The first signs of pregnancy in the early stages. The first signs of pregnancy in the early stages The test showed a positive result, but menstruation began

• First signs
• Pregnancy by ultrasound
• Pregnancy on HCG
• First weeks
• When to register

Today on the Internet you can find a lot of articles that promise to reveal "33 signs of pregnancy at the most early dates” or “determine the sex of the child a week after conception.” Sane women perceive such information with skepticism, because the vast majority of such articles have nothing to do with the truth. But the question nevertheless remains open - how to determine pregnancy at the earliest possible date and is it possible to do this at all?

In this article, we will consider this topic in detail and try to find an honest and truthful answer to each of the women's questions about the early diagnosis of an “interesting situation”.

How does it start?

In most cases, an interesting and amazing period of the birth of a new life passes by a woman, she simply does not notice it. The majority begins to suspect something only when the next menstruation does not occur. Indeed, medicine considers a delay in menstruation as the very first, but still an indirect sign of pregnancy.

The delay can be caused not only by pregnancy, but also by cycle disorders, hormonal disruptions, inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs and a host of other reasons.

Women who are really looking forward to the onset of pregnancy, plan it, try to "get" in a favorable period for conception, on the contrary, "listen" to any changes in their body throughout the second half of the cycle. Looking for symptoms and signs for them sometimes turns into an almost manic idea.

In order to take this issue more calmly and sensibly, one should have a good idea of ​​​​how conception occurs and when, in principle, the first signs of an “interesting situation” may appear.

Fertilization of an oocyte (ovum) is possible only for one day during the whole month. And the name of this day is ovulation. The egg becomes available for male germ cells only after leaving the burst follicle and about 24 hours after this “event”. Spermatozoa at the time of ovulation may already be in the woman's genital tract (if sex was a couple of days before) or reach the oocyte within a day after release female cell from the follicle in the ovary (if sex occurred on the day of ovulation or during the day).

There are no other fertile "windows" in the female cycle. The only exception is the rare case of the production of two eggs at once, one of which comes out earlier and the other later. In this case, the second one can be fertilized, and then the conception will take place much later than the calendar calculations.

The spermatozoon, after penetrating the shells of the egg, begins to give it its DNA information. This is how a zygote begins to form, consisting of 50% of the paternal genetic material, and 50% of the maternal. Fertilization takes place in the fallopian tube. From there, the zygote begins its journey to the uterus just a few hours after fertilization.

The egg itself cannot move, it is “helped” by the villi that cover the inside of the fallopian tube, as well as contractions of the tube walls that are imperceptible to the woman. Along the way, the zygote enlarges, cleaves, and becomes a blastocyst. On the 6-8th day after ovulation (not after sexual intercourse!) the blastocyst descends into the uterine cavity.

It is here that the baby will spend the next nine calendar months. But for this, the blastocyst must first successfully attach itself to the uterine wall. While she "traveled" through the tube and its mouth, the hormone progesterone began to be produced in the woman's body. It was he who launched the first changes in the structure of the uterine endometrium. The inner membranes of the reproductive organ became loose, more filled with blood.

Implantation occurs within a few hours - the fetal egg, due to the enzymes contained in the membranes, can partially dissolve the endometrial cells and literally “infiltrate” or “grow” into it. Chorionic cells immediately begin to perform two important functions: they ensure the connection of the fetal egg with the uterus, the flow of maternal blood, and also produce and release a special substance into the female bloodstream - chorionic gonadotropic hormone (hCG). HCG promotes additional production of progesterone. It turns out a vicious circle.

Theoretically, a woman can notice the first sensations at any stage of the advancement of the fetal egg and its implantation, but they cannot be called specific. Rather, they will be associated with an increase in progesterone levels, and a week after conception - with an increase in hCG levels. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to feel pregnancy so early is not so easy to find. Theoretically, it is possible, but in practice, a rare representative of the fair sex has such a high sensitivity.

Enter the first day of your last menstrual period

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Feelings before delay

First impressions are always subjective. If a woman really wants to be pregnant, then she quite often wishes for reality and simply “thinks up” symptoms for herself. Sometimes the signs of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are mistaken for early signs of pregnancy (they really are very, very similar!).

It should be noted that premenstrual syndrome is not inherent in all women, and therefore the appearance of unusual sensations in them usually does not go unnoticed.

As already mentioned, the first signs before the delay of menstruation can begin at any time. Progesterone, the level of which in the blood rises within an hour and a half after ovulation, begins to prepare the female body for pregnancy even before fertilization itself takes place. It relaxes uterine smooth muscles, preventing uterine contractions. It suppresses maternal immunity so that it does not reject the new life that has arisen, because for the immune system the embryo is half alien (it contains 50% of the genetic material of a man, which is alien to the woman’s body, his immunity “does not know”).

Progesterone already in the first days after implantation begins to "work" as a "caretaker", increasing the female appetite in order to create reserves of fat and glucose for the growth and development of the baby "for a rainy day". Progesterone helps to maintain pregnancy, which is why, if it is deficient in the body, implantation may not take place, and if the fetal egg still manages to gain a foothold, with a high degree of probability it will be rejected and die in the shortest possible time.

An increase in the level of progesterone, and after implantation - and chorionic gonadotropin, leaves an imprint on the work of all organs and systems of the female body at the biochemical level. Therefore, even before the delay, the appearance of the following symptoms and signs is quite real.

Fatigue

Fatigue without apparent reason- a consequence of the increased work of the body in conditions of a changed hormonal background, energy costs become greater. Such a sign may appear as early as 6-7 days after ovulation.

Signs of a cold

Signs of a cold - runny nose, nasal congestion without snot, shortness of breath, general malaise. These signs are a consequence of the inhibitory effect of progesterone on the woman's immune system. In addition, progesterone slightly retains fluid in the tissues, which is why a runny nose appears, which is called physiological rhinitis of pregnant women.

This condition can be distinguished from a real cold or viral infection by the absence of high fever, runny nose, and cough.

From the point of view of biochemical processes, such a symptom may appear when the concentration of progesterone reaches a fairly high level, that is, not the next day after conception, but only after 8-10 days.

Sleep disturbance

In other words, insomnia or increased sleepiness. Normal sleep is disturbed not only by progesterone, which affects certain receptors nervous system in a completely unpredictable and unexpected way, but also a special center in the cerebral cortex - the “center of pregnancy”. This is a temporary impulse center that appears after fertilization and disappears after childbirth. Its task is to regulate all the nervous and physiological processes that are somehow connected with the period of gestation.

It is the work of this center that in some pregnant women a little later leads to the development of toxicosis of the first trimester. Before the delay of menstruation, the new center of the brain does not yet interfere with the "neighbors" - the vomiting center, the center of thermoregulation and others, but it is already beginning to declare itself. This manifests itself in the violation of some nerve connections, which causes difficulty falling asleep, jerky and restless sleep at night, frequent awakenings.

Sometimes the reaction of the body to the appearance of a new center in the cerebral cortex is the opposite - a woman begins to fall asleep in any position of the body, anywhere and at any time, if she is left alone for at least a while. Sleep disorders can appear as early as 4-5 days after conception.

mood swings

Mood swings are a very difficult symptom to self-diagnose. Most women and outside of pregnancy in the second phase of the menstrual cycle are not particularly balanced. But if fertilization did take place, then the first symptoms of emotional “swings” can appear only after implantation, when the hCG hormone begins to be produced. In combination with progesterone, it has an overwhelming effect on the central nervous system of a woman.

By nature, this effect was intended to save the life of the embryo, because excessive emotional and mental "outbursts" can harm the development of offspring at any stage of pregnancy. In practice, most often it looks like this: a woman becomes unstable, her mood changes from sadness to joy, she is easily irritated and becomes slightly absent-minded and forgetful.

This symptom can also occur during PMS, but the mechanism of mood swings during PMS will be slightly different - exclusively progesterone. A woman with PMS is more irritable and even aggressive. If pregnancy occurs, then tearfulness, resentment, aggression are more often observed - a rarity.

A woman can begin to feel the first tangible changes in her mood on the 10-11th day after ovulation, if the pregnancy has taken place.

Feeling of heaviness in the stomach

Usually a woman believes that the matter is in yesterday's dinner or today's breakfast, that the cause of a slight and barely noticeable feeling of fullness in the stomach is gas formation. But a trip to the toilet and even an enema do not get rid of this strange feeling. The fact is that under the influence of progesterone, the uterus and ovaries begin to fill with blood more intensively. This creates a feeling of "fullness".

Such a symptom can only appear when the blood flow becomes more intense, and this will happen after the introduction of the fetal egg into the functional layer of the endometrium of the uterus.

Often, women notice this symptom only 12-14 days after ovulation, that is, by the beginning of the delay. It is often mistakenly interpreted as a harbinger of the onset of menstruation.

Tingling in the uterus

Medicine can explain these sensations only by the softening effect that the same hormone progesterone has on the endometrium and muscles of the female reproductive organ. However, in some women, tingling may be present, while in others this symptom will not appear. This rather subjective symptom can theoretically appear sporadically on any day of the second phase of the menstrual cycle with completed conception, starting from about 3-4 days after ovulation.

Headache

Regular headaches can begin after the implantation of the fetal egg in the uterus. Most women note that the head hurts for a short time, usually in the evening or in the morning. The pain goes away as suddenly as it started. The reason lies in the changed hormonal balance.

Sensitivity of the mammary glands

There are women who, by the condition of their breasts, can almost unmistakably determine whether they should wait this month. critical days” or go to the pharmacy for a pregnancy test. But this is only possible if a woman knows the characteristics of her body well and has become pregnant more than once. For most of the fair sex, the "language" of the mammary glands is not entirely clear.

Let's say right away - all changes in the mammary gland are hormone-dependent. This means that this is how the gland reacts to the increase in progesterone in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, regardless of whether pregnancy has occurred. However, during pregnancy, the balance of other hormones will change already in the early stages. For example, the level of prolactin will change hardly perceptibly for diagnosis. Therefore, quite often, women note that not necessarily painful sensations in the chest, but rather unusual ones, may indicate pregnancy.

If in the usual cycles for menstruation the breasts began to ache, in the "pregnant" cycle the mammary glands can be surprisingly calm and painless. If usually the chest did not bother much before menstruation, then it can be assumed that increased pain may not indicate pregnancy.

Such a symptom should not be expected before the end of the cycle, that is, 10-13 days after ovulation.

Heartburn, constipation, frequent urination

Usually, such symptoms appear later than in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, but in some cases, it is with such unpleasant manifestations that the woman's body reacts to an increase in the concentration of progesterone.

Increased body temperature

When pregnancy occurs after implantation, women quite often note that in the afternoon their body temperature may rise slightly - up to 37.0-37.5 degrees. There is a feeling of chills or heat, mild headaches. This is a consequence of the suppression of the immune defense of the female body, such “attacks” will pass as soon as the body fully adapts to the new state, that is, approximately by the middle of the second month of pregnancy.

Salivation

This is a fairly common sign of pregnancy at the very beginning. And it, despite the strangeness of the wording, is quite easy to identify. A symptom manifests itself in the form of uncontrolled salivation during sleep.

A woman may notice that the edge of the pillow is wet in the morning. The symptom has a completely scientific explanation - the work of the new center of the cerebral cortex "infringes" on the work of the center responsible for the production of saliva. Quite often, such a sign indicates an onset and developing pregnancy.

implantation bleeding

This symptom is devoted to a huge number of reviews and entries of women on thematic forums, and therefore we decided to consider it separately from others. Indeed, unusual discharge about a week after ovulation can be quite informative in terms of early diagnosis of an “interesting situation”.

From the point of view of official medicine and science, at the time of implantation, when a part of the endometrium into which the blastocyst is implanted is destroyed, a slight bleeding is quite possible, which is called implantation bleeding. On the physical level, a woman may feel slight pulling pains in the lower back on the day of implantation. They can be called pains very conditionally, rather, it's just a slight discomfort.

On the daily sanitary napkin scanty, scanty discharge may be found. Sometimes they are just a few drops. The color will be due to the presence of some blood in the vaginal secretion - pink, yellowish, creamy, brown. There is usually no scarlet blood during implantation.

Implantation bleeding stops literally after a few hours, in extreme cases it lasts no more than a day. And this is its difference from the premature onset of menstruation, for which this symptom is usually taken. By the way, according to statistics, only 35-45% of women have such a symptom. In most cases, implantation does not manifest itself in any way.

You should know that implantation bleeding is not dangerous for the development of pregnancy. Implantation itself does not guarantee a successful pregnancy. Sometimes a fertilized egg is rejected immediately after implantation or stops developing within a few days. This may be due to diseases of the woman, chromosomal or genetic defects of the embryo, in which its further growth is impossible, as well as a host of other factors, not all of which can be explained by medicine.

The successful development of the fetus will be indicated by a twofold increase in the level of the hCG hormone, which will occur every two days from the moment of implantation. Below we describe how this can be determined.

Changes in appearance

From the point of view of medicine, external changes in a woman should not occur before the delay. But examples from a rich female personal experience, generously published by the fair sex on the Internet, say the opposite. Since women planning a pregnancy, and especially those who have been planning it for a long time and so far to no avail, have learned to “listen” to changes in themselves, certain groups of complaints about external changes are quite often noted already during the first week after conception.

Such changes most often include a slight swelling of the face, which appears before the delay. It is physiologically associated with fluid retention in tissues, which is caused by the hormone progesterone. However, slight swelling can also be observed in non-pregnant women in the second half of the menstrual cycle, especially a few days before the start of the next menstruation, also due to an increased concentration of progesterone.

Acne of varying intensity often appears about 5-6 days after ovulation. It has an endocrine origin and appears in most women even before the delay. However, it should be understood that acne can have many other causes that are in no way related to pregnancy.

Many women note that they began to look better, a blush appeared on their cheeks, a perky gleam appeared in their eyes. And everyone around usually notices it, makes compliments. The blush on the cheeks is associated with increased blood volume and increased vascular permeability, which are thus affected by the same pregnancy hormone - progesterone.

In women suffering from chronic hemorrhoids, after conception, an exacerbation of the piquant problem with varicose hemorrhoidal veins may be observed. For many women, the manifestation of thrush occurs as the first sign, because immunity is reduced, which gives the fungi the opportunity to begin to multiply in more comfortable conditions for themselves.

Thrush in any case needs treatment, regardless of whether pregnancy has occurred or not.

The most ambiguous of the described symptoms is cystitis. Many women note that emptying the bladder becomes painful and unpleasant even a few days before the date of the next menstruation. Cystitis, like thrush, is caused by a decrease in immunity due to the "fault" of an increased concentration of progesterone.

When the immune defense weakens, pathogenic bacteria, including those that have entered the urethra from the rectum, are activated, which causes all women the well-known signs of cystitis - pain during urination, frequent trips to the toilet, discomfort in the perineum.

Symptoms after delay

Delay is in itself a very bright and characteristic sign of pregnancy. After a delay, there is usually no need to look for any signs of an “interesting situation” in yourself, because laboratory diagnostics of pregnancy is already becoming available.

In the first week after the start of the delay in women who did not feel anything unusual before it, no significant difference in well-being is noticed. If the first early signs were felt a week earlier, after a delay they may intensify.

Toxicosis

As a rule, in the second week after the start of the delay, and it already corresponds to the 5-6th week of pregnancy, early toxicosis may appear. It can be both moderate and quite pronounced. There are also lucky ones who do not know what toxicosis is in principle.

Whether there will be toxicosis or not depends on the age of the woman, on the state of her immunity, genetic predisposition. The mechanisms for the development of toxicosis are not well understood, but the immune explanation of what is happening seems to be the most plausible. Until the moment when a young placenta is formed, and it usually begins to function at the 12-14th week of pregnancy, the woman's body tries to "get used" to the new "tenant", as well as to the new, enhanced mode of operation of all organs and systems.

Most often, toxicosis is manifested by nausea, vomiting, intolerance to smells that previously gave pleasure, intolerance to certain types of food, certain foods. Also, toxicosis can be accompanied by exacerbations of allergic reactions, if a woman has a predisposition to them, which once again proves the immune factor of toxicosis.

Heaviness in the lower abdomen

Almost all women in the second week after the delay note that it becomes uncomfortable to sit with a straight back for a long time - the heaviness in the lower abdomen interferes. The uterus begins to grow, while the changes in its size are minimal, but already differ from the sizes characteristic of a woman outside the state of pregnancy, in addition, the blood supply to the pelvic organs increases.

The state of the mammary glands is changing

They begin to increase in size, the sensitivity to touch the nipples becomes aggravated, the areola may become slightly darker. Some women note that a bluish venous network on the mammary glands becomes noticeable. In multiparous women, especially those who have breastfed their first child for a long time, a few drops of colostrum may be released when pressure is applied to the nipple.

In general, signs of pregnancy after the next menstruation has not come cannot be considered clinically characteristic, since delay, fever, cystitis, and soreness of the mammary glands can be manifestations of pathologies that have nothing to do with pregnancy.

When is a diagnosis possible?

Often, around early diagnosis, women make a real hysteria - 4 days after sex on the day of ovulation, they run to the pharmacy, buy a large supply of test strips and start using them every day in the morning and evening in search of the so-called ghost strip (weak second line). Why such actions do not make sense and only harm is easy to understand, given that all tests begin to react only when a sufficiently solid supply of hCG accumulates in the urine.

Chorionic gonadotropin begins to be produced, as we said above, only from the moment of implantation, and therefore Until 7-9 days after ovulation, it makes no sense to use any tests at all. Even ultra-sensitive strips are not able to determine in the urine what is not yet in it.

The first rise in the level of hCG will be two days after implantation, but it will be so small that only a laboratory analysis of the woman's venous blood can fix it. Twice the level of the hormone will grow in another 2 days and will be perfectly determined in the blood. Thus, the most impatient women are recommended to do a blood test in any clinic on the 10-12th day after ovulation (this is the 24-26th day of the cycle). It costs quite inexpensively (about 500-600 rubles), but the accuracy of the result tends to 100%.

The chorionic hormone enters the urine much later than it enters the blood, and therefore test strip manufacturers recommend using home tests only from the first day of the delay, when the level of hCG in the fluid secreted by the kidneys exceeds the sensitivity threshold of the reagent applied to the test strip. The advantage of such tests is availability and low cost, the disadvantage is accuracy.

Quite often, contrary to the assurances of manufacturers, such tests give false positive or false negative results.

After IVF or artificial insemination, test strips are contraindicated in principle, because the protocol most often uses an hCG injection to stimulate ovulation, and traces of the hormone remain in the patient's urine and blood for quite a long time. For such women, the answer to the question of whether there is a pregnancy should not be earlier than 14 days after embryo transfer or intrauterine insemination. During these terms, you can do the first blood test for hCG.

If the test gives a positive result, the woman wants to make sure that it is true. Therefore, it is understandable and natural the desire of the expectant mother to get an ultrasound scan and an appointment with a gynecologist as soon as possible. However, there is no need to rush. Immediately after the delay, neither ultrasound diagnostics nor a doctor of the highest category will be able to answer the question of whether there will be a child.

After natural conception, an ultrasound scan should be done no earlier than 5-6 weeks of pregnancy (this is 3-4 weeks after ovulation or 1-2 weeks after the start of the delay). At this time, the fetal egg will be well visualized, and by the end of the 6th week it will be possible to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. With the results of ultrasound, you can go to the antenatal clinic and get up for dispensary registration for pregnancy.

After IVF, the first ultrasound is carried out within a clearly defined time frame - on the 21st day after the transfer of the embryos into the uterine cavity, a confirmatory diagnosis is made, and on the 28th day after the transfer, a clarifying one. The first shows whether there is a pregnancy at all, how many fetuses are in the uterus, and the second shows whether the embryos are viable, whether they are alive, whether they grow in accordance with the term and whether their heart beats. After that, you can also go to a consultation for registration.

Why rushing to diagnose is bad? Because, soaking the 15th test a week before the delay and not seeing the stripes on it, the woman is nervous and very worried. Stress becomes chronic, specific stress hormones lead to the suppression of the natural production of sex hormones. Such a “diagnosis” can result in the rejection of the fetal egg, an early miscarriage. Sometimes stress is the only reason for unsuccessful IVF or lack of implantation during natural conception.

How to determine the sex of the child?

The sex of the child is predetermined at the time of fertilization. It depends on which type of sperm was able to get to the egg first. If fertilization occurred with a sperm-carrier of the XX genetic set, a girl will be born, if with sperm-XY, a boy will be born. However, sex differences in embryos of different sexes will begin to form only at the 9th week of pregnancy, and until that moment the embryos look exactly the same. Their sex can only be established during IVF, if pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is performed.

Neither before the delay, nor after it, it is not possible to establish who should be born in nine months. However, women stubbornly continue to claim that in some situations they perfectly felt what gender they were carrying a child almost immediately after conception:

• Boys' moms say that almost from the very beginning of pregnancy, before the delay or immediately after it, they noticed that their appearance improved markedly, became more strong nails and hair, pimples disappeared. Before the delay, the temperature did not rise, but the sensations of heat almost constantly haunted, while the legs almost always remained cold. The appetite of the boys' mothers began to increase almost from the very beginning of the "interesting situation", meat products and fish prevailed among the taste preferences. There was practically no toxicosis, as well as drowsiness, depressed mood.

• The girls' mothers say that already a week after the start of the delay, their appearance changed for the worse - swelling of the face, lips, nose appeared, the skin became paler, sweating increased. In the early stages, body temperature often rose, and the feet and hands were almost always hot to the touch. Morning sickness manifested itself to varying degrees even before the delay or in the first days after it. The mood often changed, actions were distinguished by confusion and lack of logic. There was almost no appetite, or I only wanted something sweet or milky.

Please note that these signs are neither confirmed nor refuted by medicine and science. There is no logical explanation for what is happening. It should be noted that the coincidence of signs with the real sex of the child is observed only in half of the cases. This means that even with a male embryo, a woman can eat chocolates and suffer from toxicosis, and with a girl at an early stage, the expectant mother can feel great and demand herring with onions.

The reaction of the body to pregnancy is purely individual. And it depends only on her how this or that woman will feel the pregnancy, what she will prefer from food, as well as what external signs and for how long she will appear.

Common Questions

In connection with attempts to determine pregnancy at the earliest possible time, women usually have a lot of questions, the answers to which they are looking for, including on the Internet. We tried to choose the most discussed and answer them as truthfully as possible.

The test showed a positive result, but menstruation began

The test strips may be expired, a woman may make mistakes during the test, hCG may be increased in the woman's body due to the growth of a tumor of any localization. All this may be the reason that the test will show a positive or weakly positive result in the actual absence of pregnancy.

Sometimes pregnancy is biochemical in nature, in which implantation will first take place, but then the development of the embryo will be interrupted. The hCG level will be elevated, but menstruation will come after a slight delay. In any case, after positive test from a pharmacy, it is best to do a blood test for chorionic gonadotropic hormone twice with a difference of 2-4 days, in order not only to know about the fact of pregnancy, but also to see that it is developing.

The test showed one thing, and the blood test another

In this case, it all depends on what the blood test showed. It is more accurate, and therefore there are more reasons to trust laboratory research. The reason for the difference in results may lie in incorrect testing at home or in the fact that the rapid test itself was defective or expired.

The test showed a negative result, but menstruation does not come

This situation is possible if the test was carried out too early, when the level of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine did not reach the concentration necessary for accurate diagnosis. Another option is a test of rights, just a delay is caused by pathologies on the part of the organs of the reproductive system, stress or endocrine disorders.

In case of a delay, it is imperative to repeat the test or do a blood test for hCG.

Basal body temperature does not rise

Women who closely monitor the basal temperature know that at the time of ovulation, it rises, and in the event of conception, it no longer falls, remaining above 37.0 degrees. However, the temperature in the rectum depends on the level of progesterone. Therefore, in some women with insufficient levels of this hormone, the basal temperature after conception can remain quite low by general standards - 36.6-38.0 degrees. This does not mean that pregnancy cannot be endured. But the threat in the early stages may arise.

If the temperature does not rise on the expected day of ovulation, this may indicate the absence of ovulation in this cycle, an anovulatory cycle. If a woman has no more than 2-3 such “empty” cycles per year, there is nothing to worry about. If more, you need to see a doctor to determine the cause of the violation of the cycle. In anovulatory cycles, conception is impossible.

When can an unwanted pregnancy be terminated?

If it so happens that an early pregnancy is unwanted, women wonder how quickly it can be terminated. It is impossible to do this the next day after receiving positive test results. Conventional abortion can be performed up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, but you must first pass all the tests and get a referral.

Medical abortion can be done earlier, but only after the pregnancy is confirmed by ultrasound data. It is optimal to go to the clinic at 6-7 weeks of pregnancy, have an ultrasound scan and conclude a contract for a medical abortion.

After 8-9 weeks of pregnancy, such termination of pregnancy will be refused by order of the Russian Ministry of Health.

Can I register for pregnancy later?

It is clear that it is too early to register in the first month. But you should not delay with an appeal to a gynecologist. It is best to contact the antenatal clinic 2-3 weeks after the start of the delay. At this time, the doctor will be able to determine pregnancy with a manual examination of the uterus, ultrasound and a blood test for hCG.

The main thing is to catch up to 12 weeks, when the first prenatal screening takes place. However, you should be aware that early staging registration sometimes helps to identify pathologies and problems that appear before 12 weeks, and this is in the interests of both the child and the mother.

For the first signs of early pregnancy, see the following video.

• First signs
• Pregnancy by ultrasound

The month is already coming to an end from the moment the sperm met the egg, and a fertilized egg with a unique set of chromosomes arose. By this time, most women found out about their interesting situation, had already visited the antenatal clinic and were examined by a doctor, having received all the necessary recommendations. Since the 6th week of pregnancy proceeds, what are the features of the woman's well-being and appearance?

Real and obstetric terms

Before considering the processes occurring in the female body, it is worth clarifying that the real term does not always coincide with the obstetric one.

The obstetric term, due to the fact that it is almost impossible to determine the exact date of fertilization, is usually counted from the 1st day of the last menstruation, and therefore it cannot coincide with the real one, when conception actually occurred.

Usually, obstetric term always less than the real one by 7-14 days. That is, the sixth week of pregnancy of the real age of the fetus is approximately 4 obstetric weeks.

6 weeks of pregnancy - the beginning of the embryonic period, which will last up to 10 weeks. It is during the sixth week that the fetus becomes human-like with tiny arms and legs and a disproportionately large head.

At the very beginning of this period, the embryo has only 3 groups of already formed cells that begin to actively grow and divide.

Over the next 7 days, all the organs of the future person are formed:

• from the outer layer (ectoderm) skin, teeth, hair, organs of vision and brain are laid;
• from the middle layer (mesoderm), the cells are transformed into the bones of the skeleton (at this time, the bones still have a cartilaginous structure), muscles and the cardiovascular system;
• from the inner layer (endodermis) the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory organs are created.

In addition, there is an active formation of the placenta from the chorion. Chorion acquires hairs. A blood channel is gradually formed, which will nourish the embryo throughout the entire gestation period.

By the end of the seventh day after the beginning of the formation of organs, the embryo already has:

• the neural plate, which transforms into the central nervous system;
• rudiments of the main glands;
• not yet formed face;
• cartilage base of the skeleton.

By the end of the 6th week, the fetus has a size of 4-5 mm, but its arms and legs are already visible.

The state of the mother's body

During the period when the fetus in the uterus is actively growing, most often women experience various ailments. This is due to:

• increasing daily production of hCG (pregnancy hormone);
• increased production of progesterone, which contributes to the full bearing of the fetus and prevents the uterus from contracting (prevents contractions).

In addition, changes occur in the uterus itself:

• The increased production of progesterone contributes to the fact that the fetus takes the position in the uterus necessary for enhanced growth, while the uterus slightly increases in size.
• There is a gradual "sealing" of the uterine cervix with a mucous plug, which will remain until the very birth. The purpose of the cork is to prevent infections from the outside to penetrate to the embryo.

Test results

Despite the fact that hCG is actively produced in the body, its concentration in the urine is not yet very high. The result of a pharmacy pregnancy test may be:

• negative;
• positive;
• doubtful when the second strip appears very weakly.

Negative and doubtful due to the following reasons:

• kidney disease, when hCG does not pass through the renal tubules;
• incorrect testing (only morning urine is suitable for diagnosis - it contains a hormone content sufficient for analysis in this period);
• faulty drug (if no control strip appears).

To clarify the fact of conception, it is desirable to do a blood test. A blood test for the hCG hormone 100% allows you to determine whether conception has occurred.

Testing will be sharply positive only if twins have been conceived. In a blood test, the hCG level will be higher than normal for this period.

Health problems

At the time of active cell growth and the formation of vital systems, a woman may feel unpleasant phenomena associated with well-being. The following signs can be attributed to disorders associated with pregnancy at week 6:

• frequent urge to urinate;
• bowel disorders (diarrhea or constipation);
• constant drowsiness against the background of a night sleep disorder;

• headache;
• intolerance to certain odors;
• increased sweating;
• nausea and salivation, sometimes vomiting occurs in the morning;
• loss of appetite;
• prolonged hyperthermia without a high rise in temperature (slightly above 37 ° C).

In addition, at this time, almost all pregnant women show emotional lability, when women become unable to control their emotions.

The pregnant woman becomes tearful, reacts too emotionally to various life situations, there are sharp mood swings when causeless joy is replaced by aggression.

Not everyone has the same symptoms: for some it will be emotional sensations provoked by various situations, and someone will suffer from stomach disorders. The body of each woman is individual, but, as the results of clinical studies have shown, after conception, first of all, there is a violation of the work of those systems or organs that needed treatment even before pregnancy.

Important points to pay attention to

Signs of toxicosis, if they appear moderately, allowing the expectant mother to rest and eat a little, are not dangerous and will gradually disappear when hormonal changes are over. A dangerous symptom will be a sudden improvement in the condition when nausea and irritability disappear - this occurs when the embryo dies and the pregnancy freezes. After the death of a child in utero, the production of hormones stops, and the woman begins to feel better for some time.

With a sharp disappearance of toxic symptoms, you should immediately visit a antenatal clinic: a dead fetal egg does not always leave the body (spontaneous abortion), it can serve as a source for the development of severe septic infections and needs to be removed (cleaned).

physical changes

In addition to the emergence of various discomfort, there are changes in the body at the level of physiology. To notice them, it is enough to carefully examine the chest and abdomen.

Breast changes

Under the influence of progesterone, which prepares the female body for childbirth and breastfeeding, mammary gland:

• swell and slightly increase in size;
• become hypersensitive, especially in the peripapillary region;
• the skin around the nipples becomes much darker.

Such sensations from the chest against the background of other physiological disorders often contribute to the development of a stressful state, especially in those who become pregnant for the first time. But, in some pregnant women, due to the increased sensitivity of the nipples, there is a strong sexuality. There are no special contraindications, except for poor health, for intimacy, but it is better to avoid sudden movements so as not to provoke a miscarriage. It is better to take calm positions during sex (lying or standing on all fours) and avoid pressure on the stomach.

Abdominal condition

Since the size of the embryo has not yet reached 5 mm, the uterus only slightly increases in size, the appearance of the abdomen does not change. From unpleasant sensations, mild pulling pains in the lower abdomen can occur, radiating to the lower back.

If soreness occurs infrequently (once every 2-3 days) and disappears on its own, then this is considered normal.

If the pulling pains in the lower abdomen are intense and prolonged (they do not go away on their own for several days), then such symptoms should be the reason for a medical examination.

Pain occurs for the following reasons:

• Individual characteristics of the body during the active growth of the fetus and the laying of the main systems or during the conception of twins (the uterus increases in size faster). These pains are not dangerous and will disappear after the period of organ laying ends (maximum after 21 days). If the pain syndrome becomes unbearable, then under the supervision of a doctor, you can take a mild antispasmodic, for example, no-shpu.
• Twin conception. The uterus at the same time increases faster and puts more pressure on nearby tissues and nerve endings.
• The likelihood of ectopic (usually tubal) implantation of the fetal egg. In this case, the pain will be more intense on the right or left. Their localization depends on the place where the embryo was implanted.
• Threat of interruption. Miscarriage often occurs at 6 weeks, and many women lose their baby without ever knowing they were pregnant.

• Frozen pregnancy. A dangerous condition when the death of the embryo occurs, and the fetal egg remains in the uterine cavity. The death of the embryo can occur at any time, but more often it happens at an early stage of development. When the fetus freezes, additional symptoms will be severe hyperthermia and general intoxication.
• Uterine hypertension. More often it is provoked by insufficient production of progesterone (a hormone that prevents uterine contraction). If the signs of hypertonicity are not stopped in time, then such an increased tension of the uterus will provoke a miscarriage.

Stomach pain is dangerous. If they are prolonged or cause severe discomfort, then you need to be examined by a doctor.

Perhaps they are caused by the fact that twins were conceived and the uterus grows faster, squeezing nearby nerves and tissues, or perhaps this is the beginning of a miscarriage. It is better to visit your obstetrician and make sure that everything is in order than to lose a child due to inattention to your health.

During this period, there are no normal discharges. There may be clear mucous or watery discharge.

If bloody, cheesy or purulent discharge appears, then these symptoms indicate the development of a pathology, and their diagnosis and treatment should be done as soon as possible in order to prevent the infection from penetrating the child.

Even a small admixture of blood in the vaginal discharge is dangerous. Normally, throughout the entire period of gestation, there should be no blood.

The appearance of even small spotting indicates the development of a serious pathology, for example, it is a sign of the onset of placental abruption.

At week 6, an ultrasound is determined:

• increased blood supply to the endometrium, which is associated with the initial stage of the formation of the placenta;
• a slight increase in the size of the uterus;
• a tiny black dot (the site of implantation of the embryo on the uterine wall).

At this time, ultrasound diagnostics is rarely performed. It is prescribed if an ectopic pregnancy is suspected (an embryo will not be visible on ultrasound in the uterus) or if multiple pregnancy is suspected. But in diagnosing twins, this method is not very accurate - a hardware study cannot always determine two or more implantation sites, because the embryos are still too small.

Six weeks after conception is a crucial period when pregnancy is still very fragile. During this time, the following may occur:

• intrauterine pathology, when there are violations in the formation of systems and organs;
• miscarriage;
• death of the fetal egg.

To prevent this from happening, you must:

Movement and sports

All pregnant women are advised to move more. A special set of exercises and evening walks will not only help to cope with nervous lability and improve sleep, but will also help improve blood circulation. internal organs.

You can swim a little or sign up for a water aerobics group for pregnant women - water exercises give positive emotions and help to cope with stress caused by the hormonal preparation of the body for normal childbearing. Expectant mothers should remember that pregnancy, although it has unpleasant symptoms, is not a disease, but a natural state of the body. Despite the poor health, it is not recommended to give up the available pleasures.

To bear and give birth healthy child, care must be taken to ensure that the development of the fetus takes place without disturbance at all stages. The 6-week period is one of the important periods when all systems and organs of the embryo begin to form.

The 6th week of pregnancy means the beginning of the second calendar month of the new state of the woman. It seems that before the birth of a child is still so far away - more than six months! However, many women have no time to think about it. After all, the future baby is actively developing, and your own body constantly requires attention!

We consider the term

WITH medical point of vision, the sixth week is a little more than a month from the first day of the last menstruation. This calculation of the term is called obstetric. There is an embryonic method of counting - from the moment of the alleged ovulation. Usually it comes in the middle of the cycle. Therefore, the embryonic period lags behind the obstetric one by two weeks. The sixth week from conception (from ovulation) is the eighth obstetric week.

And if the menstruation of a woman was not regular? This happens against the background of the abolition of hormonal contraceptives, certain diseases or individual characteristics of the body. Then the doctor will calculate the term differently. For example, by the size of the fetus (measured by ultrasound). Or by the first movement of the fetus - if a woman is preparing to become a mother for the first time, this will happen at about 20 weeks (ie, movement).

Why do doctors need such precision? They must calculate the EDD - the expected date of birth. It will be calculated later maternity leave and issued sick leave.

Mom and baby at 6 weeks: what's going on?

The future baby continues to develop rapidly. Feelings of every woman on the 6th obstetric week are individual. In some cases, expectant mothers are just learning about their new condition. One feels great, but at the same time she worries: where is the toxicosis? Another is already struggling with morning sickness. Depending on how you feel and your appetite, you may experience slight weight gain or loss.

Confirmation of pregnancy

There are four main methods to help you determine the new state. You can do a pharmacy test, take a blood test for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) or undergo an ultrasound scan.

The test will certainly show two stripes. HCG is one of the hormones of pregnancy, so its increased content in the blood is a clear confirmation. An ultrasound scanner will show a tiny embryo. It will look like a light dot or comma on a dark background of the uterine cavity.

A gynecological examination will also say yes. At the sixth obstetric week, the doctor will definitely feel a slightly grown uterus, in which a small life is intensively developing.

However, the belly of the expectant mother looks the same as before. A barely noticeable thickening can be seen only in very thin women or in those who have recently gained a little weight.

Fetal development

Your baby is like

What does the future baby look like?

The largest parts of the body are the head and torso. The arms and legs are tiny processes with tubercles-fingers. The size of the fetus (more precisely, the embryo) at the 6th obstetric week reaches 4 mm, weight - up to 2 g. And here is how its development goes:

• the limbs gradually lengthen, knee and elbow bends are outlined;
• fingers grow a little;
• cartilaginous structures develop, that is, future bones;
• the formation of the brain begins, the bone marrow is in its infancy;
• the external genitalia are barely marked;
• the inner ear begins to develop;
• the thymus (thymus gland), the most important organ of immunity, is formed;
• lungs, heart, liver, stomach and pancreas continue to develop;
• the neural tube becomes the embryonic nervous system;
• muscle tissue is still developing rapidly.

The tiny heart regularly counts about 140 beats per minute. Is it a lot or a little? There is such a law in nature - the smaller the heart of a living being, the faster it beats. Therefore, such a “pulse” in the embryo is in the order of things. So far, only a specialist can determine the heartbeat during an ultrasound scan.

By the way, the baby has a tiny tail. This is like a reminder that we are all children of Nature (after all, many living creatures on Earth have tails). A little later, the tail will pull inward and become the tip of the spine.

And here is a new miracle - the placenta develops, the umbilical cord is formed. The baby is no longer pressed tightly against the wall of the fetal egg. He swims freely in the amniotic fluid and makes his first movements. But mom will not be able to feel it very soon. But she feels a lot more.

Toxicosis of pregnant women

At the 6th obstetric week, many “get acquainted” with this condition. Most common symptoms toxicosis:

1. Nausea in the morning or during the day. Every expectant mother can have “her own” time.
2. Vomit. Not every bout of nausea ends with it. Normally, the body rejects food in this way. Drinking large amounts of liquid can also lead to stomach cramps and vomiting.
3. Changing food habits. Favorite food suddenly begins to cause disgust, and some foods, on the contrary, you want to eat and eat endlessly. Such quirks can be multiple: today “pulls” for sauerkraut, and tomorrow you want salted fish. Sometimes the expectant mother becomes an unbearable capricious, because food desires are sometimes unbearable.
4. A woman's sense of smell can be sharply aggravated. At the same time, many smells cause a feeling of rejection, they can even throw up.

All these signs indicate increased work of hormones. Toxicosis of pregnant women is not a disease, but a special condition. But if a pregnant woman tolerates it with great difficulty, you need to see a doctor. What to pay attention to?

1. The body rejects any food during the day.
2. Vomiting occurs not only after eating, but also after drinking.
3. Vomiting and / or nausea practically does not go away.
4. Significant weakness develops from lack of nutrition.

Other indicators

Even without toxicosis at the 6th obstetric week, the expectant mother is full of various experiences that are associated with her pregnancy.

Physical sensations (not counting morning sickness) and signs/symptoms of pregnancy may include:

• drowsiness at any time of the day;
• constant feeling of fatigue;
• frequent inability to concentrate;
• feeling of lack of air;
• increased sensitivity of the nipples, their darkening;
• salivation and slight runny nose without a cold;
• more frequent urge to urinate;
• the skin may become more loose and problematic (pimples appear);
• swelling and even tingling of the mammary glands.

Some women notice that they perceive cold or heat differently. Changes may vary. For example, even in the light summer heat, everything around seems like a red-hot oven. And if it’s cold outside, then the expectant mother doesn’t “warm up” in any way - she’s not cold anyway. It happens the other way around: at any time of the year you always want to wrap yourself up properly.

Emotional signs:

• mood swings from euphoria to depression;
• hypersensitivity (not the most touching movie causes a stream of tears);
• feeling that there is a conspiracy of misunderstanding around, a feeling of alienation.

The expectant mother continually asks: “Why is this happening?” There is only one answer: pregnancy hormones are to blame. They literally flooded the female blood and rage there in full force. Their job is to save the future baby, reconcile it with the mother's body. This will have to endure. However, there are also worrying signs. If they appear, you may need to see a doctor.

What to look out for - abdominal pain and discharge

• Pulls the stomach

Expectant mothers often note that their stomach seems to be pulling. If this feeling is barely noticeable, you should not worry. It may be due to the gradual internal tension of the uterine ligaments.

And yet, the gestation period of 6 weeks is an unsafe time. So the expectant mother needs to carefully listen to herself. If the stomach still hurts for real and the pain intensifies in the evening, there is cause for alarm. Especially if smearing brown discharge appears from time to time. These could all be signs of a miscarriage or missed pregnancy.

If the stomach hurts not below, but above, on the right or on the left, the doctor may suspect an ectopic pregnancy. In this case, the woman should receive qualified assistance as soon as possible.

• Allocations

There are no obvious reasons for concern if the spotting is one-time and very insignificant. They may appear for a while. But the doctor must know about them.

Real bleeding, similar to menstruation, is the most dangerous and signals the threat of a miscarriage.

Small, light vaginal discharge is safe and means normal secretion of the mucous membranes. You will have to go to the doctor in several cases:

• too much mucus;
• highlighting a pronounced yellow color;
• it is rather not about mucus, but about “cottage cheese”;
• discharge has an unpleasant odor.

Similar symptoms mean possible inflammatory or infectious processes. They are unfavorable for the unborn baby, therefore, they require observation and treatment.

Complications

Every expectant mother wants an easy pregnancy and a successful birth. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

• Miscarriage is the rejection of the embryo by the body. Some causes of this complication are genetic and do not depend on the woman. Sometimes a miscarriage can be the result of the negligence of the expectant mother - for example, when she goes to the sauna or starts home repairs.
• Ectopic pregnancy - this is the fixation of the fetus “out of place”. In this case, there is only one way out - an artificial interruption in an operative way. Now, after such operations, a woman can still have children, but an attempt is allowed to be made no earlier than six months later.
• Fading pregnancy - this is the cessation of the development of the embryo without its rejection. Then the main medical measures will be aimed at ridding the woman of the dead embryo. This is usually done by stimulating uterine contractions.
• Artificial termination of pregnancy, or abortion, does not apply to complications. This happens if the pregnancy is unwanted and the woman decides not to have a baby. By medical standards, it's not too late. It is only important that a woman go for an abortion with full awareness of the responsibility for her decision.

To experience the joys of future motherhood, a woman needs to follow a number of recommendations. The main ones are about nutrition. It is also important to pay attention to your health and life in general.

Nutrition

The main signs of "pregnant" food:

• benefit for mother and baby;
• good absorption by the body;
• availability.

1. Meat should not be fatty.
2. Fish, on the contrary, it is advisable to buy fatty varieties - it contains important food acids.
3. Approximately one third of the food should consist of fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as dried fruits.
4. Dairy and sour-milk products should be in the diet of the expectant mother every day.
5. It is advisable to consume porridge daily.
6. Products don't have to be "fast". Cereals in bags, noodles in boxes and powdered potatoes in jars should be a thing of the past.
7. If the products require heat treatment, it is better to steam or bake.
8. If possible, canned, smoked and spicy foods should be avoided.
9. The strength and amount of tea and natural coffee will have to be reduced.

Not every dish embodies all the advantages. Somewhere a compromise is needed. If you want fresh mushrooms in winter (accessibility point), you will most likely have to get by with frozen ones. And when the body with horror “refuses” steam trout and demands canned tuna, will it be easy to resist?

The absolute waiver only applies to alcohol. Even a small dose of alcohol can cause serious pathologies in the development of the embryo.

With toxicosis, the first morning meal is best done without getting out of bed.

Mom and baby health

Taking care of your own health is now especially important for a woman. Just a few simple rules help avoid problems.

1. Crowds should be avoided, especially during epidemics of viral and other infections.
2. X-ray examinations are not allowed.
3. It is advisable not to use household chemicals with a high ammonia content ( ammonia) and chlorine.
4. I need to quit smoking urgently.
5. Medicines - only allowed for pregnant women and only as directed by a doctor.
6. Avoiding direct contact with pets is important to avoid possible exposure to toxoplasmosis. Adults can tolerate this disease and not even notice it, and it is extremely dangerous for the embryo.
7. It is advisable to visit a doctor, confirm the uterine pregnancy and undergo the first general and specific tests. The doctor will prescribe a urine test, a vaginal smear, and blood tests for a number of infections and diseases. In addition, the specialist recommends vitamins for pregnant women and folic acid, which is very important for the proper development of the unborn baby.

Special way of life

All actions, all behavior of a woman should take into account her special condition.

1. With constant fatigue, it is better not to go to visits and / or noisy events.
2. Emotions - only positive! It is important not to succumb to negativity and bouts of bad mood.
3. The sex life of future parents does not need to be changed if it still brings convenience to both. But if something bothers the expectant mother in intimate life, the problem needs to be solved. Do not be silent about discomfort and be afraid to offend your partner. Only trust and frankness will help establish a new sexual rhythm. There is one important point: rough, aggressive sex can cause a miscarriage.
4. It is better to refuse to watch bloody action films, dramas with violent scenes and “horror films”. Against the background of hormonal changes, the expectant mother can survive the most natural stress, and the embryo will suffer. After all, a real impulse of fear, negativity and hopelessness will come to him through the blood of his mother.
5. If before a woman did not observe the daily routine, it's time to start. A measured lifestyle will help defeat both chronic fatigue and toxicosis.

To whom and how to report pregnancy?

In the next few weeks, the expectant mother will face the question more than once: to whom and when to tell about her new condition? And how do you report it?

The first on the list will, of course, be the father of the child. How exactly he finds out about the onset of pregnancy, each woman must decide for herself. It can be a romantic dinner or an almost businesslike setting. In one old film, an artist wife literally played a prank on her husband: she painted him with a huge “pregnant” belly. It is only important to remember that the words “oh, we flew with you” give off a very frivolous attitude towards the future appearance of a baby in the family.

Perhaps the future father was already aware of the delay in menstruation of his beloved woman, and therefore he himself will ask her about the results of the test or analyzes.

Let older children (if they already exist), potential grandparents and other relatives find out about everything when future parents are prepared for this.

The employer should be aware of the employee's pregnancy as early as possible if the woman has harmful and / or difficult working conditions. She is entitled to a better working environment. But if there is nowhere to hurry, you can wait a bit - the tummy will not appear soon.

The sixth week of pregnancy will not be a difficult time if the expectant mother takes care of herself and her baby.

Video guide: 6 weeks pregnant: stomach pulling, sensations, what is happening, what is possible and impossible