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2 Weeks Pregnant! - What To Expect In Early Pregnancy

 
 
 

 

Congratulations, you are 2 weeks pregnant! It's hard to believe when you first find out that you are just 2 weeks pregnant and that pregnancy is going to last approximately 40 weeks. Here's a glimpse at what to expect at 2 weeks pregnant - sneak preview of what to expect, pregnancy week-by-week!

First, you may feel tired. Or, you may be nauseous at the very "smell" of food! Next, you may need to use the restroom, frequently. It is very common to feel this urge often, even at 2 weeks pregnant. Mostly, at 2 weeks pregnant, women are slightly irritable with a more fatigue than usual, and probably somewhat bloated.

Some women cannot tell they are pregnant or notice any changes at all at 2 weeks pregnant. For some, the first sign of pregnancy is when they miss a period. Another indicator of pregnancy is an increase in appetite or cravings for specific foods. Changes in sleep habits can also occur during early pregnancy, and even when you are just 2 weeks pregnant.

How do you know that you're really not 4 weeks pregnant like the doctors say? How can 4 weeks really mean 2 weeks? How do you measure the weeks and when do they start? Is it possible to pick the gender of your baby before you even get pregnant?

When a woman conceives, it is within a 24-48 hour window either before or after ovulation occurs. This is usually around day 14-18 of a woman's menstrual cycle. But let's go back to the beginning of this cycle. You're 2 weeks pregnant, so when did your last menstrual cycle start?

The first cycle day is the first day of the menstrual period. It may last 5-7 days. Then, in another week, the ovaries prepare to release an egg. Ovulation typically occurs between day 14 and 18 of that cycle. If there is sperm at the top of the fallopian tube waiting for the release of the egg, (sperm can survive for up to 5 days), you increase chances of getting pregnant and the egg could be fertilized. It takes another 6-8 days for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus. Then, the hormones are released that will cause the body's temperature to be higher than usual and create a warm, protective environment for the fertilized egg. These hormones can be detected about 10-14 days after ovulation and fertilization. Now do the math...you are 2 weeks pregnant when counting from the date of conception. So, they may say you are a month along, but you are really only 2 weeks pregnant.  

You're 2 weeks pregnant. What can you expect at 2 weeks pregnant? Now, you need to know what to expect when your 2 weeks pregnant! The easiest thing to start with is to make a checklist. Week by week tracking right from the beginning is best with this really cool checklist starting when you're 2 weeks pregnant.

 

Because most women don't keep track of when they have ovulated, OBGYNs count from the first day of the last menstrual period, assuming that a woman's cycle is normally about 4 weeks. That, however, is a broad generalization because women's menstrual cycles vary greatly from that average. So, if you know the approximate average length of your cycles, you can increase the chances of getting pregnant. If you have a 5-week cycle typically, then you would say that you are 4 weeks pregnant, even though it has been 5 weeks since your period began, in order to be more accurate with the way your OB will measure your pregnancy. Pregnancy is approximately 40 weeks in length, counting 4 weeks since your last period started, but not taking into account a woman who has longer menstrual cycles than 4 weeks. So, if your period was just late, consider yourself 4 weeks pregnant rather than 5 weeks pregnant, and add time to account for how long you waited to test after your period was due. Your doctor will probably tell you that the count is 4 weeks pregnant, but either way, your doctor will be able to determine your delivery pretty close to the correct date.

Even though you calculate the number of weeks pregnant that you are from when you became pregnant and the doctor confirms a due date for the baby, be prepared to be either late or early when it comes time to delivering your baby. If it's your first baby, the trend is for the baby to be later than the due date. Just remember, by the time you reach your due date, it will seem like yesterday when you were just 2 weeks pregnant!

 

About the Author
Article about 2 Weeks Pregnant is by Jennifer Clark, co-founder of MaternityCollections.com with articles covering a broad range of topics including baby cribs, maternity benefits, positive parenting and many more!
 

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