All about baby
It’s only week 4 but a lot’s been going on in there! Around 300 million sperm made a dash to fertilize the egg. Sperm and eggs can only survive 24 to 48 hours after they leave the comfort of the scrotum or ovary. But if all conditions are right, the sperm and egg will join in the fallopian tube.
When the strongest and fastest sperm reach the egg, they become hyperactivated, ramming their enzyme-coated heads at it to break down and dissolve the egg's outer shell. Eventually, one lucky sperm will break through and the egg instantly shuts down, so no more sperm will be admitted. The chromosomes of the egg and sperm then fuse together, forming the embryo.
Having attached itself to the wall of the uterus, the embryo has started growing and will get bigger every day – at the moment it’s no bigger than a pip. Amazingly your baby’s gender, hair and eye colour and hundreds of other genetic characteristics are already determined.
The chorionic villi (an early form of the placenta) and the umbilical cord, which delivers nourishment and oxygen to your baby, are already working.
- Your baby measures less than a millimetre!
Over to you
Did you have a suspicion you might be pregnant (a funny taste in your mouth, acute sense of smell, feeling a bit queasy) or did it come as a complete surprise? Either way, seeing a positive pregnancy test can be exciting, overwhelming or scary – or a bit of everything!
Your next step will probably be to make an appointment with your GP or family planning clinic to confirm that you're pregnant, and to get that very important piece of news: when you can expect your baby to arrive. It's important to remember that your due date is simply an estimate. Only about five percent of babies actually arrive on the day they're due. In reality, your baby could arrive two weeks before or after your due date and still be considered on time. Some babies come sooner than that. Sadly about 15% of pregnancies end in a miscarriage, usually before the heartbeat is detected, and one out of eight babies arrives prematurely.
Don't forget to mention any medication (including supplements) you might be taking to your midwife - they'll need to be carefully checked as the foetus is undergoing vital development in the first 12 weeks. One supplement that's highly recommended in pregnancy is folic acid, so if you’re not doing so already, start taking a daily 400 mcg supplement and try to eat a folate-rich diet (from brussels sprouts, broccoli, some cereals, fruit such as orange and papaya.) Folic acid helps prevent neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida.
In the know
Know the date of your last period? You can calculate your own due date by adding seven days to the first day of your last period, then count forward nine months. You'll need to add or subtract any additional days, more or less than 28, to get a more accurate final date if your menstrual cycle is normally longer or shorter than 28 days. Why not try our Due Date Calculator.
Have you thought about keeping a pregnancy diary? It’s a great way to hold all your pregnancy information in one place – and a wonderful record in years to come.
Use it to keep track of how many days and weeks it will be until your baby arrives, make notes on your physical and emotional wellbeing and detail what you're eating so you're sure you're getting a balanced diet. It’s also useful to record your medical appointments and write down all the questions you want to ask your midwife or doctor next time - and the answers, too.
Go to next week's article: Pregnancy Week 5
Please note that the contents of this section are for information only and are not intended as medical advice or as a substitute to your doctor's advice. For medical care and advice, you should consult your doctor on a regular basis. If you have any problem which concerns you, consult your doctor immediately.
