1 Week Pregnant: The Egg’s Winding Journey & Fertilization

September 29, 2014

What’s It Like?
Starting with the first week of pregnancy, we will go step by step through each week of pregnancy, offering detailed explanations about everything that will change in your body, hormones and life in general, especially in the first trimester when your body is going through some of the most extreme changes of the pregnancy. Remember that growth rates differ from person to person—this is completely normal–and so try to read the weeks prior and following your estimated pregnancy stage for a better understanding of where you are and what you to expect.

Being aware of what’s happening inside your body and your baby’s development will help you understand your own needs and that of your unborn child so that you can help take the best care of yourself and your unborn baby. This is a crucial time for you, your partner and your unborn child, and careful, detailed information will hopefully lead to a less stressful, happier pregnancy.

Preconception
In medical terms, your pregnancy actually begins two weeks before conception. The first day of your last period is counted towards the 40 weeks that physicians use to chart the course of your pregnancy. So the first two weeks of pregnancy are actually preconception (it’s confusing, we know). It’s counted like this because the body starts readying itself for pregnancy two weeks before conception.

About 14 days after you first started menstruating, your ovaries release another egg. Once released, the egg travels to the fallopian tube. During this time, your body temperature will rise 0.4 and 0.6 degrees F. This temperature rise happens during ovulation and remains within these limits for 48 hours when the ovulation peaks.

What Happens Inside Your Body?
Once the egg reaches the fallopian tube, it’s primed for fertilization. And your body readies itself for that possible pregnancy. During a 12- to 24-hour window as the egg is making this journey, it could be fertilized. The lining of the uterus builds up in anticipation. If the egg is unfertilized, the uterus lining will shed (this is menstruation) so that the body can get ready for another egg.

You will feel a large amount of clear discharge throughout your fertile days. If your discharge is abundant, slippery, stretchy and clear, then you are at the peak time of fertilization. During this time, there is a great chance for you to conceive.

How Different Will You Look?
The changes that occur during ovulation differ from woman to woman. Some women notice that they have keener sense of smell, while others notice they are more attracted to members of the opposite (or same sex), or feel more attractive themselves.

As well as these desirable changes, there can be other less pleasant ones too. Some women feel bloated, nausea, back pain or gain headaches during their time of ovulation. While most feel some form of change, there are some who feel nothing at all! These differences are perfectly normal and have no effect on your future pregnancy or the health of your unborn baby.

Tips For Fathers: What’s The Best Way To Conceive?
If you are trying to get your partner pregnant, there are a few things you can do to keep your sperm in the best possible health. Switch to boxer shorts, keep the laptop on the desktop, and go jogging instead of bike riding and stay out of the hot tub or ultra hot baths. Sperm needs to be at two degrees below body temperature and you need to keep it cool to stay healthy.

Tips For Mothers To Help You Go Through Trimester

Start A Healthy Diet: Your pregnancy dietary habits influence your baby’s health right from the get go. Following a balanced, nutritious diet will influence your fetus’ health and shape their tastes too. Stay active too. You should aim for at least 30 minutes of rigorous exercise at least three times per week. (Related article: Pregnancy Diet: Dos And Don’ts)
Pregnancy Vitamins: You’ll also want to start taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid—a B vitamin that prevents brain and neural-tube birth defects. Studies estimate that approximately 20 of pregnant women have a vitamin and mineral deficiency. Pregnancy vitamins work best if you take it before you conceive and in the early days of pregnancy. (Related article: Prenatal Vitamins For A Healthy Pregnancy)
No Alcohol Or Smoking: Most people don’t realize it when they first become pregnant, so refrain from smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or taking drugs when you’re trying to conceive. (Related article: Why You Shouldn’t Drink Wine When You’re Pregnant)
Talk To your Doctor: Even prescriptions may be harmful to your developing baby, so be sure to speak to your doctor when you’re ready to start a family.

The first week of pregnancy is the time when you try to conceive. Your partner can help you get pregnant by making the ideal environment for his sperm. If your fertility is also dependent on your overall health, it’s worth taking the time to invest in your own health and well being. A balanced healthy diet, an active lifestyle and a drug and alcohol-free body is the best environment for your unborn child and will give them a great start in the early weeks of their life.

For more interesting stories, visit our Health page. Read more about Pregnancy & Babycare here.