Week Three Pregnancy

You Are

At Week 3, it is very likely that you are unaware of your pregnancy. This week is the start of fertilization. Following ovulation, sperm and egg unite to form a single cell zygote which multiplies at a fast rate and travels from the fallopian tube to the uterus. By the end of this week, implantation may begin, the fertilized egg embedding itself into the uterine lining, officially beginning pregnancy.

Very few women will have obvious symptoms yet, but some may feel slight cramping or bleed from implantation. Your hormones are beginning to change, but they may not be at a level that a test can detect yet. However, your body has already started to prepare you for what lies ahead in the next few months.

Your Baby

Your baby at this point is a small cluster of rapidly dividing cells called a blastocyst. In the next few moments, these approximate 100 cells will grow into the embryo and the placenta. Your baby’s genes are mapped out at this minuscule size, determining such things as eye color, hair type, and even possibly future personality tendencies.

After the blastocyst implants itself in the uterus, it starts to produce hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) which causes your body to stop menstruation and sustain the pregnancy. In a little while, hCG will be at detectable levels, allowing pregnancy tests to confirm the news and give you the confirmation you’ve been waiting for.