There may be signs of pregnancy, or you may not notice anything different after conceiving. When conception occurs, it takes place midway in your menstrual cycle or at about 2 weeks. When you calculate your due date, that 2 weeks is counted in the calculation, therefore your estimated due date will last 40 weeks (dating back to your last period), instead of the 38 weeks since conception.
You're not actually pregnant until the fertilized ovum travels the rest of the way down the Fallopian tube and attaches itself to the wall of your uterus. Then you may experience some signs of pregnancy. Click here for signs of pregnancy before your missed period.
Week 6 - Your Baby Forms New Features
It's been four weeks since you conceived, and your baby is now six weeks old. Still less than 1/5 of an inch long, it has tripled in size and is starting to look somewhat familiar.
The brain is developing distinct areas, and the ears and eyes are starting to take shape. Even at this early time, the heart is starting to pump blood.
Pregnancy Tip:
The telltale sign of pregnancy -- morning sickness -- may set in this week. To ease your queasiness, try keeping it full at all times.
Eat small meals every two to three hours, drink lots of water, and never leave home without a healthy snack. Some favorites are graham crackers, power bars, plain crackers and dried fruit and nuts. A great pregnancy tip to combat nausea is eating raw ginger or drinking Ginger tea.
Week 9 -Gender Differences
The growing embryo is about 1 inch long. As its tail disappears and the face rounds out, the embryo is looking more human in shape.
On the outside, the hands are now forming fingers and toes. On the inside, the pancreas, bile ducts, and gallbladder have formed, and the reproductive organs are starting to develop as male or female. Pregnancy Tip:
After talking with your health care provider, try to incorporate an exercise routine into your daily agenda. Swimming is the best exercise as it is low impact.
See the information on exercise during pregnancy. Do whatever you have the time and energy for, but keep it up. In the long run, you'll feel better and exercise will help in your deliver and postpartum recovery.
11 Weeks
At this time, your embryo has developed enough to be called a fetus, and the most important part of its development is over. The baby will grow a great deal at this time -- from about 1 inch long at the beginning of the week, to about 2 inches by the end (with its head measuring about half its length).
The eyelids will fuse shut, and the eyes will begin to develop. Then the blood will start to circulate between the baby and uterus, and the placenta will begin to function, providing oxygen and nutrients.
This is the time when you need to be careful what you put into your body, as everything you do will go to the baby as well.
