4 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby's DevelopmentCongratulations if you've just found out you are pregnant! You may have discovered this after having missed your period. At four weeks pregnant, a home pregnancy test could show a positive result if it detects the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which is present in your urine about 10 days after conception. Show
Whether you’re completely thrilled about the prospect of becoming a parent, or are still getting used to the idea, now is the time to start planning while treating yourself to some extra-special care. If you're wondering when to expect your little one, try our Due Date Calculator to find out! While you’ve been adjusting to being pregnant, the new life inside you has been busy. The fertilized egg is implanting itself into the side of your uterus. It rapidly divides into layers of cells, some of which become the embryo. The cell layers will start to grow into different parts of your little one's body, such as the nervous system, skeleton, muscles, organs, and skin. The placenta, a disk-like organ that connects your body’s systems to that of the baby, begins to form and attaches to the uterine wall where the egg is implanted. The umbilical cord will eventually come out of one side of the placenta, and the amniotic fluid, which will cushion your baby throughout your pregnancy, is already forming inside a surrounding membrane, or yolk sac. During the upcoming weeks, your little one will form a neural tube, which is the main building block for the brain and spine. How Big Is Your Baby at 4 Weeks?At four weeks pregnant, the newly implanted embryo is very tiny — only about 0.04 inches long, the size of a poppy seed. For a sneak peek, take a look at this illustration to get a glimpse of what’s happening in your belly: Mom's Body at 4 Weeks PregnantThis week, a few pregnancy symptoms may appear, though some moms-to-be won't have noticed any signs yet. You might feel some cramping and see a little bit of spotting, both of which can happen as the fertilized egg implants itself in your uterus. Your body is now starting to make the pregnancy hormone hCG. This hormone tells your ovaries to stop releasing an egg each month, thus stopping your monthly period, and it also increases the production of other hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. If you've taken a home pregnancy test and gotten a positive result, that's because these tests are designed to detect levels of hCG in your urine. 4 Weeks Pregnant: Your symptomsEvery mom-to-be’s experience of pregnancy is unique. In fact, what you experience during this pregnancy may be different to what you experienced during a previous pregnancy. To help you feel more prepared for whatever may come, take a look at this list of possible symptoms of pregnancy at four weeks:
4 Weeks Pregnant: Things to Consider
4 Weeks Pregnant: Ask Your Doctor
4 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist
Can I be 4 weeks pregnant and still test negative?Yes, it is possible. Getting a negative result doesn't mean you're not pregnant, it may just mean your hCG levels are not high enough for the test to detect the hormone in your urine.
Is 4 weeks and 4 days too early to test?Instead, it's best to wait until at least 14 days past ovulation (DPO) before doing a pregnancy test. This is typically when enough hCG hormone would be circulating in your body for a positive reading, Holding off to 15 DPO is even better.
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