Week 4: I’m pregnant!
Image: @casateconelmundo
Welcome to week four of the Happy Parents Happy Baby guide to pregnancy, birth and beyond.
This week we'll be covering:
We hope you enjoy it!
I’m pregnant… What next?
Congratulations!
Your pregnancy test is positive and you've had some time to let things sink in. So what next?
Here are some things you might like to think about this week:
Calculate your 'due date'
Did you know that less than 5% of babies are born on their 'due date'? However it's still a good idea to work out your due date because aside from the obvious reasons, it will also help your medical team to plan your care. If you don't know it already, use the due date calculator here.Make contact with your GP or local pregnancy unit
To avoid any delay in starting your antenatal care, it’s important to register your pregnancy as soon as you have the chance. In some areas you will need to do this via your GP and in other areas you can refer yourself directly to your local maternity unit.Take a lifestyle check
There are a few lifestyle changes to make during pregnancy - here's a summary, but click on the links for full guidelinesSmoking: it's recommended you stop smoking in pregnancy.
Alcohol: it's not known if there is a safe level, so it's recommended to avoid.
Caffeine: the guideline is to limit your intake to 200mg per day.
Vitamins: 400 micrograms of folic acid (unless higher dose advised) and 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day. Avoid vitamin A.
Regular medications: check with your GP if any should be changed.
Pets: if you're a cat parent ask someone else to change the litter tray.
Exercise: is so beneficial - these are the guidelines for early pregnancy.
Keep an eye on what you eat:
The good news is that most foods and drinks are safe to have during pregnancy. But do check out what you should be careful with or avoid.Build a network of support:
Whether this pregnancy was planned or unexpected do make sure you have all the support you need. Reach out to someone you trust, a partner, relative or friend, your GP, specialist helplines or the Happy Parents Happy Baby team.
Your baby’s development in week four
Size of a poppy seed
Around 2mm long
Your baby is what we call an embryo - a bundle of tiny cells.
This week the outer cells will branch out and to form links with your blood supply, but your embryo will continue to be nourished from it's yolk sac for now.
The inner cells will split into three layers: inner layer (will become the breathing and digestive systems), middle layer (heart, blood vessels, muscles and bones) and the outer layer (brain, nerves, skin and nails).
Pretty cool huh?
Week 4 Checklist
You might like to:
Register your pregnancy
Download the safe food for pregnancy list
Spotlight on: Sore boobs
Each week we'll be delving into the common symptoms of early pregnancy and bringing you top tips for managing them from our team of specialists and parent community.
If you’re finding wearing a bra unbearable right now, then you’re probably not alone…
Why? Tender, swollen boobs are often one of the earliest signs of pregnancy due to rising levels of pregnancy hormones oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones, along with a few others, will gear up your boobs to breastfeed, whether or not you eventually decide to.
During the first trimester the ducts and glands expand, so you might notice your boobs getting bigger or changing shape. As this happens, the blood supply also increases, so you may notice your boobs becoming more sensitive and veiny. You might also notice your nipples and areola get larger and darker. It’s said that this is an evolutionary change to help your baby find your nipples easily when feeding because sight is the least developed sense at birth.
Top Tips for sore boobs:
‘I bought some gel pads which I left in the fridge and put in my bra at the end of the day. Absolute heaven.’ – Katie
‘I made it very clear to my partner that my boobs were off-limits until further notice.’ – Jodie
‘I dumped my regular bras in favour of bralettes and sports bras and felt so much comfier.’ – Poppy
Birth story of the week
This week we catch up with second-time parents Gemma and Theo from our Leytonstone course who share the positive birth of their baby Cora.
"This was my second pregnancy. My first was pretty ‘textbook’ however, the labour and start to motherhood left me a bit shell shocked and so I wanted to attend an antenatal course that would be both informative and give me a confidence boost! I found HPHB did just that.
"Perhaps it was down to the surge of ‘happy’ oxytocin hormones you get after the birth, or indeed the confidence I’d gained from the HPHB course but I left the hospital a few hours after giving birth feeling like an absolute superhero who could take on the world!"
Treat of the week
This week we are loving these Pregnacare multivitamin Gummies.
They’re a fun way to get your essential vitamins and are ideal if you aren’t a fan of swallowing tablets.
The strawberry and blueberry flavoured chews contain Folic Acid and Vitamin D, plus other essential nutrients.
Products are based on suggestions from our specialists and community of parents. We may earn commission from shopping links.
Join our community
Happy Parents Happy Baby is here to support you through every step of your pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.
Connect with other parents-to-be and learn everything you need to know, by joining our award-winning antenatal classes.
That's all for now...
Thank you so much for joining us - see you next week!
Information you
can trust
Our articles are based on the latest-evidence based guidelines and scientific research and are written by our team of medical experts.
Coming up
next week
To tell or not to tell? - pros and cons of announcing your pregnancy
Spotlight on: early pregnancy bleeding
Check out our Instagram page for extra resources from our team of experts and for free live events, such as pregnancy relaxation sessions
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