Your Pregnancy at Week 3

It is normal to get excited about your potential pregnancy and test after three weeks of trying. However, at week 3, it is still possible that your hCG level is still too low. The general recommendation is to hold off testing until Week 5 or 6 of your pregnancy. If something feels off this week, consider checking in with your family doctor or your OBGYN specialist.

After your egg has been fertilised, the blastocyst (or soon-to-be embryo) will implant itself on the uterine lining and the placenta will start developing. The pregnancy hormone (hCG) will surge during the first trimester before dipping in the second. This influx of hormones is your body telling your ovaries to stop releasing eggs and to trigger the production of progesterone and oestrogen to aid with the development of the baby’s placenta. As a result, you may experience mood swings, some gas and bloating. 

Amniotic fluid is the liquid surrounding your baby in the uterus during pregnancy. The fluid development will provide a cushion that protects the baby from injury and allows room for growth and development. 

Your sense of smell is greatly enhanced as your body create more hCG to accommodate your growing embryo. An unfortunate downside of having greater sense of smell is that you might experience morning sickness since you’ll be picking up scents that you might not necessarily find pleasant! Even things that you regularly smell might start smelling different as a result.