3 weeks pregnant: Symptoms, tips, and baby development
Is there a bun in the oven? Yep!
At 3 weeks, you have officially conceived, the fertilisation happens in your fallopian tube, and there is a tiny little baby seed ready to bake into a tiny human being—complete with super adorable leg rolls.
However, while there may be a lot of work going on inside, you may be unaware of the magic happening within (You’ll need to give it another week for the pregnancy test kit to show proof that the womb is now occupied).
Your pregnancy at 3 weeks
Right now, your baby is a tiny cluster of cells called a blastocyst.
This little, tiny ball of cells is so small it’s like trying to spot a single sesame seed on a football field. Most women remain blissfully oblivious to this incredible, covert development happening in early pregnancy!:
Although tiny, your soon-to-be embryo is unstoppable and is working overtime to grow and develop into a strong and healthy fetus. Rapidly dividing and growing, at three weeks, your baby is in a constant growth spurt, laying down the foundation of essential bodily structures to help your cell cluster transform into your baby.
Fun fact: Within just a few days of implantation, the cell cluster grows exponentially, multiplying every hour. So, even though you might not see or feel early pregnancy symptoms yet, rest assured that something truly amazing is starting to unfold inside you. And it’s simply miraculous!
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Week 3 pregnancy symptoms: The havoc of pregnancy hormones
At 3 weeks pregnant, most women experience little to no pregnancy symptoms, and some of the luckier ones may experience nothing at all. However, the entire experience varies from person to person.
Your body goes through a whirlwind of physical changes throughout your entire pregnancy, with the most profound ones happening early on, which is why many people experience morning sickness and nausea in the first trimester. While nausea may be scheduled for later on in the pregnancy, you may feel other pregnancy symptoms like a heightened sense of smell and sore breasts before the other two make a grand entrance.
Here are a few symptoms a 3 weeks pregnant can experience:
1. Sore breasts
While they may look great, they may not feel so great!
We’re talking tender, sore, or swollen – like they suddenly decided to audition for a role in an action movie. This is thanks to the surge of pregnancy hormones, particularly HcG, turning your body into a hormone rave.
This is often the first symptom many pregnant women experience early on in their pregnancy journey. But don’t worry – it usually passes by the second trimester.
So, for now, embrace the change and maybe invest in some comfy bras. You’ll thank yourself later!
2. Gas and bloating
One thing many 3 weeks pregnant women often miss out when explaining their pregnancy journey is how difficult it gets to poop!
Progesterone sores through the body, slowing down the digestive system to the point of constipation, accompanied by gas and bloating. (Not fun!)
It’s a good idea to increase your liquid and fibre intake!
3. Spotting
A symptom most widely recognised by women and often listed as the earliest sign of pregnancy is light spotting, called implantation bleeding.
Some people mistake light spotting for their period, but in actuality it is spotting caused when the fertilised egg implants itself into the uterine lining, resulting in a very light and short-lived scarlet shower of blood. Unlike a period, this bleeding lacks the bright red colour, clots, cramps, and backache, and lasts for 3 days.
4. High basal body temperature
Actively trying to conceive? Then, track your basal body temperature.
In early pregnancy, the basal body temperature remains consistently higher than in the luteal phase, which can be a good hint for you.
If your trackers constantly hint at a raised body temperature, it may be a good time to take a pregnancy test.
5. Heightened sense of smell
Have you recently developed a keen sense of smell? Can you smell your husband’s gym socks a block away?
If yes, you could be pregnant!
In early pregnancy, your sense of smell often gets a superpower upgrade, making you the Sherlock Holmes of scents.
(Elementary, my dear Watson, pregnancy hormones are creating havoc!)
Suddenly, every smell is an adventure. Some scents might become more pronounced and noticeable, while others become unrecognizable.
Heads up: pregnancy hormones can also make you dislike your favourite perfumes! (Weird, we know!)
And while you may still be a few weeks away from fully feeling the impact of these hormones on your body, you do get a little teaser. For now, embrace the chaos, and maybe invest in some odour-neutralising candles for those gym socks!
6. Missed period
For someone with a 28-day menstrual cycle, missing a period by the end of 3 weeks can often be a cause of excitement. While most women usually notice their missed period by the end of the 4th week, some women can have a missed period as early as around the end of week 3.
So, if you’re one of those people, carrying out a pregnancy test or even a blood test would be your best bet to find out the BIG news.
3 weeks pregnant tips
If you’ve figured out that you’re 3 weeks pregnant or hoping that you may be, you may need to make some lifestyle changes to create a healthy and supportive environment for your future baby.
You can do this by making a few tiny changes to your life and home that can help you both with a pleasant journey.
1. Patience is the key
We get it—you’re eagerly waiting to know if you’re officially pregnant. But this is the first step of a 9-month journey, so patience is key.
While a lot is happening within, your body still needs time to produce enough pregnancy hormone hCG to be detectable by home pregnancy tests.
So, your best bet is to wait it out, be patient, and stay positive. Maybe distract yourself with work. After all, good things come to those who wait (and avoid the temptation to take thousands of pregnancy tests in one day).
2. Time your pregnancy test
When to conduct pregnancy tests is often a debated topic, and finding the sweet spot in your cycle can be a tough nut to crack.
However, an ideal timeframe is to aim for the end of the third week.
Moreover, be vigilant with your first-morning pee if using a urine test (it produces the most accurate results because the hCG levels are the highest).
3. Continue taking care of yourself
Pregnancy tests or not, it is important that you take care of yourself, regardless of whether you are 3 weeks pregnant or not. If you are actively trying to conceive, start taking folic acid supplement.
The NSW Health Department suggests women take folic acid at least 3 months before conception, so starting early on, even based on a hunch, can help with your baby’s development. Moreover, do not forget to do a light workout and/or meditation if you’re used to it, and do whatever nurtures your body.
4. Eat well
Pampering your body with foods and a balanced, healthy diet can aid fetal development, so opt for organic, whole foods, like fruits and veggies, and do not skip your proteins (but, feel free to skip the sugar, though).
Pick your nutrition:
- Vitamin C: We’re talking strawberries, citrus fruits, bell peppers, and tomatoes
- Iron: Beef, poultry, soy products, and spinach
- Calcium: Greek yogurt, fortified cereal, and pasteurized cheese
Your taste buds may refuse to cooperate with you fully, or your nausea may kick in and make eating difficult as you’re 3 weeks pregnant. But you still need to provide your body with the fuel to make a baby, so think healthy and nutritious. And be sure to take your prenatal vitamins.
5. Decaf, please!
You should err on the side of caution when it comes to caffeine consumption in the early stage of pregnancy and consume it in limited quantities throughout. Some reports suggest that consuming too much coffee causes the blood vessels in the uterus and placenta to constrict, thus presenting complications and even stillbirth.
If you are a die-hard coffee lover or run on caffeine, ask your doctor for a safe amount or find ways to slowly reduce your intake. This is also time to cease alcohol consumption.
Your checklist for 3 weeks pregnant
By now, it’s clear that at three weeks, taking an at-home pregnancy test is like trying to catch a glimpse of Bigfoot—it’s just too early. For now, blood tests are your best bet right now.
It’s a good idea to wait at least four weeks after your last period or a few days after your missed period to break out the home test.
You need to wait for hCG, the so-called pregnancy hormone, to rise to detectable levels. Until then, focus on taking care of yourself and your body.
This is also a great time to stay in touch with your doctor or find one if you don’t have one yet. Having a healthcare provider in the loop can give you some much-needed peace of mind and make this wild ride a lot smoother.
Sources
Better Health Channel, Pregnancy – week by week, February 2012
Health Direct Australia, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, April 2024
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Pregnancy, birth and baby, n.d
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