancy, the embryo will develop continuously. Immediately after conception, it is just a few cells that will constantly divide. The implantation of the ovum occurs 3 to 12 days after fertilization, and by this the number of embryonic cells reaches 100-120. If we count the time in obstetric weeks, then implantation will take place only at 3 weeks.

At this stage, the future placenta is formed - the chorion. This organ begins to be responsible for the nutrition of the embryo, for the formation of a network of blood vessels connecting the ovum with the mother's body. Of the three germ layers, visible only under a microscope, within a month the embryo rapidly increases in length and becomes visually distinguishable, the size of a poppy seed. There is no division into the main parts of the body yet, but during the first four weeks of pregnancy, the laying of the heart, spine and central nervous system occurs.

What should i avoid?

In the first weeks of pregnancy, the life and health of the embryo are very vulnerable, mainly due to the fact that most expectant mothers still do not know about their situation and continue to lead their usual lifestyle, which involves the influence of factors that are unfavorable for the development of the child. Among them are the following:

  • X-ray examination.
  • Bad habits: alcohol, smoking.
  • Taking medications prohibited during pregnancy.
  • Increased physical activity, which can tone the uterus.
  • Eating unhealthy foods that are high in nitrates and other harmful chemicals.
  • Contact with people or animals with severe acute infectious diseases.
  • Being in places with high levels of radiation and other atmospheric pollution.

When planning pregnancy, most of these factors can be avoided, however, if conception occurs unexpectedly, then the embryo is at risk at first.

  • The first weeks are the period when you need to intensively enrich the body with vitamins, especially folic acid. Then toxicosis may begin (in some cases, severe), as a result of which the concentration of nutrients will rapidly decrease.
  • If you know in advance about the insufficient production of progesterone, then you need to find out about conception as early as possible (analysis of hCG, starting from the 7th day after ovulation) and start taking a synthetic analogue of this hormone - Duphaston or Utrozhestan. Lack of progesterone can provoke detachment of the ovum in the first four weeks of its development.
  • Do not postpone your visit to the ultrasound office until a later date. The examination does not pose any danger to the baby, therefore the first visit to a specialist should take place even before the onset of the second month of pregnancy, in order to exclude the possibility of implantation of the ovum outside the body of the uterus.

The first 4 weeks of pregnancy is the most important stage in the development of the embryo. The less negative factors will affect a pregnant woman at this moment, the more chances she has to bear a healthy baby.

Video 1 month of pregnancy


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Usually, the first month of pregnancy is completely invisible for the expectant mother and is called the "month of not knowing" about her new position. Of course, internal changes are quite global, but there are no pronounced changes in the appearance and well-being of a woman. The fact is that the beginning of pregnancy occurs with the maturation and release of a mature egg and its fertilization in the genital tract of a woman. Fertilization takes place about two weeks after the beginning of the last menstruation, and starting its division and growth, the fertilized egg goes through a difficult path from the fallopian tube to the uterus, where implantation and reliable fixation of the embryo in the uterus takes place.

Symptoms and signs of pregnancy in the first month

The implantation process takes place approximately one to two weeks after fertilization, and the development of the baby begins, which will be born in less than 9 months. Now you are pregnant and a new life is developing inside you, every month you will feel more and more new changes in your body. Now in your body there is an embryo, which will soon become an embryo, and then a fetus, but so far it is just a group of cells.

How to identify the signs of pregnancy this month?

First of all, there is a delay in menstruation, as in the next eight months of pregnancy before the baby is born. Usually, it is the delay in menstruation in a woman of childbearing age who is actively sexually active that is one of the first signs of pregnancy. But the delay may have other reasons, therefore, this sign alone is not enough.

In the first month of pregnancy, the first manifestations of toxicosis may occur - nausea, less often with vomiting. The severity of these symptoms can vary, from almost imperceptible to severe. There may be slight nausea in the morning on an empty stomach, or there may be repeated vomiting of food or even water. Usually toxicosis begins a little later, but maybe in the first month. It will stop closer to the third month. Treatment will be needed only in case of its severe course, in other cases it is worth just going through it.

A sign of pregnancy can be breast enlargement and engorgement, in the first month it increases in size and becomes sensitive, painful, especially in the nipple area. At the same time, the breast can become dense, full with wreaths protruding under the skin. In the first month, there may be a feeling of bursting of the breast, its fullness, soreness, and unpleasant sensations when touching it. This is due to the action of pregnancy hormones and is quite normal.

There may be an increase in both basal and general body temperature above 37 degrees, but not more than 37.3 degrees without signs of a cold. During the first few weeks, body heat may be felt, and there are no manifestations of any colds or chronic diseases.

There may be an increase in vaginal discharge, clear and liquid, and there may be stretching and soreness in the abdomen. In this case, there should not be any bloody discharge or blood on the underwear, pulling back pain (during menstruation). You may also experience such sensations as loss of appetite or its increase, increased urination, severe drowsiness and fatigue, irritation and nausea from strong odors, motion sickness in transport. An accurate determination of pregnancy in the first month is possible according to the test and blood test for hCG, as well as an ultrasound scan with the identification of the ovum.
There may also be sudden mood swings and increased emotionality, a desire to cry, eat unusual foods and a constant desire to sleep.

What happens to the body in 1 month

The first month of pregnancy is the most crucial time - the moment of conception of a child, the process of fertilization and implantation of the formed embryo into the wall of the uterus. At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, from the first day of menstruation, an egg matures in one of the ovaries, which by the time of ovulation (about 14-16 days) leaves the ovary and enters the cavity of the fallopian tube. It is in it that she meets with sperm, which move towards her from the uterine cavity. The ovum has a half set of chromosomes and the second half of them it receives when fused with a sperm, which also has a half set of chromosomes.

As a result, a full-fledged cell with a full set of chromosomes is formed, which begins to move towards the uterine cavity, simultaneously dividing into cells and growing. As the fertilized cell moves towards the uterus, the walls of the uterus prepare to meet it - the endometrium grows and forms a network of blood vessels to feed the embryo. Three days after conception, the embryo has 72 cells, and then gradually grows, reaching by the end of the first month the size of 0.1-0.2 mm, while the embryo looks like an empty ball inside.

By the third week of pregnancy, a fertilized egg is implanted into the wall of the uterus, while it must attach along the back wall as close to the bottom of the uterus as possible. With reliable fixation of the embryo, you can already speak with confidence about your pregnancy. The end of the first month marks the transformation of the ovum into a small embryo. Now it looks like a flat disc of three words of different cells, from which all internal organs and systems will gradually form. Now the embryo is still very small and sensitive to all negative influences.

Discharge in the first month

Normal discharge in the first month of pregnancy is considered to be an abundant transparent discharge that has practically no color and odor. If there is an unpleasant odor or the color of the discharge changes, this could indicate a sexually transmitted infection, thrush, or bacterial vaginosis. This must be quickly treated so that inflammation does not cause abortion and fetal development problems.

Bloody discharge is also considered abnormal, especially the discharge of dark or scarlet blood, this indicates an abortion. During the implantation period, the appearance of bloody smears in the third - fourth week of pregnancy is permissible, but they are very scarce and light. In case of abdominal pain or pulling sensations in the lower back, with an increase in temperature, an abortion may form - you should immediately consult a doctor.

What tests to take

In the first month of pregnancy, routine tests are not yet assigned, since many expectant mothers find out about their situation later than this period. But one of the tests that can be carried out in this period is a blood test for the level of chorionic gonadotropin hCG, the level of increase in which will reliably speak about the onset of pregnancy. This hormone begins to progressively increase from the second day of implantation of the egg into the wall of the uterus, and increases daily approximately twice.

By the end of the first month, the level of this hormone reaches such a value that can be determined by conducting a pregnancy test, which is also based on determining the level of hCG. If the data is uncertain, it is worth waiting a week or two and repeating the analysis.

Colds and fever

In the early stages of pregnancy, a cold is very undesirable, and it is absolutely impossible for the expectant mother to get sick. The presence of a viral or microbial infection in the first month of pregnancy really threatens the further development of pregnancy and can lead to the formation of miscarriages. Often, a cold can disrupt the process of implantation, formation or further development of the embryo. According to observational data, the development of ARVI in the first month of pregnancy can most likely result in abortion and miscarriage. Even before the onset of a delay in menstruation, without thinking about the possible onset of pregnancy, a woman treats a cold, resorting to traditional medications. These drugs can have an extremely negative effect on the development of the fetus and on its further existence as a whole.

At the same time, a woman may well mistake an upcoming miscarriage for the next menstruation that has come with some delay. The condition will be no less dangerous if a woman knows about pregnancy, with a delay in menstruation and a positive pregnancy test. The fears are fully justified - the whole point is that there is an active division of the cells of the embryo and its formation from the very first weeks of pregnancy, when viruses enter the body, they can significantly disrupt the process of forming a future fetus, giving vices and deformities that are incompatible with life. Many of the drugs that can be used in the treatment of colds and acute respiratory viral infections can affect the development of the embryo no less actively, and without treatment, complications during pregnancy and fetal development are also likely.

Usually in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections and colds in the first month of pregnancy, herbal preparations are usually used, which are prescribed in consultation with the doctor. Some of the herbal medicines can also be dangerous for pregnant women. Naturally, you need to try to avoid colds in the first month of pregnancy, since the immunity of expectant mothers is physiologically reduced. To prevent colds, you should avoid crowded places, engage in hardening, strictly observe the regime of the day and rest, eat and consume fluids fully, avoid communicating with people who have symptoms of a cold.

High fever will be no less dangerous in the first month of pregnancy. Such a property of high temperature during pregnancy is known - to lead to a stop in the development of the fetus and the fading of pregnancy with miscarriage. Also, fever provokes miscarriages by itself and can lead to abnormalities in the laying of organs and the birth of a child with developmental defects.

The difficulty will be that most of the antipyretic drugs will be prohibited during this period of pregnancy, they also negatively affect the fetus. When the temperature rises, it is important to consult a doctor for help, and usually the temperature during pregnancy is brought down with the help of non-drug drugs - bed rest with abundant drinking of herbal teas and decoctions, raspberries, linden blossom, weak tea with lemon and honey. But with herbs, as well as with medicines, you need to be very careful - they should not be used without the permission of a doctor. It is important to remember that fever is accompanied not only by colds, but also by many other diseases - these can be exacerbations of somatic diseases that require a decision on the fate of pregnancy.

Stomach ache

The most dangerous are the first months of pregnancy by the development of spontaneous miscarriages, and sometimes it is impossible to prevent them due to the fact that the embryo has severe chromosomal or gene mutations, pathologies that are incompatible with life, and then it is simply "rejected". This usually happens in the early stages, when the mother may not yet know about pregnancy, and then it is perceived as another menstruation. But often at the end of the first month, signs of miscarriage can already be noticed, having positive results of a pregnancy test.

Usually, there is no abdominal pain in the first month, since pregnancy develops quite normally. With the threat of interruption or miscarriage that has begun, pains occur in the lower abdomen and in the lower back, similar to pain during menstruation. This is especially alarming in the presence of smearing or bloody discharge, spasmodic pains or constant pulling pain in the lower abdomen.

There may also be severe abdominal pain arising as a result of an ectopic pregnancy, they are localized in the lower abdomen, closer to one side of the abdomen, increasing in intensity. With such pain, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Diet and vitamins

In the first month of pregnancy, it is very important to eat right, since a lot can depend on the supply of nutrients in the conception and development of the baby. When certain nutrients are lacking, pregnancy may simply not develop. On average, an expectant mother in the first month of pregnancy needs 200-300 kcal more than before, while calories should be from protein and plant foods, vegetables and fruits, so that there is no weight gain. Pregnant women need about 2500 kcal per day.

The intake of folic acid is especially important in the first month, it is needed for the correct formation of nervous tissue, it is usually given to pregnant women additionally, since it may not be enough in the usual food. Also, green vegetables and fruits should also be a source of it. Also, in the first month of pregnancy, additional intake of vitamin E is necessary. It is worth giving up alcohol, semi-finished and fast foods, foods with an abundance of food chemistry at this stage of pregnancy, in a word - to switch to proper nutrition. It is worth drastically reducing strong tea and coffee, sweets and fatty foods, salt and sugar in the diet. It is important to eat in small portions and often, avoiding hunger pauses, which will help in the fight against toxicosis. It is also worth increasing the amount of calcium-rich foods - milk and dairy products.

Sex

In the first month of pregnancy, sex is quite acceptable, since it is due to intimacy that conception occurs. In addition, for a fairly long time, the egg is even outside the uterine cavity, and in no way intimacy, whatever it may be, will not affect pregnancy. In addition, an orgasm will help improve blood circulation in the pelvic region and help create full-fledged conditions for implantation and further development of the embryo.

The opinions of experts regarding sex in the first month of pregnancy differ - from categorical no to unconditional yes, and each of the parties will have its own motivation. It is possible to fully practice intimacy, if there are no problems in the conception of threats to pregnancy. If this pregnancy is initially problematic, previously there were infertility or miscarriages, it is worth giving up for a while from intimate life.

The ovum matures and is ready for fertilization. It is excreted from the ovary and enters the fallopian tube, where it is viable for up to 24 hours, if fertilization does not occur, then the egg dies and goes out during the next menstruation.

Development in the first month of pregnancy (from conception to two weeks of fetal life)

When the egg meets the sperm and it enters the egg, fertilization takes place. The oocyte has membranes that prevent more than one sperm from entering the oocyte and the rest of the sperm die. At the time of fertilization, the sex of the unborn child is determined (men develop from some spermatozoa, women from others).

From the very beginning, a fertilized egg contains a complete genetic set: 23 maternal chromosomes and 23 chromosomes from the father. Sometimes two eggs are fertilized by two sperm, which leads to the birth of fraternal twins. Less commonly, one egg is fertilized by one sperm and then divides in two, resulting in identical twins.

During a four-day journey along the fallopian tube at a distance of 10-12 centimeters, a fertilized egg quickly transforms from one cell to many and divides every half hour into two cells, then four, eight, etc. And by the time this clot cells called morula (unborn child) gets to the uterus, it consists of at least sixteen cells.

By the end of the first week - on the seventh day from conception, a blastocyst (as it is now called), which looks like a microscopic raspberry berry, finds a suitable place and is usually implanted (attached) into the mucous membrane of the upper part of the uterus.

When the embryo is introduced into the lining of the blood vessels, a few drops of blood may be released. The resulting embryo develops thin "roots" (chorionic villi), which penetrate into the mucous membrane of the uterus and receive food from there.

The uterus, responding to the presence of the embryo, begins to form the rudiment of the placenta, which transfers nutrients from the mother's blood to the developing child and removes the waste products of the fetus. As the placenta develops, it releases the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which strengthens the lining of the uterus and stimulates the growth of the embryo by maintaining high levels of estrogen and progesterone. With the development of the placenta, hCG enters the mother's bloodstream.


The embryo moves
through the fallopian tube

By the end of the second week from conception (the fourth from the onset of menstruation), this hormone is also found in the mother's urine during a pregnancy test.

By this time, menstruation has already been missed. A woman may suspect that she is pregnant, and the rising hormone levels in the blood trigger symptoms that support her suspicions. Pregnancy hormones block ovarian ovulation, and the ovaries use hormones to signal the pituitary gland of the brain to no longer stimulate menstruation.

Congratulations, YOU ARE PREGNANT! You have one of the most exciting times in your life ahead. There is a lot you need to do to prepare for the birth of a baby, the most important moment in most women’s lives. To get started, visit a antenatal clinic or a gynecologist.

Visit to the doctor at the end of the first month of pregnancy

What can await you during your first visit to the doctor:

  • establishing the fact of pregnancy; the doctor will ask the symptoms of pregnancy, how you feel, the date of your last period, to determine the due date;
  • establishment of a medical record;
  • general examination;
  • blood tests: hemoglobin and hematocrit to check for anemia, blood type, rubella titer, hepatitis B test (HIV tests, sexually transmitted diseases);
  • analysis for vaginal infections;
  • urine analysis for infections, sugar and protein;
  • checking weight and pressure;
  • recommendations for proper nutrition and elimination of adverse environmental factors.

Your feelings in the first month of pregnancy

Regardless of where you learned this news - at the appointment with a gynecologist or at home, after taking a pregnancy test - you may experience conflicting feelings: joy, fear, relief, distrust, confusion, or all the feelings that were mentioned above. Of course, your first reaction will largely depend on whether the pregnancy is desired, unexpected for you, or the result of many months of hopes and expectations. Here's what may lie ahead of you.

Mood swings. You may feel at the top of bliss, and the next day you become sad and crying. There are several reasons for these mood swings. One of these is the normal emotional decline that follows intense experiences; in humans, emotional ups and downs are usually accompanied by downsides. Another reason is purely physiological: hormones. The surge of pregnancy hormones that alter your body contributes to the impermanence of your feelings. Of course, feeling overwhelmed can take you by surprise, especially if you've been looking forward to getting pregnant. Mood changes should be expected in the first three months, when the level of hormones in the blood changes especially strongly, as well as in the last weeks, when fatigue builds up and the expectation of childbirth increases. Don't be surprised, most expectant mothers can change their mood several times a day.

Fatigue. Pregnancy brings with it a strange fatigue that may not be like anything you've experienced before. This is especially noticeable in the first trimester, when the body literally forces you to sleep. At times, you feel completely exhausted. You want to sleep all the time. You can fall asleep right at your desk in the morning. Realizing how much the load on your body increases, you will no longer be surprised at your fatigue. Almost every organ in your body is working with additional stress to adapt to the new creature within you, and every cell in your body is under the influence of hormonal and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. At the same time, new organs are formed in your body: the placenta is formed in the uterus to feed the baby, the organs of the baby itself develop. Cell growth requires an enormous amount of energy. Add to this the bouts of lightheadedness in the morning and the enormous physiological changes that pregnancy brings with it, and you will realize that you cannot avoid fatigue.

Ailments- nausea, vomiting and general discomfort in the stomach that many women experience can ruin all the joyful feelings associated with pregnancy (toxicosis). It's hard to be happy about your child's development when you feel disgusting, and especially when the "morning sickness" stretches out all day. The intensity and duration of morning sickness is different for each woman - just like weight gain. A small percentage of women go through the first stage of pregnancy without any signs of nausea. Some have digestive upset, others only occasionally experience mild nausea, but mostly a pregnant woman at the beginning of pregnancy develops an increased sensitivity to odors and an aversion to certain foods. Some odors can “go straight to the stomach,” causing vomiting. Some women are particularly irritated by strong odors such as garlic, fish, or coffee - regardless of how they reacted to these foods in the past. Others complain that the usual house odors, which did not bother them in the least before pregnancy, suddenly become very disliked. Favorite perfume can cause an attack of vomiting, so you have to urgently run to the bathroom.

Aversion to food can also take many forms. Sometimes a woman is unable to eat certain foods (meat, herbs, milk), which makes her vomit. In other cases, only a few types of products are acceptable.

Some mothers-to-be notice that nausea occurs at certain times of the day, while others feel unwell all the time. It is very common for a woman to feel great and then suddenly experience a severe attack of nausea - for no reason or an unpleasant smell.

If you have mild nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, feeling short of breath, or bouts of vomiting, consider yourself a “member of the pregnancy club”.

An urgent need to consult a doctor if:

  • Profuse bleeding from the vagina;
  • Sudden drawing pains in the abdomen;
  • Vomiting does not stop;
  • The amount of urine decreases, and it becomes darker in color;
  • The mouth, eyes, and skin become dry;
  • You feel more and more tired;
  • Weakness increases, fainting occurs;
  • The body does not retain food and drink for twenty-four hours.

Avoid hard-to-digest fatty foods and fried foods such as fatty ice cream, chips, and fried meats.

Choose foods that are high in nutrients: avocados, beans, cheese, fish, brown flour pasta, hulled (brown) rice, turkey.

Don't let saliva go into an empty stomach. An empty stomach is sensitive to saliva, which can lead to rapid onset of nausea. Most pregnant women produce excessive amounts of saliva, and even the thought of food can provoke its release. Many pregnant women claim that peppermint or chewing gum can help fight nausea, but it is best to avoid eating them on an empty stomach, as these foods cause increased salivation, but do not fill the stomach.

If prenatal vitamins are causing your nausea, try taking them with your largest meal of the day.

Foods high in water not only make digestion easier, but also prevent dehydration and constipation, which can increase nausea. Try to include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet, drink more greens, fruit drinks.

Your body is working on creating a new person, so try to adhere to certain rules - more rest, less worry. Also, during pregnancy, it is very important to have a proper balanced diet, taking a complex of vitamins for pregnant women. Refusal from alcohol and tobacco smoking, taking medications without the participation of a doctor.

Photos: Lennart Nilsson

Most often, in the first month of pregnancy, a woman does not suspect what she is wearing under the heart of a little man. During this period, there are no obvious changes in the body of the expectant mother. However, there are signs that make it possible to recognize pregnancy as early as the first month. What you need to know and what happens during this period. How the fetus develops and what the expectant mother experiences.

The entire pregnancy is divided into three periods - trimesters. The first trimester lasts 13 weeks, the second - 14-26 weeks and the third - from 27 weeks until delivery. When calculating the term, they use concepts such as obstetric week and obstetric month. Such a definition is necessary for the convenience of calculating the timing of pregnancy. An obstetric week consists of seven days. An obstetric month is equal to 4 weeks. The first obstetric month of pregnancy is counted from the first day of the last menstrual period.
How many weeks are in the first month of pregnancy? A permanent unit was found - a week, which lasts seven days. This choice was made in order to make it easier to track the development of the baby. Thus, one month of pregnancy is only 4 weeks old.

What happens in the first month of pregnancy

Let's take a look at what happens in the first month of pregnancy: The fertilized egg begins to divide rapidly. After seven days, the embryo will look like a small ball filled with water. It moves along the fallopian tube towards the uterus. Having reached it, the embryo attaches to the wall with the help of villi. Placenta formation begins. With its help, the fetus will receive all the necessary nutrients from the mother's body. Along with this, the development of the umbilical cord and neural tube proceeds. The laying of vital organs and systems is underway. The respiratory, digestive, circulatory, nervous and excretory systems are being formed. During this period, the fetus has a heartbeat. The brain is being formed. The size of the fetus in the first month of pregnancy is 4 millimeters. It can be compared to the size of a grain of rice. The embryo can be divided into two sections: head and abdominal. The fetal body is asymmetrical. This is what a baby looks like in the first month of pregnancy.
Determining exactly how much the fetus will move in the first month of pregnancy is quite problematic. Each woman will have her own figures and depend on the following factors:

  • what is the number of pregnancies
  • during the first pregnancy, movements are felt at about 19 weeks. With the second - at 17 weeks;
  • fetal position;
  • the constitution of a pregnant woman;
  • activity of the expectant mother

With high physical activity, the chance to feel weak jerks of the child is significantly reduced.

What does the belly look like in the first month of pregnancy

Does the belly grow in the first month of pregnancy? Is the belly visible in the first month of pregnancy? These are some of the most exciting questions for expectant mothers. Visually, no changes have occurred yet. All important processes proceed gradually, and therefore in the first month of pregnancy, the belly grows slowly. And it becomes visible only by the 4th month.

What a woman feels in the first month of pregnancy

The main signs at 1 month of pregnancy after conception are hormonal disruptions and physiological changes. They are aimed at preparing the female body for bearing a fetus and childbirth.
Physiological changes include:

  1. Termination of the menstrual cycle.
  2. Another sign of pregnancy is a periodic feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen.
  3. A drastic change in taste.
  4. The breasts are swollen and painful in the nipple area.

From the moment of conception, hormonal changes occur in a woman's body:

  1. The lining of the uterus thickens to accommodate a fertilized egg.
  2. Reduction of smooth muscle tone by the hormone progesterone.
  3. Enlargement of the mammary glands due to the large amount of the hormone progesterone secreted.
  4. The hormone chorionic gonadotropin is formed, which stimulates the production of progesterone.

First month of pregnancy: symptoms and sensations

Let's consider in more detail what a woman feels in the first month of pregnancy. Despite the fact that the fact of conception has already taken place, there are no obvious visible changes so far. Therefore, the sensations in the first month of pregnancy will at first resemble the sensations characteristic of ordinary menstrual days.
Symptoms in the first month of pregnancy:

  1. 1. Small brown discharge a week before the expected start of the cycle. Appear at the time of attachment of the embryo to the wall of the uterus. Not everyone may have these signs of pregnancy.
  2. Increased basal temperature. Measured in the morning at rest. It can be measured under the armpit, in the mouth, or rectally. A sign of pregnancy will be its increase to 37.2 degrees. Then the basal temperature decreases, and then again reaches 37 degrees.
  3. Drowsiness, fatigue. Arise due to the restructuring of the hormonal background. The main reason for this is a decrease in blood pressure.
  4. Toxicosis in the first half of pregnancy. Feeling of nausea, vomiting, odor intolerance are some of the first signs of pregnancy.
  5. Feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen.
  6. Breast tenderness and enlargement. Associated with an increase in progesterone. Preparations for breastfeeding are in progress.

Thus, symptoms and sensations in the first month of pregnancy will be mostly relative. To confirm the signs of pregnancy that have appeared, you need to see a doctor.

- This is a pathology when the ovum begins to develop outside the uterus in one of the sections of the fallopian tube, less often in the abdominal cavity, cervix or ovary. In such cases, an embryo implanted outside the uterine cavity does not have the conditions for its growth and development and the necessary means of nutrition, therefore, such a pregnancy is terminated up to 6-8 weeks. In this case, the fallopian tubes are damaged or ruptured, which can threaten the life of the pregnant woman.

An ectopic pregnancy can occur in women who have been taking ovulation and fertility medications for a long period. There are other factors that contribute to an ectopic pregnancy:

  • repeated termination of pregnancy in previous periods;
  • inflammatory processes in the small pelvis and the appearance of adhesions;
  • surgical sterilization (tubal ligation);
  • previous ectopic pregnancies;
  • the occurrence of scars after abdominal operations and operations on the ovaries.

The first thing that should alert a pregnant woman is a sharp stabbing pain in the pelvic or abdominal cavity. Other symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy:

  • vaginal bleeding, a few days before acute pain, slight bleeding or spotting may occur;
  • dizziness, weakness, drop in pressure, weakening of the pulse, sometimes fainting;
  • back pain;
  • urge to defecate.

Ectopic pregnancy is a very serious life-threatening gynecological disease that requires urgent medical attention. When one or more signs appear, an urgent call is required for an ambulance brigade.

Miscarriage- a fairly frequent complication, according to statistics, it ends before 25% all pregnancies, that is, every fourth early pregnancy. Miscarriages often occur even before a woman knows she is pregnant.

Miscarriages occurring in the first trimester before 12 weeks are called early miscarriages. The symptoms of miscarriage are different, and if you notice them in time and seek medical help, the pregnancy can be saved. The most important and dangerous of the symptoms is bleeding and pain in the lower abdomen and lower back. If they appear, you should immediately call an ambulance.

You should also pay close attention to discomfort in the abdomen, cramps, and the appearance of pain. Complications of pregnancy can be avoided, but for this you need to know well the factors that can lead to it:

  • hormonal imbalance. An excess of male sex hormones or a lack of progesterone can cause miscarriages. Influence on the formation and development of pregnancy, and hormones of the adrenal and thyroid glands. Timely detection of this problem and taking hormonal drugs help to maintain the pregnancy;
  • genetic abnormalities in the fetus can also lead to miscarriage. Usually, these violations are not hereditary, but are caused as a result of isolated ones that occurred in the reproductive cells of the parents under the influence of unfavorable environmental factors: viral diseases, harmful working conditions, radiation, etc. In such cases, a miscarriage is a kind of result of natural selection, an attempt by the body to get rid of unviable offspring;
  • immunological reasons, such as rhesus conflict... If the mother has a negative rhesus, and the fetus inherits a positive one from the father, the mother's body perceives it as a foreign organ and rejects it. In such cases, taking progesterone drugs helps, which has an immunomodulatory effect;
  • sexually transmitted infections can lead to miscarriage: chlamydia, syphilis,
  • stress, prolonged mental stress, severe fright, unexpected grief can contribute to a miscarriage. You should discuss the problems with your doctor and make a decision about the possible intake of acceptable sedatives;
  • unhealthy lifestyle of a pregnant woman, drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, unhealthy or inadequate nutrition, excessive consumption of coffee. The lifestyle should be adjusted;
  • exposure to potent drugs and herbs that can cause the formation of defects in the fetus and termination of pregnancy. In the first trimester, and especially in the first month of pregnancy, it is advisable to refuse to take them. Even such "harmless" plants as parsley, cornflower, St. John's wort, nettle and others can be dangerous;
  • weight lifting, intercourse, falling can also cause miscarriage.

Complications of pregnancy also appear corpus luteum cyst - education that forms at the site of the corpus luteum. Most often, such an formation passes on its own by 18-20 weeks, but sometimes a cyst rupture occurs, which necessitates surgical intervention. After removal of the cyst, the pregnancy continues to proceed smoothly.

Pregnancy is not a disease, but a natural physiological process. If you follow certain conditions and listen to the recommendations of doctors, it goes well and ends with the birth of a healthy child. To do this, you must follow simple rules:

  • organize your daily routine correctly. Night rest should not be less than 8-9 hours. If you feel tired in the middle of the day, take a rest and relax. Try to sleep longer and do not overexert yourself. Let your loved ones take care of you;
  • reconsider your diet. Introduce more fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins and minerals into it. Do not overuse strong tea, coffee, sweets, sugar and other sweets. Balance your diet, it must contain the required amount of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Eat only fresh and healthy foods;
  • try not to restrict movement. Walking, jogging, light exercise, daily exercise and walking help to improve your well-being;
  • pay attention to your environment and protect yourself from adverse factors. Excessive noise at work or at home, poor lighting, polluted air can be the reason for feeling unwell;
  • try to create a pleasant emotional background for yourself. This can be reading an interesting book, listening to your favorite music, communicating with people you like.
  • If you suddenly feel unwell or find any sign that is dangerous to your health and threatens pregnancy, call for medical help immediately. Before she arrives, you need to lie down and move less. Tell your doctor in detail how you are feeling.