Pregnancy from the first days to the birth is a bright and wonderful process. Many mummies become interested in what happens to their body, because global restructuring begins, what changes are observed, sensations. It is worth having a clear idea of what is the normal state and what you should not be afraid at first, because in case of any deviations it is worthwhile to see a doctor. In this article, we will pay attention to signs and feelings in the second week of pregnancy. First, find out what is happening inside the body.
Ovulation
Let's start not with the fertilization process, which would be logical, but with an even earlier state - ovulation. The entire reproductive life of a woman consists of cycles. The beginning of each of them is marked by the first day of menstruation. At this moment, along with the secretions, the dead layer of the uterus comes out, in parallel, the so-called follicle forms in the uterus - the place for the future egg to mature. After about 14 days, the follicle breaks under the influence of pressure and the work of hormones, an egg leaves it. In a healthy woman, she is ready for fertilization. This phase lasts up to 3 days, and it is called ovulation.
The process of fertilization and implantation
Over the next 14 days (on average) hormones are released and the body prepares for a future pregnancy. If it does not occur, menstruation begins to go, and conception does not occur. In the event that there are sperm in the body, one of them fertilizes the egg and pregnancy occurs.
In addition to fertilization, the second important step is the process of attaching a fertilized egg to the uterine wall. At this point, there is a check on the compatibility of the future mother's body with a fertilized cell. The process is extremely important, because if any violations and malfunctions occur, a miscarriage will occur and the pregnancy will terminate naturally.
At the time of fertilization and implantation, pregnancy occurs, which means that a mechanism is launched that leads to some changes. That is why you can already begin to experience some signs and feelings in the second week of pregnancy.
How is pregnancy estimated?
In order to understand what period we are talking about, we will explain what is meant by the second week. Gynecologists traditionally calculate the period of conception from the beginning of the last menstruation, analyzing the approximate cycle of a woman. In this situation, it turns out that in the second week the body is actively preparing for pregnancy and "equips" the environment for its successful course. This approach to computing is called obstetric.
Taking into account the above, we conclude that it is not worth talking about significant signs of an early pregnancy of one or two weeks.
There is also an embryonic approach. For this, the estimated day of ovulation is calculated, it can be accurately calculated using a special test. Having received the result, we believe that the day of ovulation is the day of pregnancy, we count two weeks and that's it. If we compare these two approaches in time, then the difference between them is about 12 days, in the first case, pregnancy begins earlier than in the second. Although with the second approach, sensations in the second week of pregnancy are more vivid, they are easier to track and analyze.
Initial changes: what are they?
As we said earlier, two weeks for pregnancy is a very short time, especially considering the rules of calculation, which give inaccurate and approximate results. But at the same time, the presence of a fertilized egg in the body and the fact of its attachment to the uterus cannot go unnoticed:
- To begin with, during the period of implantation, pains can be felt in the lower abdomen, which just indicate attachment. As a rule, they have a pulling and aching character. Despite the fact that pain in the second week of pregnancy is normal, observe their frequency and strength. Light discomfort should not bother you, there is nothing exciting. Sharp and severe pains are an occasion to see a doctor. If you have a stomach pull in the second week of pregnancy, then this is an alarming bell. Such pain is dangerous because it can be confused with premenstrual if the woman does not know that she is pregnant. In case of pregnancy, such sensations indicate rejection of the fetal uterine wall. Therefore, consult a doctor immediately.
- Slight spotting may occur, often brown. It is worth controlling their abundance, color, texture and smell. When contacting a doctor, it is advisable to describe this process in order to exclude possible deviations.
- Breast swelling is one of the popular signs of pregnancy, which can also be observed in the absence of conception, before the onset of menstruation. A distinctive feature during pregnancy is the manifestation of veins on the chest.
- The cyclical mood, as well as the previous symptom, cannot be a direct sign of pregnancy. Although still often he is actively seeing - the mood is constantly changing, there is a desire to cry. Attacks of sadness and self-pity intentions are replaced by anger and irritability. Any incidents and situations in life cause an emotional upheaval.
- Mild nausea that appears in the early morning hours, which may not appear at all, because 2 weeks is the early stage of pregnancy. In addition to nausea, a slight increase in body temperature and weakness, dizziness can be observed. It is worth more to relax and be in the fresh air.
- Menstruation delay. Talking about the primacy of this sign is a moot point. It is determining only when the woman’s cycle does not go astray, its duration is constant, which means that ovulation occurs at the same time. Often, girls experience malfunctions, and small delays in menstruation do not indicate pregnancy, this may be another shift in the cycle.
If two weeks have already passed, early signs should be considered in the aggregate. You do not need to try on the whole complex of symptoms, but at least two or three should characterize the condition of the girl. In this case, you need to think about the issue of pregnancy and do a test.
Additional symptoms
In addition to the above external signs, some changes also occur inside that characterize the gestational age:
- Rapid urination - with the same fluid intake, I want to go to the toilet more often and more. This is completely normal, and you should not be afraid of it. This symptom will haunt throughout pregnancy. The desire to empty the bladder will occur sharply and increase rapidly.
- Low blood pressure. It is worth literally every week to monitor pressure indicators. Their dynamic downward movement in the complex with other symptoms will indicate the onset of pregnancy.
- Changes in sensations, both olfactory and taste. Changes in food preferences are noticed when what is always liked is now impossible to eat and vice versa. The smell of beloved perfumes causes nausea. All these are signs of pregnancy in the early stages, from two weeks. This means that toxicosis occurs.
All these sensations in the second week of pregnancy are determined by the onset of hormonal changes and malfunctions, which prepare the body for the long process of bearing the fetus. Adjustments are made to the woman’s habitual life that will help make a healthy and happy baby.
Will the test show the correct result?
Many are interested in the question of whether the test will show the correct result in the second week of pregnancy? In this matter, the sensitivity of the device is very important. There are a great many of them in the modern world. Most of them have a sensitivity of 25 mIU per ml. Such a test will certainly show a false negative result. In order to see the correct result, it is worth purchasing a test with a sensitivity of 10 mIU per ml. They are more expensive, but at the same time more accurate and accurate. Studies using these devices show the fact of pregnancy 7-9 days after conception.
Note that it is advisable to do the test in the morning, using the first urine after waking up. In it, the concentration of hCG is higher than during the day. The hormone is primarily formed in the blood and only then transferred to urine, so the concentration in the first case is higher and appears much earlier than in the second. Therefore, despite the mobility and practicality of the test, if you are planning a child, it is better to donate blood in the laboratory.
How to determine the gestational age more specifically?
During the second week of pregnancy, sensations play a large role, when contacting a doctor and registering, it is necessary to answer the gynecologist's questions in detail and describe the ongoing process. When it comes to such a short time, it is extremely important to more accurately determine the time from the moment of conception. Indeed, at this stage, any negative effect on the mother's body can lead to pathologies of the baby or miscarriage. Define the main methods for calculating the exact gestational age:
- Pregnancy test. As noted earlier, it is worth acquiring better quality sensitive tests. Some of them, in addition to the result, indicate the estimated period from the moment of conception. You can also calculate manually, it is enough to conduct research with a constant frequency, then it will be possible to calculate the approximate period. After all, most tests respond to hCG levels only in the second week of pregnancy.
- Building a plan for changes in basal temperature. This method is the most accurate and effective. To build such a schedule, you need to observe the temperature of a woman about 3 months before pregnancy. This method is good for those who comprehensively approached the issue of conception, prepared for pregnancy and pre-tested, conducted research.
- Appeal to the gynecologist in the antenatal clinic. Expectant mothers rarely go to the doctor in the early stages, especially if this is the second pregnancy, 2 weeks seem to be an insignificant period, you can wait, because nothing bad happened for the first time. Unfortunately, this is a gross mistake, because only a doctor can determine the presence and nature of a threat to a child, as well as determine his age and condition using ultrasound.
Ultrasound in early pregnancy
Conducting research on such terms is important if a woman takes a responsible approach to conceiving a child or has problems and cannot become pregnant. Ultrasound in the second week of pregnancy will not show the baby, it is not there yet. Having examined the physiological side of the issue earlier, we know that at this time in the girl’s body there is only a fertilized cell. Such a study will not be informative, but it will show the tone of the uterus and its willingness to accept and bear a child. Please note that the timing is different. We are now talking about two weeks from the start of the last menstruation. In this case, on the screen we will see a small black dot - a fertilized cell.
If we consider other approaches to counting: from the moment of the first day of delay or from the estimated time of ovulation, then the ultrasound will be more complete. In this case, an ultrasound in the second week of pregnancy will show a larger cell and even fix the frequency of the nascent heart. But even during this period, one should not expect the silhouette of a baby on the screen.
What happens in a woman’s body at this moment? Let's figure it out. Regardless of the approach to calculating the term, it is still too early to talk about a baby in the second week of pregnancy, there is not only him, but even an embryo. During this period, an active division of the cell attached to the uterine wall occurs in the body. One cell that is fertilized by a sperm cell becomes a small multicellular organism, in science called morula. A nerve column begins to form, which will later turn into a nervous system. Therefore, it is important for the crane to comply with all the rules and recommendations of the doctor in the early stages, because right now the foundations are being laid. A developing organism is susceptible to any external changes, it is necessary to lead a correct lifestyle and not worry. In the following days, a heart and other vital organs and tissues will appear - a full-fledged child will appear.
Are there any changes in the volume of the abdomen?
One of the important indicators during pregnancy is the volume of the abdomen, it is measured when registering at the antenatal clinic and subsequent visits to the doctor. This indicator allows you to track the growth dynamics of the baby. A sharp increase in volume appears at 16 weeks, and then it is growing rapidly. Up to this point, there is no need to constantly measure the circumference, since the embryo does not yet have large sizes, which means that the front wall of the abdomen is not pulled. If you look at the girl in the second week of pregnancy (the photo is presented above), then you can understand that no external visible changes have occurred in this place.
Recommendations to the expectant mother
Having felt the first sensations in the second week of pregnancy, the expectant mother should reconsider her lifestyle, nutrition and regimen. Note the general recommendations that will be useful to a woman:
- A balanced diet enriched with vitamins and minerals. If the period of two weeks fell on the summer period, when there are a lot of berries, fruits and vegetables, this is great. Such a variety will enrich the diet and fill it with fresh vitamins. It is important to eat vegetables, fruits, nuts and meat. Do not eat heavy fatty varieties of meat, it is better to give preference to chicken or duck breast, rabbit. In relation to fish, it is worth choosing fatty varieties.
- It is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages, smoke cigarettes, hookahs and other tobacco mixtures. It does not matter the level of nicotine content, any type of smoking is harmful. Passive smoking also applies here, if there is a smoker in the family, then it is better for him to abandon the addiction.
- Avoid negative emotions and events, do not get involved in conflicts, try to watch only good and funny programs. You should not accumulate bad feelings in yourself, because a healthy and happy child should form and grow in joy. According to reviews, in the second week of pregnancy, future mothers are a lot of nervous, during this period emotions are heated, any event entails a storm of reactions. May this storm be extremely positive.
- Do not lift weights, let your husband or someone else help you, because regular carrying of heavy bags can lead to a miscarriage.
- Take a longer walk, this will not only cheer you up, but also strengthen your health. In addition to breathing fresh air, also add some physical activity. As a result, the appetite will improve, and the color and condition of the skin will noticeably improve.
- It is worth starting to drink a complex of vitamins for pregnant women. Even if the nutrition is correct and balanced, additional vitamins will not hurt anyone.
Recall that signs of pregnancy and sensations in the second week are only the first harbingers of the upcoming process, which will take place over the next 9 months. That is why the above recommendations must be observed throughout the entire process of pregnancy and lactation.
Pregnancy and intimate life
Intimacy is the main component of any married couple. We suggest you familiarize yourself with simple rules that will help your couple find a child:
- If the couple is planning a baby, then for sure the girl does an ovulation test and, if not exactly, then roughly knows when she is coming. Therefore, 2-3 days before its onset, it is advisable to start trying to get pregnant.
- If the period of ovulation is unknown, discard any means of protection. The egg does not work by the clock, it can ripen earlier or later than the due date, this is normal. Therefore, conception can occur at any time.
- After each sexual intercourse, do not rush into the shower, lie down for about 20 minutes, so that the sperm get a chance at life and fertilization, moving as far as possible in the body of the woman.
These recommendations are relevant at the planning stage, when the period of 2 weeks is calculated from the beginning of the last menstruation. If a girl already experiences some sensations and signs of pregnancy in the second week and her fact is confirmed, the couple decides on sexual life individually for herself.The main thing - no loads and violent actions. At the time of orgasm, a woman's body releases hormones that contribute to uterine contractions. If they are strong and frequent, cell implantation may be impaired and serious harm will be done to the embryo.