Conception takes place when the sperm of a man unites with the egg of a woman. The egg is then fertilized and it travels into uterus and gets fixed on the uterine wall. Cells start to break up and the development of a fetus begins. However, it is very difficult to detect the accurate date/time of your conception. The reason is a sperm can stay in your body for a number of days after the ejaculation in order to wait for an egg.

A majority of doctors consider the 1st day of your last menstrual period as the initial point of your pregnancy. The due date is calculated by adding 40 weeks to your last menstrual period.

Since the fertilization happens in the second week, hence generally people think that a woman is not actually pregnant during her 1st week of pregnancy. Thus, in many cases pregnancy goes unnoticed during the 1st week.

1st and 2nd Weeks of Pregnancy Changes in Your Body (Signs and Symptoms)

In the 1st week, no visible physical changes take place in your body, even though several internal changes might be occurring. The most common symptoms during the 1st and 2nd week of pregnancy are- constipation, fatigue, gas, morning sickness, tender breasts, hormonal changes and mood swings. A few women may also experience spotting during the 1st week which is known as ovulatory bleeding that is very different from the normal menstrual periods.

All these symptoms differ from one woman to another and a majority of women do not experience these symptoms even in their 1st and 2nd weeks of pregnancy.

During the first and second weeks of pregnancy the endometrium production in your uterus keeps increasing which offers a healthy atmosphere for your baby to embed.

The Fetal Development In 1st and 2nd Week of Pregnancy

When you conceive a sperm enters an egg and makes a zygote. This zygote is a solo set of 46 chromosomes out of which 23 are from female and the rest 23 are from the male. These chromosomes decide the baby’s sex (male or female), hair color, skin color, eye color, height and the features. This is the initial stage of the fetus. In the initial weeks of pregnancy the zygote moves through your fallopian tube towards uterus. In the first phase of cell distribution which is also known as “cleavage”, a ball of numerous cells is formed, which is known as- “morula”. Inside this morula a cavity is formed which turns into a “blastocyst”.  Blastocyst is again composed of 2 parts which later turn into placenta & embryo and finally finish up in uterus. During the middle of the 1st and 2nd weeks of pregnancy, this blastocyst fixes into uterus lining, hence commencing the embryonic stage.

After the first 2 weeks of fetal growth, the fundamental growth starts – the spinal cord, the brain, the gastrointestinal tract and the heart start to form.

1st and 2nd Weeks of Pregnancy Tips

If you have just conceived then you must acquaint yourself with the following useful tips for your 1st and 2nd weeks of pregnancy:

• Fix an appointment with your doctor if you notice an elevated body temperature in the morning. This can be the first and foremost sign that you are pregnant and you are in your 1st week.
• Change your dietary habits.
• If you are under medication, consult your doctor that whether or not it would be fine to continue those medicines throughout the nine months of pregnancy.
• Start taking folic acid, vitamins and iron supplements as prescribed by your doctor.
• Quit all the bad habits like drinking, smoking and drugs.
• Ask your doctor which habits you can hold on to and which are the habits that you need to chuck out completely during pregnancy.

1st and 2nd Weeks of Pregnancy- Exercise and Diet

Staying fit is the most essential thing for a mother to have a healthy baby. Make sure you do some light exercises for 30 minutes daily. Start lightly during the first two weeks, avoid rigorous exercises in the initial weeks of conception or else it would result in a miscarriage. Staying fit can not only make your pregnancy easier but it would also alleviate your labor pain as well as help you in recovering after the childbirth.  

The most important thing in the 1st and 2nd weeks of pregnancy is the intake of minerals and the essential vitamins. Make sure to take 400 microgms of folic acid daily for a strong spinal cord and a healthy brain of your baby. Although in the first week, if you have a glass of wine, it is not going to affect your baby’s fetal growth, still it is better to adopt the healthy eating habits as earlier as possible. Lower your junk food intake and gorge on fresh fruits and leafy vegetables which will also help you to get rid of constipation, gas and nausea.