4 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Body Changes, Risks And Tips

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The fourth week of pregnancy is when most women find out that they are pregnant. When you are four weeks pregnant, your baby is around the size of a poppy seed and is developing in the inner lining of your womb (1). Most pregnancy symptoms are not clearly visible except for a few, such as a late period and tender breasts.

Read on to know about the signs, symptoms, changes, growth, and do’s and don’ts while you are four weeks pregnant.

In This Article

Changes Occurring In The Fourth Week Of Pregnancy

As the pregnancy progresses, many changes occur in the embryo and in maternal health

Amniotic sacⁱXThe water or fluid-filled sac within the womb necessary for the growth and development of the fetus /outer layer around the embryo gradually develops along with the placenta.
Shape of the face also roughly starts to form with large circles for eyes.
Baby’s heart develops and beats around 65 times per minute by the end of the fourth week,
Blood circulation begins as the blood cells take shape (2).

Did you know?

During the early pregnancy weeks, the embryo remains attached to a yolk sac for nourishment (1).

Signs And Symptoms Of Pregnancy At 4 Weeks

Though the physical signs of pregnancy are not visible by the fourth week, the body undergoes various internal changes to accommodate the fetus and keep it nourished and protected. Following are some of the 4-week pregnancy symptoms (3):

Morning sickness due to an increased level of hormones
Frequent bouts of fatigue due to higher physical and emotional demands
Enlarged mammary glands due to increased levels of estrogenⁱXA sex hormone responsible for the development of female sexual characteristics and progesteroneⁱXA female reproductive hormone that plays an important role in menstruation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding pregnancy hormones, leading to breast tenderness

Darkening of the area around the areola (nipple)
Frequent urge to urinate and episodes of constipation as the developing fetus starts to press against the intestines
Mood swings due to a surge in hormone levels

Many women begin to detect small yet substantial changes in their bodies during the fourth week of pregnancy. Caroline, a mother residing in North Carolina, shares her symptoms during the 4th and 5th weeks of her pregnancy. She says, “Lots of cramps and twinges (painful at times) that come and go quickly. Usually, about 30 minutes of nausea in the late afternoons, but that goes away after I eat something or lay down for a bit. Oh yeah, and sleepy. I can take 3-hour naps and still want to be in bed by 8 p.m. (i).”

Quick fact

During the first trimester, the areola may also develop enlarged sweat glands, which look like small, white bumps and are called Montgomery’s tubercles (3).

The Belly At Four Weeks

Most first-time mothers don’t start showing the belly until week 12. However, if it is not your first pregnancy, you may start showing it earlier as your uterus muscles are still stretched from your previous pregnancies (4).

The Do’s And Don’ts In The Fourth Week Of Pregnancy

Do

Sleep well: During pregnancy, get at least eight to ten hours of sleep per day to cope with the physical and emotional demands of your body and the baby.
Have nutritious food: The food you eat is fuel for you and your developing baby. Hence, make healthy eating choices and maintain a balanced diet (5). You don’t need to eat for two!

Quick tip

Include brightly colored fruits and vegetables in your diet to get adequate nutrition and antioxidants. Your exposure to a variety of food will help your baby develop a diverse taste (5).

Include folate in your diet: If you did not add folate or folic acidⁱXA natural form of vitamin B9 necessary for optimal fetal development and is found in foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts to your diet before getting pregnant, do so now. Consuming at least 400mcg of folate per day is important in the first trimester to help prevent two major congenital disabilities—anencephalyⁱXA severe birth defect in which the baby is born without some parts of the brain and the skull and spina bifidaⁱXA congenital disorder where the spinal cord doesn't fully develop, leading to physical and neurological complications According to the statistics from the CDC, approximately 1427 babies are affected by spina bifida, and 847 babies are affected by anencephaly in the US.
Take prenatal vitamins: Prenatal vitamins are important for maintaining good nutrition during pregnancy and for the baby’s proper growth and development (6)
Stay hydrated: Staying hydrated helps prevent preterm labor, kidney infection, and headaches. It also helps reduce the risk of constipation and hemorrhoids.

Stay hydrated to prevent complications during pregnancy

Image: IStock

Don’t

Smoke: Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that pregnant women who smoke may have a higher risk of miscarriage (7).
Drink alcohol: According to the CDC, all types of alcohol are harmful to the baby during pregnancy (8). The alcohol may pass on to the baby through the umbilical cord and cause miscarriage or physical or intellectual disabilities known as fetal alcohol spectrum disordersⁱXA group of conditions that can occur in fetuses exposed to alcohol while being in the mother’s womb (FASDs).
Consume too much caffeine: Research suggests that consuming less than 200mg of caffeine is acceptable in the first trimester (9). However, excessive caffeine could affect the fetus’ heart rate.
Visit the sauna: Hot tubs or saunas increase the body’s core temperature, which may adversely affect the baby’s development and double the risk of miscarriage (5).

What To Eat

Consuming a balanced diet can help reduce nausea and constipation and aid in having a healthy pregnancy. Below are some advantageous foods for you and your baby (10).

Proteins: peas, nuts, beans, lean beef, pork, salmon, and trout
Vegetables: carrots, pumpkin, red sweet peppers, tomatoes, and spinach

Include vegetables in your pregnancy diet

Image: IStock

Grains: cooked or ready-to-eat cereals
Fruits: bananas, mangoes, cantaloupes, prunes, apricots, oranges, and grapefruit

Potential Risks In The Fourth Week Of Pregnancy

Most cases of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancyⁱXA life-threatening condition in which the fertilized egg gets implanted outside the uterus, mainly in the fallopian tubes occur in the early months after conception (11). Some common potential risks during pregnancy include

Miscarriage: Miscarriage in the early months of pregnancy is known as a chemical pregnancy. The most common cause of a miscarriage in the first trimester is a chromosomal abnormalityⁱXNumerical or structural abnormalities in chromosomes (12).
Bleeding: Some women may experience light spotting or bleeding in the early days of pregnancy but have an overall healthy pregnancy throughout. However, any signs of bleeding or rupture of blood vessels during pregnancy should be reported to your healthcare provider to avoid complications.
Ectopic pregnancy: Ectopic pregnancy is common and occurs in around one in 80 pregnancies in the UK. In this condition, the fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube instead of the endometrium. In the later stages of an ectopic pregnancy, the baby’s growth may severely damage the fallopian tube and cause pain and bleeding (13).

Ectopic pregnancy occurs in the early stages

Image: Shutterstock

Screening Tests In The Fourth Week

Getting certain tests and ultrasounds done in the early weeks of pregnancy can help determine pregnancy or fetal complications.

Blood tests measure the amount of pregnancy-associated plasma protein and the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Abnormal quantities of either may indicate the risk of chromosomal abnormality in the fetus (14). These tests are usually ordered by the doctor or the obstetrician.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is my risk of miscarrying?

The risk of miscarrying at four weeks of pregnancy stands at around 25% (15).

2. How is pregnancy calculated?

Pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period. You can also use a pregnancy calculator to calculate your approximate due date.

3. What should I avoid at four weeks pregnant?

At four weeks pregnant, you should avoid (16) (17):

Chemical exposure to cleaning products, mothballs, wall paints, fake tan products (containing dihydroxyacetone), and hair treatment products
Handling cat litter as it increases the risk of toxoplasmosis
Undercooked meat and eggs. They may increase the risk of contracting infections such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, which may lead to serious illnesses

Four weeks of pregnancy is when you are excited to confirm pregnancy and begin to experience pregnancy symptoms. This is when the pregnancy hormones become more active, and you begin to feel various physical and mental changes of pregnancy. Sticking to regular exercise and following a balanced diet can be beneficial. It is also crucial to follow prenatal care, especially prenatal vitamins and supplements, and avoid harmful things since your baby begins to develop its organs and organ systems.

Infographic: Tips To Reduce Miscarriage Risk At Four Weeks Pregnant

The 4th week of pregnancy is the initial and crucial phase of the first trimester. As you embark on your pregnancy journey, this infographic can guide you with vital things to consider during this week to prevent pregnancy loss and sustain a healthy pregnancy.

tips to reduce miscarriage risk at four weeks pregnant (infographic)

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Key Pointers

By the fourth week of pregnancy, the shape of the baby’s face and heart develops.
Take your prenatal vitamins and eat a well-balanced diet with folate-enriched foods.
Miscarriage, bleeding, and ectopic pregnancy are major concerns during this week.
You may need to take blood tests to measure pregnancy-associated plasma protein and hCG hormone.

Learn about what is happening inside your during the fourth week of your pregnancy and how developed the fetus is, in this interesting video.

Personal Experience: Source

MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.

i. Pregnancy week by week: 4 & 5.
https://myprettylittlethoughts.blogspot.com/2011/02/pregnancy-week-by-week-4-5.html

References

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