Week 1 and 2 of Pregnancy

The early weeks of pregnancy can be a bit confusing, as many women don't have any symptoms. However, there are some common changes that occur during this time. Make sure to consult your doctor if you are experiencing any changes that concern you, as they can help make things a bit clearer for you.

Highlights this week

• You may experience some minor changes in your body.
• Most women do not realize they are pregnant until around the end of the second week.
• Some women may experience morning sickness, which is a result of the increased levels of hormones in your body.
• Some women may also notice a change in their breasts, as they will start to produce colostrum.

How to know when the pregnancy started?

Your weeks of pregnancy are dated from the first day of your last period. This means that in the first 2 weeks or so, you are not actually pregnant – your body is preparing for ovulation (releasing an egg from one of your ovaries) as usual. In the week following ovulation, you may have conceived and the embryo will start to grow. If you have any symptoms at all in the week following ovulation, it is very likely that you are pregnant. If you don't have any symptoms, it is still possible to be pregnant, but it is less likely.

What to expect in the first 2 weeks of pregnancy?

Even in the first two weeks of pregnancy you can start to notice slight changes in your body. Not everybody does, but some of the symptoms that people can experience are a heightened sense of smell, morning sickness, breast tenderness and a change in libido. Pregnancy hormones are starting to work their magic and your body is preparing for the many changes it will go through in just 2 weeks time! Morning sickness, nausea and vomiting can start from the very beginning of your pregnancy. Although this only lasts for a few days for some women, some suffer from morning sickness for the remainder of their pregnancy. Breast tenderness is also common in the early weeks of pregnancy. As the foetus grows and sends more blood to your breasts, they may start to feel sore. Colostrum production may also start during this period. This is the precursor to breast milk and often leaks from the breasts in the early stages of pregnancy.

What you can do to prepare for early pregnancy

There isn't a whole lot you can do to prepare for early pregnancy. By getting into good habits such as regular exercise & healthy eating before conception helps keep both yourself & baby healthy throughout the entire pregnancy. Make sure to speak to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about early pregnancy. They can give you more information and advice about what to expect. Early pregnancy can be a pretty mysterious time, so it's best to ask for guidance from those who know everything about fertility than leave things too late!

Congratulations on your pregnancy!