Understanding Your First Week of Pregnancy: Stages and Symptoms

Your first week pregnant may not seem like much is occurring, but significant changes have already started in your body. This guide is going to assist you in becoming familiar with the stages of pregnancy, particularly what occurs during week 1, and how to be aware of the early signs of pregnancy at 1 week.

What Are the Pregnancy Stages?

Before jumping into symptoms, it's useful to know how pregnancy stages are classified. Pregnancy is usually divided into three trimesters:

• First trimester (Weeks 1–12): Conception and the initial formation of the embryo.
• Second trimester (Weeks 13–26): Changes in the body become increasingly apparent.
• Third trimester (Weeks 27–40): Final development and preparation for giving birth.

Week 1 of pregnancy is a little special. Pregnancy is usually calculated from the date of your last period (LMP), even if you didn't get fertilized until about week 2. So, technically speaking, you're not "pregnant" yet during week 1, but your body is getting ready for it.

Very Early Signs of Pregnancy at 1 Week

At 1 week, most women don't even know they're pregnant since symptoms will feel exactly like PMS. But here are some extremely early pregnancy signs at 1 week to watch out for:

• Mild bloating and cramping
• Fatigue and odd fatigue
• Breast soreness
• Mood swings
• Light spotting or implantation bleeding (can happen closer to week 2)

Note: These symptoms can be incredibly different from person to person, and everyone doesn't have them this early.

Pregnancy Stages and Symptoms: What to Expect During Week 1

In the first week, your body is losing the uterine lining of your previous cycle and getting ready to drop a new egg. This is what goes on inside:

• Hormonal changes start, especially with progesterone and estrogen.
• Cervical mucus can become a more fertile consistency.
• Some women experience very light spotting due to ovulation approaching.

It's easy to get confused and mistake early pregnancy symptoms for premenstrual symptoms. Sensitive observation of slight changes will be able to tell them apart.

Pregnancy Discharge in the First Week

One of the less talked-about early signs is pregnancy discharge. Here's what to know:

• There may be more vaginal discharge if you have hormonal changes.
• It's typically thin, white, and milky looking (referred to as leukorrhea).
• Discharge is supposed to be odorless and without itching or irritation. If it is, see your doctor.

Monitoring discharge can actually lead to the identification of ovulation, which is important if you are attempting to conceive.

When to Take a Pregnancy Test

Because most home pregnancy tests only detect the hormone hCG (which is not produced until after implantation), it might be too early to test during week 1. It's better to wait until at least the first day of your missed period, which is usually around week 4, for the best results.

Final Thoughts

The initial week of pregnancy can be a time of excitement and confusion. Though many things are occurring beneath the surface, having knowledge of the stages of pregnancy and symptoms makes you more attuned to your body. If you are attempting to get pregnant or suspect that you are pregnant, monitoring symptoms such as pregnancy discharge and early signs of pregnancy at 1 week can prove helpful.

Always seek guidance from a medical professional for individualized advice and follow-up.