0-5 Weeks

What Happens in the First Weeks?

In obstetrics, we count from your last menstruation. During these first calendar weeks, there is no embryo yet, but we use this as a starting point to count all terms consistently.

Around your ovulation, egg and sperm cells meet. The fertilized egg (zygote) travels to the uterus over several days and implants itself. In most healthy pregnancies, this implantation occurs 8-10 days after ovulation. It’s normal for this to vary somewhat between individuals; implantation that occurs much later is more often associated with early miscarriage, but usually everything progresses normally.

After successful implantation, you produce hCG. This hormone ensures that the corpus luteum (in your ovary) continues to produce progesterone, maintaining the uterine lining and causing your period to be missed. Pregnancy tests often become positive around or shortly after the missed period (sometimes as early as weeks 3-4). Blood tests can measure hCG earlier and more precisely, but a single value tells little; when in doubt, doctors prefer to look at the trend over 48 hours.

In week 5, the development of the nervous system, heart, and major organs takes off. The neural tube (including brain and spinal cord) closes in the fourth week after conception (approximately 6 weeks pregnant counted from last menstruation), which is why guidelines recommend folic acid before and at the start of pregnancy. The heart forms and begins beating around this period, although this isn’t always immediately visible on ultrasound.

Register Online or Make an Appointment

As soon as you know you’re pregnant, you can call us or register online. We always schedule the first appointment around 6 to 7 weeks of pregnancy. It’s also possible to schedule an early ultrasound. If you wish to do so, you can indicate this during the initial phone call.

Folic Acid Vitamin D

The best time to start taking folic acid and vitamin D is when you’re planning to become pregnant. The brand doesn’t matter, as all folic acid and vitamin D supplements are suitable for pregnancy. Folic acid increases the chance of a healthy pregnancy by reducing the risk of conditions such as spina bifida or skull defects. It’s best to start four weeks before conception and continue until 10 weeks after conception.

Nutrition and lifestyle

For the proper development of your baby, it’s important to live as healthily as possible. This means quitting smoking, drug use, and alcohol consumption. We also recommend eating a healthy and varied diet and getting sufficient exercise. As a supplement, you can take folic acid and vitamin D. You absolutely don’t need to eat for two yet, as there isn’t a second person in your belly!

Bleeding and miscarriage

In the first three months of pregnancy, approximately 1 in 5 women experience bleeding. Initially, this can be due to implantation or, in the worst case, a miscarriage. Unfortunately, 1 in 10 pregnancies end in miscarriage. In most cases, this is due to a developmental issue that prevents the embryo from growing. It’s rarely a hereditary problem, so don’t worry about that. Regardless of how far along you are, a miscarriage is emotionally painful for many women. If you think you’re having a miscarriage, contact us immediately!

During a miscarriage, your body expels the embryo. This feels like a heavy menstruation. It’s a natural process, but for many women, it’s a profound event. If you experience heavy bleeding, always contact us. We can perform an ultrasound to determine the source of the bleeding and check if the embryo is still intact.

In the case of a miscarriage, we will guide you through the process to make it as gentle as possible. We’ll explain when you should call us and provide you with information about the process. If you experience bleeding after the 12^th week of pregnancy, always contact us.