pregnancy week 3 developmentHelp your growing baby develop in the third week of your pregnancy.

Congratulations! You’re officially pregnant. This week, make sure you’re consuming these vital nutrients: DHA, folate, and iron.

What's happening this week?

You certainly won’t feel it, but a single sperm is now breaking through your egg’s tough outer ‘shell’, resulting in fertilization. Then its nucleus merges with that of your egg.

Now, the egg is known as a zygote – your single cell babyi! Soon, the zygote will move through the fallopian tube and into the womb, where it will implant itself in your uterine liningii.

What can you expect?

At this stage, not many women know if they’re pregnant yet. But you may already be experiencing early pregnancy symptoms. Your breasts might feel swollen and tender, similar to how they feel before your period.

You might also feel more tired than usual. Some women experience bleeding or spotting during this stage. Though this is not unusual and may not be any cause for alarm, consult your healthcare provider if this does happeniii.

What can you do to support your pregnancy?

Maintain an iron-rich diet to prevent iron-deficiency anemia, which can make you feel weak and fatiguediv. Experts recommend daily iron and folic acid supplementation for pregnant womenv. In addition, experts also recommend a minimum intake of 200mg of DHA per day to support both mom’s health and baby’s developmentvi.

You can also support your developing baby’s growth by eating sufficient proteinvii daily. Do remember that by eating a balanced diet this early in your journey to become a mother, you are fueling your baby’s overall development.

Talk to your partner about how you feel and if there is anything you are anxious about, as you wait to take a pregnancy test.

You are both about to embark on a life-changing journey that is known as parenthood, so support and love each other right from the start and your baby’s developmentviii will be positively influenced by all this love, too.

 


References:
i.    Fetal development: The 1st trimester. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2017, from          
ii    Pregnancy - week by week. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2017, from      
iii   Curtis, G. B., & Schuler, J. (2016). Your Pregnancy Week by Week  (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press.
iv   Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy: Prevention tips. (n.d.). Retrieved April 05, 2017, from      
v    World Health Organization, WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. Geneva:            
      WHO Press. 2016. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
vi   Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Fats And Fatty Acids In Human Nutrition:      
      Report Of An Expert Consultation. Geneva: N.p., 2010. Web. 5 Apr. 2017. FAO Food And Nutrition Paper.
vii  Pregnancy nutrition: Healthy-eating basics. (n.d.). Retrieved April 05, 2017, from      
viii Mikulincer, M., & Florian, V. (1999). The Association between Parental Reports of Attachment Style and Family
      Dynamics, and Offspring's Reports of Adult Attachment Style. Family Process,38(2),
      243-257. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.1999.00243.x