4 weeks pregnant: advice, symptoms and what to expect


At four weeks pregnant, you might start to notice some symptoms. Welcome to the beginning of the embryo stage. It’s now implantation time – the blastocyst will begin burrowing into your uterine lining, before splitting to form the placenta and the embryo.

 How big is my baby at four weeks pregnant?
Your baby is still way too teeny to be seen or called a foetus yet and is no longer than 1mm - about the size of a poppy seed.
What’s my baby doing at four weeks pregnant?
Your soon-to-be-baby has found its new home, where it will now grow for the next eight months. It’s completed the journey from the fallopian tube to your uterus and has inserted itself into the lining of your womb. Some women swear they can feel this happening, and report a cramping style sensation, whereas others say they had light spotting.

 As soon as that precious ball of cells has settled into its new home, it will begin splitting in two. One half is now called the embryo and will become your baby, the other half will become the placenta, which will act as your growing baby’s lifeline for the next eight months.

 This week, the amniotic sac will form around it and there are three distinctive layers of cells that will grow into different parts of your baby’s body. 
Your embryo might be tiny, but it’s busy! This week, the amniotic sac will form around it and there are three distinct layers of cells that will grow into different parts of your baby’s body. The endoderm is the inner layer – think the digestive system, liver and lungs. The mesoderm is the middle layer and will become your baby’s heart, sex organs, bones, kidneys and muscles. And the ectoderm is the outer layer – this will form your baby’s skin, hair and eyes.

 Common symptoms to look out for at four weeks pregnant:
1) Fatigue
One of the most common symptoms at four weeks is fatigue and exhastion. Your body is growing the baby which takes up your energy. 
2) Mild cramping
Cramping at four weeks is perfectly normal as it means the baby has been implanted properly on the wall of your uterus. However, if the cramping is severe you should contact your doctor and undergo an examination. 
3) Mood swings
If you are crying at the TV and shouting at inanimate objects, this is totally normal. The changes in your hormones means that it can send your mood all over the place. You may simply be stressed about the whole process of trying to concieve. However, pregnancy mood swings are likely to be worse further down the line (12 weeks) until they start to level out. 

4) Sore breasts
Hormone surges (hormones, every time!) mean that your breasts are swollen and might be tender or sore.
5) Bloating
The hormone progesterone may lead to you feeling a little fluffy around the edges. Make sure to wear comfortable trousers as tight clothing can exacerbate this. Drink a soothing peppermint tea or pop a hot water bottle on your stomach.
6) Implantation bleeding
If this hasn't already occured, if you find you’re having a really light period a week before you’re due or spotting slightly, this could be an implantation bleed. Only a small percentage of women experience an implantation bleed, so do not worry either way.
7) Morning sickness
It may be time to experience the thing about pregnancy that you've feared the most. Morning sickness. 50-90% of women suffer with nausea and vomitting during pregnancy and it is unlikely you will avoid it alltogether. It is often worse at around nine weeks and during the second trimester it starts to ease off.

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