Signs Of Pregnancy in the First Month

(Image Source: TimeLine.com)

Weeks One and Two:

A pregnancy officially begins at the end of your last cycle. New eggs, called ova, drop down into follicles to mature. Two weeks after the end of your last period, one of them will be ready. The follicle will rupture and eject the ova into the fallopian tube. Your odds of getting pregnant at this time is about 20%, so if you don't get pregnant on your first time, don't worry.

Week Three:

Once the egg is fertilized, it will quickly grow into a cluster of cells about the size of the head of a pin. The outer layer of cells will become the placenta. You won't notice any changes in your body right away.

Week Four:

You may notice spots as the fetus implants in your uterus. You will also miss your period for the first time, which will be a good time to visit your doctor to confirm that you are pregnant. The fetus is still growing rapidly, fed by nutrients in the uterine lining. It begins to develop specialized cells that will develop into skin, muscles, organs, the skeleton and the nervous system.

Drink plenty of water. Within a few weeks of conception, the amniotic sac is going to fill up with fluid to cushion the embryo. By drinking eight tall glasses of water a day, you provide necessary fluids for both the sac and the embryo.

Eat a healthy diet. Be sure to eat a well-balanced diet so the embryo gets plenty of calcium, folic acid and other nutrients necessary for growth.

Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake. Tobacco and alcohol can inhibit the embryo's development and cause birth defects.

Talk to your doctor before starting any medications. That also applies if you are on any medications while attempting to get pregnant. Many drugs can have unwanted side effects for your unborn baby.

Make regular visits to your obstetrician-gynecologist. Before getting pregnant, your ob-gyn can give you advice about genetics and environmental factors that can affect your pregnancy. They can also monitor the fetus's development.