Your Baby: Month 1 - Weeks 1&2*

Pregnancy test - generally most accurate after your first missed period.

There are three stages of pregnancy. These are the first, second and third trimesters. The first trimester runs from week one to week fourteen, the second covers weeks 14-26, then the third is weeks 27-40.

Week 1+2:
This is actually before you get pregnant. It's the stage where your body prepares itself by ovulating. And it's in these 14 days that the egg is fertilized by the sperm.

You: Month 1 (Weeks 1-4)

Congratulations - You're Pregnant!
You may not feel much different during month 1 although there is plenty going in inside once conception has occurred. Conception occurs during ovulation, 14 days before the first day of your next period. So by the end of month 1 you will be 2 weeks pregnant, but the first 2 weeks of your menstrual cycle are counted, making you 4 weeks pregnant (working on an average 28 day menstrual cycle).

Pregnancy Tests
One of the first signs of pregnancy is a missed period. Taking a pregnancy test after you have missed your period should confirm whether you are pregnant, however if taken too early it may record a false negative - ideally wait for a few days after the first day of your missed period. Pregnancy tests detect the levels of the pregnancy hormone HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) in your urine - high levels indicate that you are pregnant. If you record a negative test result and your period still hasn't arrived after a few more days, try another test - it may be that you are in fact pregnant but your HCG levels may have been too low to show on the earlier test.

If you have tested positive - congratulations! At this stage it is good to check in with your care provider who may examine you and may retest you to confirm your pregnancy. You may also want to retest in a day or two and before seeing your care provider just to be sure - but these days the accuracy of pregnancy tests is excellent.

Finding Out Your Due Date
One of the first things many newly pregnant women want to know is their due date. Gestation is 40 weeks (including the first 2 weeks when you weren't actually pregnant). Your due date is calculated on this, on the length of your last menstrual cycle and on the date of the first day of your last period. The average cycle is 28 days but many women's cycles are significantly more or less. Use our pregnancy calculator to find out your due date now.

One thing to note is - four weeks from the first day of your last period you are considered "4 weeks pregnant" but "in week 5". This can get confusing, especially considering that your baby is actually only two weeks old. Always count the full weeks from the first day of your last period, like you would count the number of years in your age ie. in your first year you were 0, in your second year you were 1 year old, etc.

A word about trimesters - pregnancy is broken into 3 trimesters - trimester 1 is weeks 1-13, trimester 2 is weeks 14-26 and trimester 3 is weeks 27-40.

Folic Acid During Pregnancy
It is strongly suggested that pregnant women take folic acid, particularly in the first 3 months of pregnancy and prefereably for at least 1 month prior to conception - find out why. Other prenatal vitamins are also strongly recommended throughout pregnancy. Ask your health provider or pharmacist about prenatal vitamins - Elevit and Blackmores Gold are two popular brands. Note that the high iron content in prenatal vitamins may make your stools a dark colour.

Stop Alcohol, Caffeine, Cigarette and Drug Consumption
It is strongly recommended to avoid consuming alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes and recreational drugs during pregnancy. If you are on medication check with your care provider that it is safe to continue whilst pregnant. Read more about the effects of caffeine during pregnancy.

Pregnancy Symptoms
Some pregnancy symptoms you may begin to experience over the coming weeks are: missing your period, soreness of breasts, morning sickness/nausea, unusual eating habits or food aversions, fatigue, moodiness, frequent urination, headaches, spotting and discharge. Read more about some of these pregnancy symptoms.

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Pregnancy Tip

Decaf Tea and Coffee
During pregnancy caffeine consumption should be kept to a minimum. Many mums drink decaf tea or coffee as an alternative. Keep a few decaf teabags or a small container of decaf coffee in your handbag so you have it with you wherever you go as it can often be difficult to get.

View Our Full List of Pregnancy Tips
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Pregnancy Discussion Issue

Was your pregnancy planned?

Some couples plan their pregnancy to a tee, others don't even realise they are expecting until 4 or 5 months into the pregnancy.

Did you plan your pregnancy or did you get a surprise?

Discuss this issue with other mums to be in our Discussion Forum and cast your vote!

**Source: www.teenmoms.com
*"Your Baby" Sources:

• Text - Beverley Brooke. Visit http://www.pregnancy-weight-loss.com for more on pregnancy week by week. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Pregnancy-Week-By-Week&id=47542
• Fetal Length and Weight - Prenatal development, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Last revised 10 September 2007.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is intended as a guide only - please consult your care provider for advice. While all care has been taken to source accurate information, Mum Zone takes no responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies in this newsletter.