3 Weeks Pregnant – Pregnancy Week 3

3 Weeks Pregnant: Baby’s Development

It takes about 4 days for your embryo to begin a process called compaction, in which it prepares to become a blastocyst, and another 2 to 3 days to become implanted in the uterine wall. At 3 weeks pregnant, you are in the first trimester of pregnancy.

It may not be obvious that much is happening at this time. One thing that is taking place is the formation of a yellowish clump of cells known as the corpus luteum, which will occupy the follicle that released the egg.

The corpus luteum will start to produce enough of the hormones progesterone and estrogen to nourish and support the blastocyst until the placenta takes over in about 10 weeks. Your body is gearing up to host a fetus.

3 Weeks Pregnant: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)

About a week after fertilization, the blastocyst (or soon-to-be embryo) becomes implanted in the uterine lining and the placenta starts to form. Within 6 to 12 days after implantation, the cells of the developing placenta begin making human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). As you’ll later see, this hormone plays a crucial role throughout your pregnancy and causes an entire host of body changes, as well as symptoms such as nausea.

At pregnancy week 3, traces of hCG are often picked up in urine and blood. This is the reason why you test your urine for a home pregnancy test and your doctor does blood screening at your first appointment. But you almost certainly won’t get a positive result on a bioassay for an additional week or two.

Back in your mom’s day, a person had to miss a period before taking a home pregnancy test and then wait a couple of hours before discovering the results. These days, you can find out you’re expecting much earlier, faster, and with better accuracy than ever before (though the accuracy will, of course, get better as more time elapses since the missed period). It can sometimes take a week or more after a missed period before you produce enough of the pregnancy hormone hCG to be detected on a test.

Pregnancy and the sense of smell: Do scents suddenly seem stronger to you than ever? It could be a sign that you’re pregnant! A heightened sense of smell is a very strong side effect of pregnancy. It is caused by hormones such as estrogen and hCG, which magnify every little fragrance (the good, the bad, and the ugly) wafting through the air around you.

At 3 weeks of pregnancy, smells can increase your morning sickness. If that is the case, stay out of the kitchen and native eateries as much as possible, make friends with the microwave, and open the windows.

3 Weeks Pregnant – Pregnancy Week 3 – Common Signs and Symptoms

A feeling of pressure in your tummy or even mild cramping without bleeding is very common, especially in first pregnancies. This is usually a sign that everything is going right, not that something’s wrong. What you’re feeling may be the sensation of embryo implantation, an increased blood flow, the thickening of the uterine lining, or even the growth of your uterus.

3 Weeks Pregnant – Nausea & Vomiting

At 3 weeks pregnant, you may be experiencing morning sickness. If your nausea and vomiting are accompanied by cramps, fever, or diarrhea, you may be dealing with a stomach bug or food poisoning rather than morning sickness. But whether your stomach is churning due to hormones, a virus, or that egg salad you had for lunch, the treatment is the same: Relax and focus on drinking more water, especially if you’re losing fluids through vomiting or diarrhea. Try drinking water, diluted juice (white grape juice is easiest on the tummy), clear broth, or weak decaffeinated tea.

3 Weeks Pregnant – Self-care Tips 

At 3 weeks pregnant, taking vitamin C can help increase your body’s absorption of iron, a nutrient you need to help support your increased blood volume. You can find vitamin C in fruits and vegetables such as kiwis, mangoes, strawberries, melons, bell peppers, tomatoes, and asparagus. Iron is often found in soy products, beef, poultry, and edible fruits.

Calcium helps you and your developing baby build and maintain strong, healthy bones, and it’s also essential for heart, nerve, and muscle health. If you don’t consume enough calcium during pregnancy, your baby will take it from your bones. Eat three or four daily servings (1000 milligrams) of goodies such as yogurt, calcium-fortified juice or cereal, and hard or pasteurized cheese.

At pregnancy week 3, eat three servings of protein each day to spur new tissue for the baby-to-be. One serving of poultry such as skinless chicken or a meat such as lean beef should be about 3 or 4 ounces. Other great protein sources include eggs, fish, dairy products, and legumes.

When it comes to hair coloring, experts agree that being safe is better than sorry. So wait out the first trimester before heading back to the salon to retouch those roots. When you do go back, stick to highlights instead of single-process coloring so the chemicals don’t touch your scalp. Or ask your colorist about less harsh processes, such as using an ammonia-free base or an all-vegetable dye.

And beware: Hormonal changes can make your hair react differently, so you might not end up with the shade you were hoping for, even from your regular formula. Before you color your whole head, try a test strand to be safe.

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