Fetus at 3 weeks pregnant: description, development

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Today, probably, there is no woman who does not want to become a mother. Pregnancy is one of the most enjoyable moments in life. The third week of gestation is the final for the process of sperm movement. As a rule, at this time a woman does not yet understand that a new life has arisen in her, since the first symptoms may not appear immediately. It is worth knowing that from this time on, the fetus becomes an integral part of the maternal organism, interacting with it as a whole. But what is meant by this? After all, he, being in the womb, is himself a living organism that perceives and realizes information from the surrounding world. To make it clearer, let's take a closer look at what happens to the fetus at the 3rd week of pregnancy.

General information: starting a new life

Each trimester of bearing a baby is truly unique, because both mother and her unborn child continuously undergo variouschanges. The fetus at the 3rd week of pregnancy is successfully fixed on the wall of the uterus and begins to develop. It is this period that is considered the final stage of conception. After the fertilized egg enters the woman's genital organ, and it closes. The zygote at 21 days is very small, no more than two millimeters, and in its shape it resembles a ball.

The third week is considered one of the most important, because the expectant mother begins to feel the connection with the child and feel all the changes taking place in her body. Perestroika is global in nature, as a result of which the girl's well-being is deteriorating greatly. Her hormonal background completely changes, causing severe intoxication. According to experts, changes occur in the functioning of approximately 75% of internal organs and systems.

A few words about a woman's well-being

Let's take a closer look at this. So, at week 3, the fetus is fixed on the wall of the uterus, and a new life begins to emerge under the girl's heart. Despite the fact that there are no visual signs of pregnancy yet, nevertheless, this simply cannot go unnoticed. By her well-being, a woman can determine that soon her dream of motherhood will come true. Especially the changes will be noticeable when the menstrual cycle fails. If the period has not come in accordance with the expected period, then this is the very first and clear sign of pregnancy. In the early stages of gestation, there is still no toxicosis or mood swings, however, inside the uterusa large amount of human chorionic gonadotropin is produced. If you pass a general blood test, then an increased content of this hormone can show pregnancy, while standard tests in about half of the cases give a false negative result. But the best indicator is the body itself. He can tell about successful conception by the following signs:

• creamy white vaginal discharge;
• fatigue;
• swelling due to fluid retention;
• decrease or increase in appetite;
• change in taste preferences;
• disturbance in the digestive system;
• nausea;
• increased urge to urinate.

If you notice these changes in yourself, then you can go to the hospital for an ultrasound scan, which will not only confirm the fact of pregnancy, but also see a photo of the fetus at 3 weeks with your own eyes. This method of research is very informative, and allows you to determine how the development of the baby proceeds, as well as to identify various anomalies and pathologies in the early stages.

It is worth noting that in addition to the deterioration of well-being, a woman can also experience various emotional changes. Among the main ones, doctors distinguish the following:

• increased anxiety;
• unpredictable mood swings;
• feeling uneasy;
• irritability.

Emotional instability is quite natural. Its cause lies in hormonal changes caused by the onset of rapid growth and development of the fetus. 3weeks - this is exactly the period when the maternal instinct wakes up in women. Therefore, it is not surprising that her behavioral factors are changing.

External signs of pregnancy

What should I pay attention to first of all? The size of the fetus at the 3rd week of pregnancy is very small, so the mother's tummy is not yet growing. But there are a number of external signs that accompany the bearing of the fetus, even in the early stages. As noted by women who have given birth, among the most common are the following:

• skin rash;
• pulling sensation in the lower abdomen;
• menstrual cycle failure;
• increase in breast volume and increase its sensitivity.

In some cases, it is also possible to increase body temperature up to 37 degrees. This is quite normal, since the body suppresses the activity of the immune system so that the fetus is not rejected. Therefore, do not panic and start drinking any medications.

What happens to a baby in the womb?

As a rule, future mothers begin to get acquainted with this aspect even before conception. What changes are observed in a woman's body are understandable, but how does the fetus develop at 2-3 weeks of pregnancy and what happens to it in general? After sexual intercourse, spermatozoa are sent through the fallopian tube to the egg. As a rule, fertilization occurs within 6-8 hours. If the conception was successful, then immediately after it the body begins to actively rebuild, creatingfavorable conditions for the development of the baby. Due to changes in the hormonal background, the tone of the uterus increases and the protective functions of the body are suppressed.

It is worth noting that the fetus at 2-3 weeks is a zygote, consisting of a set of 46 female and male chromosomes, which are continuously dividing. It is at this time that the formation of a new person takes place: its genetic code is laid, gender and character, personal qualities and appearance are formed. Gradually, the zygote moves along the folium tube into the uterus, where the growth and development of the child will take place until the very moment of his birth.

Fixation of the zygote on the wall of the uterus

So what do you need to know about this? At the 3rd week of pregnancy, the fetus is implanted inside the woman's reproductive organ. This is a very important process on which the further course of gestation depends. But what is he? In simple terms, a fertilized egg simply burrows into the soft tissues of the inner surface of the uterus. In this case, a woman may experience pain in the lower part of the abdominal cavity, and discharge with an admixture of blood is often observed. The discomfort is caused by the continuous division of cells and the formation of new blood vessels, which will become the basis for the placenta, and the umbilical cord will form from the surface cells. The whole process takes about 40 hours. During this time, the zygote is completely fixed inside the uterus, after which the fetus begins its development. As soon as the amniotic sac is formed, the pregnancy will begin to proceednormal and efficient.

Ultrasound

So, what is it for? Fetal ultrasound at week 3 is mandatory, since it allows not only to confirm pregnancy with 100% accuracy, but also to see the fetal body, as well as assess its condition. If the baby has any developmental anomalies, the study will show them and allow doctors to take the necessary measures in a timely manner. The main indications for an ultrasound examination are:

• determining the presence of an ectopic pregnancy;
• detection of intrauterine bleeding;
• need to confirm successful conception with questionable test results;
• when using additional reproductive technologies.

During the procedure, a special device is inserted through the vagina, protected by a condom, which excludes the possibility of any infections. In order for the results to be as accurate and informative as possible, the expectant mother must first go to the toilet. In addition, before visiting a doctor, you should refrain from eating any products that stimulate gas formation in the intestines. This is due to the fact that air suppresses ultrasonic waves, which greatly reduces the quality of the picture.

What can you see in the picture?

What does a 3 week fetus look like? At this time, during an ultrasound scan, only a fertilized egg can be seen. On the screen of the device, it looks like a circle or an oval about two millimeters in diameter. Despite the fact that there is still no clear outline of the fetus, nevertheless, such information is very valuable, since it indicates the start of the process. The heartbeat at the 21st day of pregnancy will not be visible yet. Next to the embryo is the yolk sac. It contains progesterone, which is responsible for maintaining pregnancy. If its size is smaller or higher than normal, or it is completely absent, then this indicates the presence of any pathologies in the expectant mother. In addition, the risk of miscarriage is significantly increased.

Ultrasound is also very important, because if the fetus is at 3 weeks, the photo from the examination can be a good addition to the family album, is outside the uterus, then a great threat to the he alth and life of the mother is created. In this case, surgery may be required. However, at this time, the results of the examination may not be accurate, so it is recommended to take it again after about 3 weeks.

Possible problems

This aspect should be given special attention. It is important to determine which fetus is at 3 weeks pregnant because it does not always develop normally. According to doctors, as a result of various factors and individual characteristics of the woman's body, various problems can develop. The most common are:

• ectopic pregnancy;
• cessation of fetal development;
• inflammatory processes;
• miscarriage.

The first two problems are the most serious, as there is a great risk of involuntarytermination of pregnancy. In addition, if no action is taken in time, the woman may develop serious complications.

When the fetus is 3 weeks from conception, the expectant mother can develop chronic inflammatory processes. There can be quite a few reasons for this, but in most cases, sexually transmitted diseases are to blame. When carrying a child, they are especially dangerous, but if you go to the hospital in time and start treatment, you can be completely cured without any harm to the baby. But the main danger of STDs is that in women they often proceed secretly without any symptoms. Therefore, most expectant mothers learn about the problem after they develop various complications. In addition, adhesions and some gynecological diseases can be behind inflammation. Therefore, it is very important to take pregnancy planning seriously and visit a specialized specialist regularly. Due to inflammation of the uterine wall, the fetus may not be fixed on it at week 3, and this is fraught with an ectopic pregnancy.

Another serious deviation in the first trimester is a stop in the development of the baby. This problem has not been fully studied, but most scientists and doctors agree that the reason for everything is the presence of genetic defects in a woman. In addition, pregnancy fading can develop due to improper lifestyle, bad habits, infectious diseases or pathologies in the development of the fetus itself at 3-4 weeks. To avoid all this, the expectant mother must constantly monitor the conditionyour he alth, and if the first symptoms occur, you should immediately contact a qualified specialist.

With an ectopic pregnancy, further gestation is impossible. The only way out in this case is an abortion. Fortunately, today in medicine there are many methods for its implementation, so in most cases it is possible to avoid surgical intervention.

Features of behavior and nutrition during pregnancy

Let's take a closer look at this aspect. As mentioned earlier in this article, the fetus at week 3 is fixed on the wall of the uterus and begins to actively grow and develop. To do this, he needs vitamins, minerals and nutrients that the embryo receives from the mother's body. In order for pregnancy to proceed normally, a woman must take care of herself, lead a he althy lifestyle and eat well. Particular attention should be paid to the latter.

Many women think that if they eat more, they will do better for themselves and their unborn child. However, such an opinion is far from the truth. You need to watch not the portion size, but the quality of the food. It is allowed to eat lean meats, various cereals, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables during the first trimester. But confectionery, fast food and flour will have to be completely abandoned. When planning a menu, doctors advise starting from foods rich in protein, since this component acts as a building material for the baby. Among the must-have productsincludes red fish, spinach and cauliflower. They are rich in vitamins and minerals necessary not only for the fetus, but also for the mother.

If you go in for sports, then it is better to forget about it for a while. Even if the fetus is 3 weeks old, excessive exercise can be harmful. And it will be difficult for the mother herself, because carrying a child without physical exercise is very exhausting. It is better to try to walk more in the fresh air and get enough sleep. If sport is an important part of your life, then you need to consult a doctor and agree on acceptable training programs with him.

General tips and tricks

Already at 3-4 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus needs maternal care and care. Therefore, the expectant mother must radically change her usual way of life. In order for the development of the embryo to proceed normally, doctors advise adhering to the following recommendations:

1. Taking vitamin complexes. They will help replenish the supply of missing nutrients in the body. But the drugs must be agreed with the doctor.
2. Completely give up tobacco and alcohol.
3. Avoid stressful situations and emotional overload. This is due to the fact that any feelings and sensations are tolerated by pregnant women more strongly, so they get tired faster.
4. Don't lift heavy things or do hard homework.
5. Wear special shoes to reduce stress on shoes and reduce swelling.

All these tips are very easy to follow, but they will make it so that pregnancy will bring more joy, andalso during the day you will become less tired and feel better.

Conclusion

Perhaps the third week of pregnancy can be considered the most important. It is during this period that the fertilized egg is attached to the wall of the uterus, as well as the birth of a new life and the formation of the physical and psychological characteristics of the future person. Therefore, a woman should not for a second forget that she is practically a mother. After all, from that moment on, she is responsible not only for herself, but also for her baby.