3. WOP

Congratulations! With the beginning of the 3rd WOP you are “officially” pregnant. In this article, you will find out exactly what this means and which signs of pregnancy you may already be feeling.

This happens with you

In the 3rd WOP one speaks of an “official” pregnancy. Why only now? And what does that mean anyway?

Until now, the fertilized egg has been moving freely in your uterus. Now, 5 to 6 days later – towards the end of the 3rd week of pregnancy – the fertilized egg nests in the uterine cavity. From now on, it will continue to grow from day to day.

Important facts about the 3rd week of pregnancy: What you should know

Am I pregnant or not? You are probably already waiting to finally take a pregnancy test. Even if you are already full of anticipation, the result of a pregnancy test is unfortunately not yet conclusive at this point.

Although the tests are becoming more and more sensitive, the pregnancy hormone (hCG value) is not yet produced in sufficient quantity in the 3rd week of pregnancy. In case of pregnancy, the test cannot yet indicate a positive result.

In addition, the egg cell must first make its way into the uterus. It is important not to put yourself under pressure. At the moment, there are no typical signs that indicate that you are pregnant.

However, you may have a gut feeling. However, you will have to wait a few more days before you can be sure.

Signs of pregnancy in the 3rd week of pregnancy

Are menstrual cramps a sign of pregnancy?

In the 2nd week of pregnancy your body has produced uterine mucosa as a preventive measure. Due to the implantation of the fertilized egg, signs of pregnancy can already occur in the 3rd week of pregnancy.

These can be, for example, typical menstrual cramps. In addition, mucus bleeding may also occur in the 3rd WOP, as small blood vessels are damaged during implantation. This is completely normal – no reason to worry.

The first pregnancy test

The hCG value determines whether a pregnancy test is positive or negative. This value is only detectable in your body during pregnancy.

If the value is present in your body, but still too low, the test shows “negative”. However, this does not necessarily mean that you are not actually pregnant.

It is also possible that the fertilized egg has not yet implanted in the 3rd week of pregnancy. In most cases, this only happens in the 4th week of pregnancy.

An existing pregnancy can be detected almost 100% from the 4th week by a blood test or alternatively with a urine test from the 5th week.

Did you already know? The actual fertilization does not take place until the 3rd week of pregnancy. The first two weeks of pregnancy are only necessary for calculating the duration of pregnancy.

That is why pregnancy in the 3rd WOP usually remains unnoticed

While your fertilized egg is trying to implant in the lining of the uterus during the 3rd week of pregnancy, you may experience pain in the abdominal region. This pain feels similar to cramps during menstrual pain.

This may also cause a small amount of bleeding because small blood vessels are injured. Often, many women think that the bleeding is light and premature menstrual ble eding and do not pay further attention to it. Therefore, many do not suspect that they are already pregnant in the 3rd WOP.

Symptoms in the 3rd WOP

In the 3rd week of pregnancy, symptoms such as nausea, fatigue or exhaustion are not yet very pronounced and hardly affect the expectant mother.

In addition to the detection of the pregnancy hormone, the absence of men struation is also a clear symptom of pregnancy. Sensitive breasts, discoloration of the atrium and mood swings further indicate pregnancy.

You want certainty and can’t wait? A visit to the gynecologist will give you information and certainty as to whether you are pregnant.

What can be seen on the ultrasound during the 3rd week of pregnancy?

In the 3rd week of pregnancy, the embryo has not yet reached the size of 1 mm. Its task now is to successfully implant into the uterine lining. Once the implantation has been successful, the amniotic cavity can be seen on an ultrasound image from the 4th WOP.

Unfortunately, nothing can be seen on the ultrasound image in the 3rd week of pregnancy. You will have to be patient a little longer.

The embryo, which is about 4 mm in size, can only be reliably detected on the ultrasound from the 6th week. From the 8th week of gestation, the embryo is also clearly visible to the parents for the first time. This is a very special moment.

This is important now

This is how you can support your body in the 3rd WOP

Pregnancy presents your body with great challenges. So it is all the better if you can support it. In this section we explain how you can best do this and what you should bear in mind.

The right diet

Make sure you eat the following foods regularly:

  • Vegetables
  • Fruit
  • Whole grain products
  • Milk
  • Dairy products
  • Low fat meat
  • Fish

Basically, you should pay attention to a balanced diet. Important nutrients such as protein, folic acid and magnesium support the development of your baby.

So you can be sure that your baby receives valuable nutrients during your pregnancy.

That is why sport is important

Typical pregnancy complaints, such as back pain, do not yet occur during the 3rd week of pregnancy. However, you can already prevent them now. Light sports – such as yoga, swimming or cycling – are recommended by doctors and midwives. They support your circulation and also have a relaxing effect.

Caution: In the first 3 months of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage is relatively high. Talk to your doctor about which sports you can do without any worries.

For this reason you should take a lot of folic acid

If you wish to have a child, you can lay a good foundation for pregnancy as early as the 1st and 2nd weeks of pregnancy. The intake of folic acid (vitamins B9 and B11) promotes the development of the brain and nervous system of the embryo.

Folic acid is found in some foods, such as beans and fish. But folic acid preparations are also suitable for daily intake. A quantity of 0.4 milligrams is recommended.

In addition, alcohol and nicotine are already taboo. These harmful substances can already cause considerable damage at this stage. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can trigger fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in your baby.

Prevent malformations

Poor or improper nutrition increases the likelihood that your baby will develop malformations or other diseases. For example, a lack of folic acid can cause an “open back” that can lead to paraplegia or incontinence.

What happens to the baby

The fertilization of the egg

Ovulation begins at the end of the 2nd week of pregnancy or at the beginning of the 3rd week of pregnancy. This is when an egg is released and can be fertilized. The egg now makes its journey to the uterus.

During the man’s orgasm, about 500 million sperm set out to successfully fertilize an egg. They swim through the fallopian tube, through which the fertile egg must also reach the uterus.

Here, some of the fastest or most persistent sperm meet an egg. Only the sperm that is fastest can fertilize an egg

The journey from a mature egg to an embryo in the 3rd WOP

Already in the fallopian tube, the mature egg can be fertilized by a sperm in the 3rd WOP. This can take half an hour or even several days.

Did you know? Sperm can survive in your body for 2 to 5 days. Therefore, even after several days, there is still a possibility that they will encounter a mature egg.

As soon as a sperm has successfully penetrated the membrane of your egg cell, your genetic material mixes with that of your partner. This is how new life is created.

The fertilized egg – also called a “zygote” – travels to your uterus in the 3rd week of pregnancy. Once here, it tries to settle in the lining of the uterus in order to grow there. Already during its journey, the fertilized egg divides several times in the 3rd WOP. Soon it takes on the appearance of a mulberry.

Subsequently, a cavity develops in the cell. The small mulberry – called a “morula” by scientists – is now a germinal vesicle that divides continuously.

On the one hand into embryoblasts, from which the embryo develops. On the other hand into trophoblasts. From these develop the placenta and umbilical cord, which supply the embryo with all important nutrients and oxygen. The placenta is excreted at delivery as a so-called afterbirth.

The embryo nests

Once fertilization is successful, the fertilized single cell begins to grow. One cell becomes two, then four and soon even eight. Through exponential growth, the morula quickly grows into several million cells.

In the 3rd WOP, a connection to your bloodstream is established. This is so that your baby can be supplied with all the important nutrients. Once a sperm has penetrated the outer shell of your egg, it becomes solid. This prevents another sperm cell from entering.

What color is my child’s hair?

The different sets of chromosomes of you and your partner also unite. In total, there are 46 chromosomes – 23 from each parent. About 40,000 genes are arranged on these chromosomes.

To know which chromosome we are talking about, scientists number the chromosome pairs from 1 to 46. For example, numbers 45 and 46 are the chromosomes that determine the sex of your baby. They are better known as the X and Y chromosomes

All genes are duplicated in the 3rd WOP. It is not until the embryonic stage that you decide whose genes your baby will inherit. This could be the green eyes of mom or the curly hair of dad. However, it is also quite possible that recessively inherited genes are inherited from the baby’s grandparents or even great-grandparents – so don’t worry: two blond parents can have a child with dark hair, even if the probability is very low.

Midwife Tip

As soon as you are sure that you are pregnant, you should absolutely avoid alcohol and nicotine. Already at this time the consumption can cause first damages to the baby.

My tip for you: Make sure you eat a healthy and balanced diet and get enough exercise. This way you can do something good for yourself and your baby and have a positive influence on its development.

FAQ

What happens in the 3rd WOP?

You are officially pregnant from the 3rd week of pregnancy. The chromosomes of the egg and sperm fuse together and cell division begins. From this point on, new life is created in your belly.

Do you already feel anything in the 3rd WOP?

You do not feel any typical pregnancy symptoms in the 3rd week of pregnancy. However, your pregnancy may manifest itself as pain in the abdominal region, which you already know from your period.

3rd WOP: When can you see a baby bump?

From around the 12th week of pregnancy you will see the first bulges on your belly. However, this can vary from woman to woman.

When does a pregnancy test start working?

A negative pregnancy test does not necessarily mean that you are not pregnant. The pregnancy hormone is decisive for the rash of the test. If the hCG level is too low, the test will be negative, despite an imminent pregnancy.
From the 4th week of pregnancy, however, the concentration is usually high enough to be able to make a statement.

WOP 3 video

Learn more about early pregnancy signs in this video.

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