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Your Pregnancy at Week 4

This week, your baby is as big as a poppy seed.

Explore your pregnancy at Week 4

Week 40
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8

36 Weeks to go!

At A Glance
Baby Development Milestones
Pregnancy Symptoms
Advice from Our Practitioners
Tips for 4 Weeks Pregnant
Related Pregnancy Blogs

The following information was reviewed by Dr. Cheng Ka Ning, Katherine 

At A Glance

week-4

Try a pregnancy test 

If menstruation has been late for a week, you can use a home pregnancy test or go to your OBGYN to have a blood test for hCG. If the result is positive, congratulations you are pregnant! You can call your Obstetrician to schedule your first prenatal visit. If the result is negative, it is recommended to test again in a weeks time if you still haven’t got your period.

Unplanned pregnancy 

Some pregnancies are not planned and women can choose to terminate it by having an abortion. This can be a difficult decision for some people so if you did not plan to having children, you may want to consult an obstetrician to discuss your options.  Additionally, this can be a traumatic time for anybody, so it is important you get the psychological support that you need. 

The baby develops 3 different germ layers 

At 4 weeks of gestation, your baby has 3 embryonic germ layers from which various organs will develop. The placenta begins to form. It will eventually deliver nutrients to your baby. 

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Baby Development at 4 Weeks

embryonic-layers

Baby is in embryonic period 

Your baby is already growing at an incredible rate in your uterus, developing 3 different germ layers from which the various organs will develop. The baby is now about 0.1 cm long, similar to the size of a poppy seed.

placenta

The placenta is formed

The placenta carries the nutrients you eat to your baby and will continue to thicken until the fourth month of pregnancy. Although the placenta is formed from the tissues that both mother and child share, your blood and your baby's blood don't come into direct contact. 

The baby is curved in a "C" shape. 

C-shape

Baby's body bends into "C" shape

The body will bend into a "C" shape. The cells in outer layer will form the spinal nerves, which will gradually develop into the brain, spine, spinal cord, and nerves; the remaining cells will develop into the intestinal organs. 

Your Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 4

What are the signs of early pregnancy?  

The concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the body will continue to rise in the early stages of pregnancy. This helps increase the production of progesterone and oestrogen and stimulates the formation of the placenta. For some women, hormonal changes in the early stages of pregnancy can lead to discomfort in the form of these early signs of pregnancy: 

  • Taste change 
  • Breast tenderness 
  • Feel sick and vomit  
  • Tired 
  • Frequent urination 
  • Increased vaginal discharge 
  • Bloating, flatulence 
  • Pregnancy spots 
  • Vaginal spotting 
These early pregnancy symptoms most often appear in the first trimester of pregnancy. 

Advice from OT&P Obstetricians

Although you can go earlier, many pregnant women attend their first check-up between weeks 6 and 10. Usually, obstetricians will conduct an ultrasound scan to: 

  • Confirm you are pregnant
  • Confirm the embryo is implanted successfully in the uterus to rule out ectopic pregnancy
  • Check the fetal heartbeat
  • Check embryo size, determine gestational age and correct due date 

You will also learn about the schedule and details of the upcoming prenatal check-ups, such as prenatal blood tests (blood type, haemoglobin, platelets, and infectious disease screening), NIPT test, preeclampsia screening, structural ultrasound scanning, gestational diabetes testing, and Group B streptococcus test, etc. 

After confirming the fatal heartbeat, the chance of miscarriage is greatly reduced (from 15% to 3-5%), but pregnant women should still pay attention to prevent miscarriage.

It is suggested to take supplements like folic acid (up to 12 weeks) , multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D, and DHA. Pay attention to a healthy diet and avoid uncooked food, such as raw fish, oysters, raw/soft-boiled eggs, soft-boiled beef, etc. 

Slight changes in the smell of your vaginal discharge may be noticed in early pregnancy due to heightened sense of smell during pregnancy. In case of brown discharge, strong stench, or yellow-green vaginal discharge, itching, and pain in the genitals, you should consult your obstetrician as soon as possible.

Tips for 4 Weeks Pregnant

  • Do more stretching exercises as advised by Women’s Physiotherapist to relieve stress and avoid standing for a long time
  • Get enough sleep every day. If you have insomnia problems, you can seek help from a psychologist or psychiatrist at our Mindworx
  • Shop for maternity clothes
  • Seek treatment early if you have dental problems
  • Continue to take folic acid supplement until 12 weeks, and add multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D and DHA
  • Eat a healthy diet and avoid uncooked food, such as raw fish, oysters, raw/soft-boiled eggs or soft-boiled beef. You can also consult our nutritionist to customise a recipe that best meets the nutrition of pregnant women.

 

img-pregnancy-week7-tips

Related Pregnancy Blogs

Can I Have Sex During Pregnancy?

Coping with the Uncertainty of Threatened Miscarriage

Navigating the Decision to Terminate a Pregnancy

Related Pregnancy Services

Plan your pregnancy, birth & beyond with Annerley

Whether you’re planning for an addition to your family or are already pregnant, OT&P’s Annerley Team is here to help.

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