Is your period late or have you had a positive test? This could mean you’re pregnant. Congratulations! Some women find out they’re pregnant early, as early as four weeks into their pregnancy. This is around the time you would expect your next period. Technically, conception happened about 2 weeks ago, but pregnancy is counted from the first day of your last period. So you get a 2 week pregnancy bonus right from the start! Your baby is now the size of a sesame seed, less than 1 millimetre long.
What should you do?
First of all, a positive test can be a bit of an intense first impression. Give yourself time. You’re only four weeks pregnant, so there’s plenty of time to get used to the idea. At the beginning of your pregnancy, you can make an appointment at our midwifery practice Breedstraat. It’s also a good idea to start taking vitamin D and folic acid every day. You can start this before you become pregnant or from the fourth week of pregnancy. It’s also a good idea to stop drinking alcohol and, if possible, to stop or reduce smoking. There are also dietary recommendations that you should follow from the fourth week of pregnancy, such as avoiding raw meat, unpasteurised cheese, tuna and predatory fish. It’s also a good idea to limit your intake of certain products, such as coffee and certain types of tea.
What can I expect at 4 weeks’ gestation?
Early pregnancy can be associated with pregnancy symptoms. Sometimes women notice these symptoms earlier than 4 weeks into their pregnancy. Examples include tender breasts, changes in taste and smell, tiredness and nausea. These symptoms are completely normal and harmless. Some women don’t experience any of these symptoms, which can also be normal in pregnancy.
It may feel a little early, but your belly can start to grow as early as 4 weeks into your pregnancy. This is usually because your organs, such as your intestines, are making room for the growing uterus. Don’t worry about it.
Bleeding in the first four weeks of pregnancy
Early pregnancy is very delicate. Unfortunately, about 10% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. This can happen as early as 4 weeks into the pregnancy. Signs include lower abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. If you have any of these, you should always call your midwife. Sometimes the bleeding or pain can be explained, and sometimes it indicates a miscarriage. This can be very sad. The midwives at Breedstraat are trained to guide and advise you. Feel free to call the practice’s emergency number. We’ll discuss the options with you.
Ultrasound in the fourth week of pregnancy
Many women want to have an ultrasound scan as early as possible in their pregnancy. That’s understandable. Unfortunately, we can’t really see much on an ultrasound at four weeks. From 7-8 weeks, it’s possible to get a good view of the embryo. This ultrasound is usually done with a vaginal probe, because in early pregnancy it is easier to see through the vagina than through the abdominal wall. Women with vaginal bleeding or a history of miscarriage will have this scan covered by their health insurance.
Would you like to register with our practice? You can do this easily using our registration form here.