4 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms and What to Expect
Your Growing Embryo at 4 Weeks
Your tiny but mighty fetus looks a lot like a poppy seed at this time. With little limbs that appear as flattened oval formations. Not only does your fetus have protruding limbs; quite amazingly a fetus at this stage has curved cerebral hemisphere that appear hollow aka your baby has an interesting looking left and right side to his brain.
Your baby is now developed enough to have a the chromosomal blueprint makeup for his nose, toes, and everything else that will makeup his features to his skin cells. Speaking of cells there are big changes happening this week. He or She is going from a blastocyst to being an embryo attached to its placenta. As you can see this is a very important phase for your newly fertilized egg.
To break it down for you; the fetus is fully equipped with eyes, it’s heart, mandibular arch, maxillary process, hind limbs, a chorian, hyoid arch, and olfactory pit.
Your baby is 0.05” or like said the size of a little poppy seed
Pregnancy Superfood of Week Four
- This week of pregnancy you will want to prepare your body for the coming weeks ahead since your at the very start of your pregnancy; you will want to keep in mind that the average pregnant female will only need to consume about 300 extra calories a day for her growing baby at this phase.
- A good rule of thumb is that quality is far more important than quantity. So, this is a great time to begin visualizing how you are going to kick your not-so-good habits when it comes to what you consume.
That said, the pregnancy superfood of week four are sweet potatoes! That’s right the bright orange to gold colored potatoes that you can get at any supermarket.
High in Vitamin: Vitamin A
Tips of how to prepare: They can be prepared in a variety of ways and the sweeter they are the better they are I say! That’s why we are asking you mamma to prepare your sweet potatoes by cutting them into fries and baking them for about 45 minutes at 425 in coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil. These types of oil are great for pregnancy as an added bonus to your recipe they will give them extra flavor. Don’t forget to season your fries to your taste buds.
Always remember to purchase organic and GMO free foods throughout pregnancy; as the harmful pesticides and chemicals can harm your growing fetus and your body.
Top Tip for Week Four
Now, while you may have a few, some, or no one else who knows of your soon to be baby. You have many things to look forward to. We are going to give you our best tip for this week. Don’t read any of the negative things on the internet and research the positive affirming things of your pregnancy! That is our best tip.
As you become a newly pregnant person you will want to research all that you can about why, when, where, and how. If you see something that does not support a healthy growing child, don’t read it. Unless, you have valid reason for concern — this is a week for true celebration with the ones you love.
Inspirational Message of the Week from Already Moms
As the same hormones that made your pregnancy test turn up positive start increasing. They are the hormones that could potentially make you feel nauseated as they produce rapidly within your system. Do all that you can to reduce the nausea and understand that it’s okay to give yourself extra rest this week.
Big Efforts from your Co Creator
Understanding that your partner is also your co-creator in this journey is a good place to start. You both may have just found out that you’re pregnant and will need to talk about how each of you feel about your newly found pregnancy.
Maybe your pregnancy is planned or a complete surprise. Go ahead and ask the other party involved their thoughts and feelings about the pregnancy.
The Art of Allowing
Allowing is an art alongside a deep skill, one in which pregnant woman will need to get really really good at. This week it could be helpful to start a journal where you can set your intentions of what you will begin allowing or not allowing. If possible you can take an extra long bath or have some valuable self – reflection time to see where you might be feeling stuck and need to be more allowing; emotionally, physically, or mentally. You and your baby will really appreciate this.
Pregnancy Symptoms of Week Four
Ahh you have just found out you’re pregnant and now you’re flooded with a mix of new emotions and symptoms. Here are the week four pregnancy symptoms:
Bloating: Progesterone is what causes this bit of bloating you might be experiencing. You have many reasons to feel that the bloating is a nuisance especially if you are starting to feel that your pants won’t buckle and is too snug. But don’t, seriously be loving about it and get into the sweats!
Mood Swings: Don’t let anyone tell you the way you’re acting is not normal; the haywire moods and the irritation around any reason your nap is delayed or doesn’t happen is perfectly common.
Many pregnant woman feel this way and if there is one solid reason to have fluctuating mood swings it’s because of the massive increase in important hormones like human chorionic gonadotropin otherwise known as hCG. Little known, the placenta makes this hormone for you.
Fatigue: Yep you will be tired and rest will be a great friend to you. This is probably because you have surging hormones. And the big changes that are growing inside of you.
Morning Sickness: For now focus on eating more superfoods and drinking more fluids.
Sore Breasts: The milk ducts are prepping; take care of your soon to be feeders!
Spotting: With implantation bleeding sometimes comes a little bit of blood. A good rule of thumb is if there is a heavy flow of blood like a period or more than you should contact your midwife, OB, or Doctor immediately.
Your Body will Change and It’s Necessary
Goodness the ways your body is changing, and you’re still comfortable, so enjoy!
Our Recommended Remedy for Week
This week it’s all about Lavender; take a bath with a bit of lavender essential oil if you can get your hands on it. 5 drops or so in the tub as you fill it will work wonders. If you want you can also burn some essential oil burner or a diffuser for nice smell and relaxation.
Your local grocery store should carry essential oils and their diffusers or look around online for one you could use throughout your pregnancy.
Soothing The Uncomfortable
Your body is probably still mostly comfortable at this point but there are many ways that you might be feeling a little uncomfortable; like exhaustion or nausea. Make sure to lay down throughout the day if you need to or sleep in.
Creating Memories for Your Soon to Be Family
This is a great time to invest in a pregnancy journal, look online or at a bookstore for one that fits your liking.
Seeking the Positive Momentum
Finding out you’re pregnant can cause a lot of stress and worry. Maybe it seems scary that an infant will soon be yours to take care of. The best way to internalize these emotions is gathering the positive momentum towards pregnancy and eliminating the negative self-talk or doubt.
You have a lot to process so give yourself time to process it all in a positive way.
Preparation for Motherhood Checklist
Take one more pregnancy test and then be sure to take another after that! Ha, just kidding but it kind of is exciting to watch the test reveal that you are pregnant. One should be enough to get the job done by now.
- A lab appointment is a good idea to confirm your pregnancy
- Remember to get excited about the big changes ahead; this will change everything and that’s the point!
How Life’s Shifting
Big things are happening this week. Aside from the rush of exciting or maybe nerve wracking emotions on finding out you’re pregnant. There is now enough HCG swooshing around in your blood to take an at home pregnancy test that comes out positive every time.
You can look forward to that first prenatal appointment; the options you have available most likely are:
- Having a home birth with midwives
- Delivering at a water birth center
- Delivery in a Hospital
Usually it’s nice to stick with the same person who you want to be at your side during delivery for your entire pregnancy. This gives optimal time to get to know one another before having your baby. Either way, you will want to keep in mind the environment you would like to be your child’s first experience. A hospital can be incredibly different than if you are to deliver at home.
It all depends on your comfort and desires. Your first appointment with a provider will likely be at 6 weeks but can be scheduled out until 8 or even 12. Unless you are a high risk pregnancy this is probably when they will want you to come in to have you and baby checked out.
A big part of the next six week will be massive, even crucial for your baby’s development. The placenta and the umbilical cord are fully functioning. Eat really well because your baby is now taking in what you put into your body.
If you take an at home pregnancy test and it turns up negative; take another in one week. Often times at home pregnancy tests don’t pick up the HCG in urine yet. So give it a bit more time.
Taking a prenatal vitamin should be a part of your daily routine. You will find that if you’re low on magnesium and vitamin B6 morning sickness is starting to sink in. Vitamin D also is a factor when it comes to eliminating morning sickness. Your prenatal vitamin should help with that.
If you are experiencing morning sickness here are a few things to implement in your routine to cure it in a week;
On an empty stomach first in the morning take an apple cider vinegar shot diluted in a bit of water
- Increase probiotic intake: by fermented foods, or, by supplement
- Drink Kombucha
- Incorporate Vital Vinegars into your routine
- Increase intake of raw fruits and veggies
If you do all of this for atleast one week heavier than usual it should cure your morning sickness although, applying this to your diet in general will really help throughout your entire pregnancy.
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