In the video for the 4th week of pregnancy (week 4) on meinhaushalt.at important information and tips for pregnancy in week 4 are presented.
Many women who were previously unsure whether they are pregnant or not can now gain certainty through a blood or urine test. With the 4th week of pregnancy, the development of the placenta, also colloquially known as the afterbirth, begins. It consists largely of embryonic and maternal tissue and supplies the embryo with nutrients. In addition to this function, the disposal of waste products and gas exchange are also important. This connection between the embryo and the placenta occurs via the umbilical cord.
In addition to the placenta, the yolk sac continues to develop this week. At first, it looks like a small balloon. Its function during Pregnancy is responsible for the production of blood cells for the embryo. In a few weeks, this yolk sac will dissolve when the unborn child can produce blood cells itself. At this point, the child consists of two germ layers, which are attached to the placenta at a tiny point. This point later develops into an umbilical cord, which supplies the child until the end of the pregnancy.
First signs of pregnancy
Many expectant mothers do not even suspect that they are pregnant and are unaware of the processes taking place in the womb. Most pregnancy tests do not show a clear result even in this week because the pregnancy hormone hCG is still present in the blood in too low a concentration. Human chorionic gonadotropin – hCG for short – is responsible during pregnancy in the placenta for maintaining the pregnancy. The concentration of this hormone will increase significantly every day, and a positive pregnancy test will be possible in a week at the latest.
A urine or blood test can also be carried out by the doctor, who can detect even small amounts of hCG and thus explain the beginning pregnancy earlier. The blood sample is also used to create a blood count. This is necessary to check blood type, Rh factor, iron levels, and antibodies against rubella. After all examinations, the expectant mother also receives her maternity record (Mutterpass), in which all important information about the pregnancy is listed. Every pregnant woman should definitely carry this maternity record with her.
In the early stage of Pregnancy many women do not yet notice that they are expecting a child – nevertheless, there are also expectant mothers who feel quite early on that their body is changing. The sense of taste and smell changes, and emotions sometimes go crazy too.
The embryo itself is now about 6 mm in size. A good two weeks have passed since successful fertilization, and a tiny living being has emerged from millions of cells. The heart is now already pumping blood to the liver.
Pay attention to nutrition
Since the embryo is firmly connected to the mother, alcohol and nicotine are taboo. Special medication intake must of course be clarified with the doctor. On the other hand, the intake of vitamins and minerals is all the more important. Iron and folic acid in particular play an important role during pregnancy, as the body needs this vitamin for cell formation and cell division.
However, not everything we consume is healthy during pregnancy. Raw minced meat and uncooked meat dishes as well as salami or Mettwurst must be avoided at all costs. Vegetables and fruit must always be washed thoroughly before consumption. Raw milk and raw milk cheeses also do not belong on the menu during pregnancy, as they contain the bacterium Listeria, which is harmless to the mother but can cause severe damage to the unborn child in the womb. Drinking milk is of course very important during pregnancy, but care must be taken to ensure that the milk is homogenized.
Read also: Video for pregnancy week 5, week 5
