The First 4 Weeks of Pregnancy – What the Doctor Might Tell You
During the first four weeks of pregnancy, the baby is going through an intensive development phase. The internal organs have begun to form. During the first trimester, (the first three months of pregnancy) a woman may not yet be fully aware that she is pregnant. Among the most obvious signs of pregnancy, which is, lack of menstruation, there may be other causes for this, like travel, stress or some other situation that causes the body to stop menstruating for that month.
If a woman suspects that she may be carrying a baby, most women buy a home pregnancy test and see if the result is positive. A false positive is more likely than a false negative, and no test is 100% accurate. Many tests are more than 95% accurate, so you will probably get the correct answer with the urine test administered at home. All in all, if you suspect you are pregnant, it is best to visit the doctor at or around the fourth week of pregnancy. For some doctors, four weeks will be early. Try to schedule an appointment if you have a pre-existing medical condition or just want to talk about the fact that you may be pregnant. He or she will advise you on what steps to take to ensure the best welfare for both you and your baby.
There may be cases, if there is a past history of miscarriages that the doctor may decide to test right away on the status of the baby. This test-control would begin at the 6th or 7th week, but if you suspect you are probably pregnant, or if the home pregnancy test indicates that you are, best to consult with the doctor. They will tell you if you need to come in for blood testing (which is another indicator of the first signs of pregnancy) , and schedule another appointment with you in the near future to follow up on your status.
Regarding medication, your doctor will need to advise you whether you can continue taking prescribed or over the counter medications – be it for allergies or cold and flu symptoms. The best thing to do is ask: better to be safe than sorry. If you do not already take a multivitamin pill daily, now is a good time to start doing so. Your doctor may (and most likely will) recommend that you begin taking folic acid as well; it has been known to prevent birth defects in babies. You may also get folic acid naturally from dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, romaine salad, mangold, Swiss chard and many other sources. Be sure to check the internet for more information. You may also be able to find a prenatal vitamin geared toward pregnant women and their babies’ particular needs. It should contain at least 600 mgs of folic acid; if it does not, you will need to buy a supplement.
Depending on your age, history with previous pregnancies and general health, the doctor may ask that you abstain from having sex at this time. It is all on a case by case scenario. The first three months of pregnancy are a very sensitive time for your child. Lifting any heavy items – like a big tray of food or heavy boxes – needs to be strictly avoided.
