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Pregnancy Week 3
Your Baby's Growth and Development
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During pregnancy week 3 your baby begins to grow at an amazing rate. Your baby is still very small, too small at this point for the naked eye to see. By pregnancy 3 weeks your baby transforms into a small ball of rapidly dividing cells. Your baby is small enough to fit through a pinhole right now, or smaller than a grain of sand. As you watch your baby grow while following your pregnancy week by week, you'll notice just how quickly this tiny ball of cells starts looking more and more human.
Many women start wondering by pregnancy week 3 if they are pregnant. You may feel confident you conceived or may have questions. Since you may not miss your period for another week, there are no surefire ways to detect your pregnancy using traditional means.
One way to stop the constant worries that accompany wondering whether you are pregnant is to invest in other fun activities. You can for example, spend a little time hunting for the perfect pregnancy pillow. Snoozer full body pregnancy pillows provide all the comfort of a traditional pillow and then some. A good pregnancy pillow is one that follows the lines and contours of your body. Full body pregnancy pillows will provide you support throughout your pregnancy and thereafter. When you shop at The Maternity And Baby Shopping Mart, you can select from three different types of full body pregnancy pillows. You will even receive a free Snoozer Full Body Pregnancy Pillow Case when you place your order. So, instead of worrying about whether you are pregnant or not, why not sort through our collection to help ease your stress and enjoy the third week of your pregnancy. If you are pregnant, you will soon learn you have a tiny embryo growing in your precious body.
During 3 weeks pregnant doctors often refer to your baby as an embryo. Your embryo is growing at a lightening fast pace. Your baby now consists of chromosomes contributed from you and your husband or partner. Your partner contributes 23 chromosomes, as do you. These tiny genetic ingredients help form your baby's unique features as he grows and develops in the weeks to come.
During pregnancy at 3 weeks a tiny amount of amniotic fluid will start surrounding the embryo in preparation for the next 37 weeks of pregnancy. A cavity will slowly form the amniotic sac, which helps cushion and protect your baby during pregnancy. The placenta will start growing in roughly another week, providing your baby with the nutrients he needs to survive during pregnancy.
Changes in Your Body
You may start noticing slight changes in your body during pregnancy week 3. Some examples include slight nipple tenderness or bloating in the abdomen. Many women experience a light cramping in one side of their lower abdomen during this time. Still others may realize some slight spotting around the time of ovulation. This may be a sign of ovulation or implantation, where the egg burrows into the lining of the uterus.
This slight spotting often clears up within a few days. Many women don't even notice it. Some women will not experience ovulation or implantation spotting; so don't worry if you don't. Many women who are trying to conceive recognize the signs of ovulation around pregnancy week three. You may notice you start feeling slightly bloated and premenstrual at this time. Keep in mind the earliest signs of pregnancy are similar to those associated with your period.
How Can You Calculate Your Baby's Due Date?
Your baby's due date is nothing more than an estimate of when your baby will appear in this world. Keep in mind that roughly 5% of women have their baby's on their actual due date. Most women have their baby's in the one to two weeks before or after their due date.
Most healthcare providers use a handy calculator that calculates your pregnancy from the start of your last period. This means you are considered pregnant before your conception, as week one of your pregnancy is calculated as the start of your period.
It sounds confusing, but helps your doctor produce a due date roughly 40 weeks from the time of your period. This means your pregnancy lasts roughly 38 weeks from the time you conceive.
Will you have your baby on or around your due date? It is hard to say. Most first time mothers tend to go over their due date by one or two weeks. If you have already had a baby, you might predict your due date based on previous deliveries. If for example you tend to have your baby's around 38 weeks, the chances are somewhat high you will have a baby around the same time in following pregnancies. Remember however, each baby is different. When it comes to calculating a due date, there simply are no certainties!
Read next about your baby's growth and development, as well as the changes in your body during pregnancy week 4.