3 Weeks Pregnant
Hey there newly pregnant moms-to-be! You may be unaware still, but by the end of this week, the Big Bang has occurred and you will have conceived! I sometimes think about what I may have been doing when conception occurred, as it can happen up to 24 hours after ovulation. What do you think? Were you washing the dishes or submitting a work proposal when the exciting moment happened? Congratulations on being 3 weeks pregnant!
3 Weeks Pregnant: Recurring Symptoms
3 Weeks Pregnant: Common Symptoms
Changes to Breasts
While your breasts may have been sore last week as a result of ovulation, breast heaviness this week could be due to increasing hormone levels in your body. Your breasts may feel tender and you may have noticed that your aureolas are darkening. It is also normal for your breasts to develop small bumps around the areola. Have no fear — these are simply oil glands called Montgomery tubercles. These breast changes are natural symptoms of pregnancy. Breast soreness is a common occurrence in the first trimester and for an important reason: your breasts are growing in preparation to produce milk for your newborn. I haven’t had sore breasts, but I definitely am in the minority. The good news is that this tenderness should go away as your hormones stabilize in the second trimester. Hakuna-ma-tatas, y’all!
Metallic Taste
On a list of weird pregnancy symptoms, this one sure takes the prize. Did you just dream about licking a metal pole or was that real? Believe it or not, one of the stranger symptoms of pregnancy is a metallic taste in your mouth. Weird, right? This symptom arises as a result of the increasing hormones levels in your body, which can even affect your taste buds. I haven’t experienced the taste of quarters in my mouth. I’ve learned, though, that you can combat this metallic taste during pregnancy by brushing your tongue when you brush your teeth as well as by eating more acidic foods, such as vinegar or citruses. However, I would advise you to skip the acidic foods if you experience any nausea.
Missed Period
If your period is on the shorter end, you may have noticed that it mysteriously disappeared this week! I for sure just thought my period was late, but when it never arrived, I had my suspicions that something far more exciting was going on!
Oralganix 2-in-1 Tongue Cleaner - 4 Pack - Multicolor Tongue Brush and Scraper Tools
Genco Dental Tongue Scraper for Fresh Breath Perfect Tongue Scraper for Adults and Kids, Enhance Your Oral Hygiene with Tongue Brushes, Scrapers for Bad Breath Treatment (1 Pack (Brush))
Tongue Dr. Tongue Brush - Scraper, Scrubber, and Cleaner - Essential for Oral Hygiene and Fresh Breath (2 Pack)
Tongue Brush, Tongue Scraper, Tongue Cleaner, Tongue Scraper Brush, Tongue Cleaner Brush, Tongue Brushes Helps Fight Bad Breath, 3 Tongue Scrapers, 3 Pack (Blue & Green & Red)
Probiotic Tongue Cleaning Gel Kit Oral Hygiene Brush & Tongue Cleansing Gel with Tongue Cleaner Brush Fight Bad Breath Oral Deodorant Fresh Mint Odor Eliminator (Mint Flavor With Brush)
Peak Essentials | Tung Brush & Gel Kit | Tongue Cleaner for Adults | Tongue Scraper to Fight Bad Breath and Halitosis | Mouth Odor Eliminator | Fresh Mint | Made in America (Set of 1)
Moosec Tongue Scraper Cleaner, Bad Breath Treament&Get Rid of White Tongue, 100% BPA Free Medical Grade Stainless Steel Tongue Scrubber for Oral Care Dentist Recommendation
Tongue Scraper (2 Pack with Travel Case), Tongue Cleaner for Reduce Bad Breath, Stainless Steel Tongue Scrapers for Adults & Kids, 100% Metal Tongue Scrubber Set for Oral Care
Tongue Cleaner, Tongue Brush, Tongue Scraper, Tongue Cleanser, Tongue Scraper Brush, Tongue Scraper Cleaner, Tongue Brushes, Helps Fight Bad Breath, 4 Tongue Scrapers, 4 Pack
Stages of Fetal Development: Baby Growth & Size at 3 Weeks
After your egg is fertilized during conception, your new baby will make the long journey from the fallopian tube to your uterus. Within a couple hours of fertilization, the fertilized egg — or zygote — will split in two. As your little zygote (awww) begins its journey, cell growth continues to occur, eventually leading to the transformation of your zygote into a blastocyst. The blastocyst contains two types of cells: one group of cells called trophoblast cells which will eventually form the placenta and the embryoblast cells that will transform into your baby.
Ultimately, four days will have passed since conception before the blastocyst will reach the uterus, likely while you’re still unaware of its presence. At the beginning of week 4, the blastocyst will embed itself into the lining of your uterus. While the journey doesn’t seem long for you, it was for your baby, so make sure you award the marathon runner with proper nutrition and rest.
|
Fun Fact About Pregnancy In Latin, the word placenta means cake! So you really can have your cake and eat it, too! |
All you Need to Know About Ectopic Pregnancies
I know this is a pretty dark topic, but I think it’s important to address from the standpoint of maternal safety. An ectopic pregnancy is considered to be a nonviable pregnancy (unable to grow and survive) because the fertilized egg is growing in an area outside of the uterus. Most commonly, the egg implants in the fallopian tubes. Ectopic pregnancies are commonly diagnosed through a pregnancy ultrasound, a pelvic examination, and/or a blood test. Unfortunately, ectopic pregnancies must be terminated either through surgery or drugs. It is impossible to re-implant an ectopic pregnancy. The good news is that only 2% of pregnancies are ectopic. I’ve created a guide that walks you through what can increase your risk of developing an ectopic pregnancy as well as the symptoms that commonly arise as a result.
Your Pregnancy at 3 Weeks: Prenatal Appointments
Home Pregnancy Test
Home Pregnancy Tests are simple and accurate tests you can purchase over the counter at your local drugstore. These tests detect hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) within a sample of your urine. However, the levels of hCG in your urine must reach a certain level before they can be detected by the test, so taking it too early may tell you you’re not pregnant when you actually are. If you wait — in the past, it took so much mental energy for me to do so — until you expect your period to reoccur, there is a 90% accuracy reading, so try to wait until then.
Pregnancy Blood Test
If you can’t wait this long, you can schedule an appointment with your doctor for a blood test, which typically has 100% accuracy by analyzing only a very small amount of blood.
Clearblue Clearblue Pregnancy Test Combo Pack, 4ct - 2 Digital with Smart Countdown & 2 Rapid Detection - Value Pack
Easy@Home Pregnancy Test Strips Kit: 10-Pack HCG Test Strips, Early Detection Home Pregnancy Test
Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Smart Countdown for women, 3 Count (Pack of 1)
Easy@Home 40 Pregnancy Test Strips with 40 Large Urine Cups - Accurate and Clear Detection for Early Pregnancy | Package May Vary
Easy@Home Pregnancy Test Strips Kit, Powered by Premom Ovulation Predictor iOS and Android APP, 20 HCG Tests
AccuMed Pregnancy Test Strips, 25-Count Individually Wrapped Pregnancy Strips, Early Home Detection Pregnancy Test Kit, Clear HCG Test
Easy@Home Ovulation & Pregnancy Test Strips Kit: 25 Ovulation Strips and 10 Pregnancy Tests – Accurate Fertility Tracker OPK | 25LH + 10HCG
Pregnancy Tests with Cup, 25 Bulk Pregnancy Test Strips for Home Detection, Over 99% Accuracy, Individually Wrapped Fertility Tests, Extra-Wide 5mm HCG Test Kit Comfortable Grip, Pruebas De Embarazo
Easy@Home Ovulation Test Kit: 50 Ovulation Strips & 20 Early Pregnancy Tests & One Basal Body Thermometer & 70 Urine Cups
How Many Months Is 3 Weeks?
Doctors typically don’t measure your pregnancy based on months for a very good reason: months have a different number of days and weeks, meaning that the month during which your pregnancy occurs would influence the month of pregnancy you’re in. If you’re wondering about this, however, figure that three weeks in months means you are less than 1 month pregnant.
Week 3 Pregnancy Checklist
- Consider purchasing a pregnancy test
- Learn about the foods you need to avoid while pregnant + avoid them
- Get lots of rest — you may experience insomnia in the coming weeks
Resources
- What to Expect & What to Expect When You’re Expecting – 5th Edition (2016)
- The Bump
- Baby List
- Parents.com
- WebMD
- The Mama Natural Week to Week Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth (2017)
- Mayo Clinic’s Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy – Second Edition (2018)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Comments