Three Weeks Pregnant

At three weeks pregnant, you will only have been pregnant for a short time. This is three weeks after your last period and the week after you ovulated. However, it is unlikely that you will know that you are pregnant and it will be too early to tell if your attempts were successful, even if you have a blood test done at your doctor’s.

The Size of the Baby

The baby will not be known as a baby yet. It is just a collection of cells that are known as an embryo. During three weeks pregnant, the cells make their way down the fallopian tube and attach to the uterus, where they grow and form into your baby over the next nine months. Unfortunately, not all embryos do attach and not all will attach in the uterus.

The cells start to form the placenta, which will start producing pregnancy hormones. The hormones are use to measure whether you are pregnant or not and will increase considerably over the next few weeks and months. The pregnancy hormones tell your body not to release eggs to prevent any complications of pregnancies later on or the menstrual cycle continuing. More oestrogen and progesterone are released during pregnancy week three, which also helps to prevent the menstrual cycle continuing so your baby can grow.

Symptoms During Pregnancy Week Three

When you are three weeks pregnant, there are some symptoms that are common. However, not all women have these symptoms and they may go unnoticed; unless you are paying close attention to your body.

Cramping – similar to menstrual cramps – are common during this time. This is due to the embryo attaching itself to the uterus and is known as an implantation cramp. This is often one of the first signs of pregnancy but is commonly mistaken for menstrual cramps. Some light bleeding is also possible at this time, which is known as implantation spotting or bleeding. It is often just some blood from the uterus being shed as the embryo implants and is usually pink or brown in colour, unlike normal period blood.

Fatigue is also common during three weeks pregnant due to the increase in hormones around the body. This is due to the progesterone that has increased. Tender breasts are possible, especially for those women who suffer tender breasts before their period.

Changes in You

When you are three weeks pregnant, there are chances that you have put on some weight. This is not actually due to the baby but due to the increased level of hormones, water retention and ovulation.  Weight gain throughout the pregnancy is normal and something that helps to ensure the baby is healthy; although, you should avoid gaining too much weight.

Depending on your initial weight, you could gain between 25 and 35 pounds throughout the nine months of pregnancy. This is considered a healthy weight gain for those with a BMI in the normal range. The majority of that is due to the baby, placenta and amniotic fluid; however, some of that weight is you – you need to put on some fat to be able to support the baby and to help your body prepare for breastfeeding.