Pregnancy Week 3

Written by Lone Parenting Advisor

Pregnancy Week 3 can be a confusing time for you with changes happening in your body at the time that your new menstrual cycle would have been due. Week 3 is usually worked out from the start of your last menstrual cycle yet your baby may only have been conceived during the previous week, also this being the week before the expected menstrual cycle would have been due.

Foetal Development

The mass of cells that will form the baby called the blastocyst begins a process of implantation. This implantation process is where the blastocyst embeds itself securely into the womb lining. The implantation process is done efficiently without the mother feeling her baby or even knowing that she is carrying a baby as very little discomfort is felt upto completion that can take upto 7 days and normally ends a few days before the expected menstrual cycle would have been starting.

The embedded blastocyst releases a hormone called human gonadotrophin hormone into the body stopping the coming menstrual cycle from happening, at the same time the implantation process has been completed and the mother and her soon to become baby are attached in the womb, the blood of the mother is shared with the blastocyst providing it with fulfilling nourishment, replacing the sugary sweet source that was obtained from the fallopian tubes and uterus.

Rarely some women do feel a slight discomfort during the implantation process of the blastocyst and thick, heavy bleeding can occur which can be confused with the next menstrual period as it happens at the time when the period was expected.

The blastocyst goes through many changes once implanted , the cells within the blastocyst itself start moving to one side and multiply at an alarming rate. The cells are transforming all the time and are starting to form three layers called the Endoderm, the Mesoderm and the Ectoderm.

The Endoderm is the production of the babies vital internal organs that form the liver, lungs, bowel and bladder. The Mesoderm is the production of the babies bone structure, heart and muscles and sex organs. The Ectoderm is the production of the babies eyes, ears, skin, brain, spinal cord and lastly the hair.

During this productive period the other side of the blastocyst is also transforming into two layers one which is producing the life support system for the baby in the form of afterbirth which is called the placenta. The second layer is forming the amniotic sac which gradually fills up with amniotic fluid ready to cushion and protect the forming fetus.

Many women do not even realise at this stage that they are pregnant and put the minor sensations felt down to a menstrual period.