According to established medical practice, the gynecologist determines the timing of pregnancy based on the first day of your last menstruation. According to this approach, the second week of pregnancy is a time of preparation for possible fertilization. By the end of the week, the egg is fully matured, so now is the easiest time to get pregnant.
If you follow the embryonic method, when the count is made from ovulation, then pregnancy 2 weeks after conception is the period when the fertilized egg has already attached to the wall of the uterus, that is, implantation has occurred.
What happens to the expectant mother
During the period of ovulation, a woman usually does not experience discomfort: menstrual pain and malaise have passed. But 2 weeks after conception, unusual sensations may occur:
- the breast becomes engorged, the sensitivity of the nipples increases;
- there is discomfort in the lower abdomen;
- may cause nausea, loss of appetite;
- irritability and mood swings occur;
- unusual reactions to familiar odors appear.
Such early signs of pregnancy in the 2nd week after conception and everything that a woman feels now is due to an increase in hCG levels. Its norm in the second week ranges from 50 to 500 mU/ml. Against this background, the pressure drops and you want to go to the toilet more often.
How pregnancy begins
In the middle of the cycle (approximately 11-16 days, depending on its average duration), a mature egg is released from the ovary. It remains viable for 24 hours. The sperm fertilizes the egg in the fallopian tube; a zygote is formed. After 25-30 hours, it begins to divide through fragmentation - the number of cells increases, but the volume remains the same. The round formation begins to move towards the uterus. It is helped by contractions of the pipe wall and wave-like movements of the outgrowths-cilia lining it from the inside. The journey lasts from 3 to 5 days.
By the end of the first week after fertilization, the embryo, resembling a hollow ball, is embedded in the endometrium. This process is called implantation. The outer layer of the embryo - the trophoblast - begins to secrete a special hormone - human chorionic gonadotropin (or hCG). It “tells” the woman’s body that pregnancy has occurred. Further physiological changes are triggered. Determining the level of hCG in the blood or urine suggests pregnancy already at 1-2 weeks.
What happens to the embryo at 2 weeks
A child at 2 weeks of pregnancy is not yet a fetus, but only one small cell that has just attached to the endometrium and is beginning to rapidly grow and divide. A genome is formed inside it - biological information that will determine the external image and developmental characteristics of the unborn child.
If a malfunction occurs and the set of chromosomes turns out to be incorrect, the zygote will not be able to attach to the wall of the uterus and will leave the body along with uterine bleeding. This will be a normal menstruation for you, but this is how the natural mechanism of selecting viable cells works.
Let us repeat that all this applies to the embryonic method of calculating gestational age.
Determining the exact date
When you are in the 2nd week of pregnancy, determining the exact date plays a significant role. This period is characterized by the possibility of negative factors influencing the body of pregnant women.
Information about the exact period of conception will allow the doctor to promptly identify developmental abnormalities and prescribe the necessary treatment.
We list the most common methods for determining the due date if you are 2 weeks pregnant:
- Plotting a graph of basal body temperature. This method is informative only if observations were carried out at least 3 months before pregnancy. Taking your temperature rectally will show if there are any changes due to conception. An increase in basal temperature and absence of menstruation may indicate pregnancy.
- Pregnancy test. As you know, the second line on the test, indicating pregnancy, reacts to an increased level of the hCG hormone in the blood. If 2 weeks have passed since conception, then this method will show the woman with 100% accuracy whether she is pregnant or not.
- Appointment at the antenatal clinic. In the first few weeks, expectant mothers rarely visit a gynecologist. However, sometimes such a need may arise with the appearance of alarming symptoms and malaise. This is the right decision, because only an experienced woman’s doctor will be able to determine whether there is a threat of miscarriage and refer her for an ultrasound to determine the exact stage of pregnancy.
Tests and ultrasound
There are no mandatory pregnancy tests in the second week. You need to wait 3-4 weeks before registration and a comprehensive examination. If the expectant mother wants to make sure her assumptions about pregnancy are correct, she can undergo testing using a pharmacy test or donate blood for hCG in the laboratory. The latter method, of course, is more accurate at such an early stage.
During an examination, an experienced gynecologist can assume the presence of pregnancy by assessing the slightly increased size of the uterus.
Is an ultrasound necessary?
If a woman is preparing to become a mother and is in the 2nd obstetric week of pregnancy, then with the help of ultrasound it is possible to determine the exact timing of ovulation, and therefore the optimal time for conception. Typically, such a study is resorted to for long-term reproductive problems.
At the 2nd embryonic week, ultrasound is not yet informative. The size of the fertilized egg is so small that an ultrasound cannot see what the embryo looks like. You will only notice a dark dot in the photo.
Discharge during ovulation
Mucous
There is even a special term to characterize the discharge during ovulation - “egg white”. This is exactly what they look like - viscous, transparent and plentiful. When such discharge appears, a woman can understand that today is a favorable day for conception. However, at 2 weeks of pregnancy, the discharge will look a little different. Normally, they should be sparse, colorless and without a pungent odor. If a cheesy consistency is observed, this may indicate the presence of thrush in the pregnant woman. The best solution would be to see a doctor and start treatment, preferably at the same time as your sexual partner.
Bloody
Scanty bleeding may indicate the successful attachment of a fertilized egg to the wall of a woman’s uterus. Implantation bleeding is a normal physiological phenomenon that should not cause concern. Quite often it is mistaken for the beginning of the menstrual cycle. However, it is worth understanding that, unlike menstruation, discharge during implantation is light and spotting.
Bleeding
Bleeding during this period is caused by various reasons. This could be delayed menstruation or a symptom of some gynecological disease. If there is blood from the vagina, malaise and pain in the lower abdomen, you should urgently consult a doctor. Timely medical care can relieve the inflammatory process and not delay pregnancy planning.
Stomach ache
Minor pulling sensations in the uterine area should not bother the woman much. However, if abdominal pain intensifies at 2 weeks of pregnancy, this may be an alarming sign of a threatened miscarriage. You need to immediately contact a gynecologist, get the necessary recommendations from him and protect yourself as much as possible from nervous shock.
Problems
About 40% of early pregnancies end in miscarriage. In half the cases, the woman is not even aware of what has happened: menstruation may be delayed for a couple of days, and then bleeding will begin, perhaps more profusely than usual.
Another common complication is the threat of miscarriage. It can be suspected by sharp or nagging pain in the lower abdomen and bleeding. Some women note that they bleed a little, while others experience heavy blood loss. The condition is also accompanied by general malaise, dizziness and weakness.
A common cause of this is progesterone deficiency. But with timely consultation with a doctor, pregnancy can be maintained with the help of hormonal therapy.
Ovulation and pregnancy calendar
To calculate the period of readiness of a female egg for fertilization, the principle of diagnosing pregnancy is used. On the test, upon contact with urine, 2 transverse lines are visible, the second of which indicates the body’s readiness to conceive a new life. If for several months it remains paler than the control, you should consult a doctor because of the suspicion of the presence of a pathology in the body, which may be:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Obesity.
- Severe stress.
- Inflammation of the thyroid gland.
Do's and Don'ts
Paying close attention to yourself and your body’s needs will allow you to safely carry your baby without complications. Obviously, during pregnancy it is worth giving up smoking and alcohol, heavy physical and thermal stress, which increase uterine tone and lead to miscarriage. Avoid stressful situations. Taking any medications without a doctor's prescription can be dangerous for the unborn child. Be sure to tell the prescriber about your situation.
An expectant mother can and should eat a balanced diet, maintain physical activity, get enough sleep and proper rest, remain calm and have a positive attitude in any situation.
How to increase your chances of conceiving
If you are in your second obstetric week, follow a number of rules of intimate life that will help you get pregnant faster. A few days before expected ovulation, avoid physical intimacy to preserve and maintain sperm quality and motility.
After sexual intercourse, do not rush to get up: lie down for about 20 minutes, perhaps raising your legs or placing a pillow under your buttocks. This will help the sperm reach their goal faster.
And the most important condition is to get rid of internal worries, because the factor of psychological infertility occurs in 10% of cases. You will succeed!
Nutrition for pregnant women
Doctors and nutritionists say that a mother’s nutrition is the key to the health of her unborn child. During pregnancy, a woman's diet, of course, undergoes significant changes. Adjustments are made by raging hormones, early toxicosis and the recommendations of a gynecologist. The most basic rule is that meals should be correct, fractional and timely. It is worth excluding all fast food products, flour and sweets, too fatty and salty. But soups, cereals, vegetables and fruits, and lean meat will be beneficial.
Checklist 2 weeks pregnant
- Stock up on ovulation and pregnancy tests.
- 2 weeks after conception, undergo a blood test for hCG to be completely sure of the changes that have occurred.
- Change your lifestyle for the better: watch your diet, walk more, maintain a sleep-wake schedule.
- Remember to take 400 mcg of folic acid, unless otherwise prescribed by a specialist.
It doesn't matter how you count the weeks of pregnancy. Family planning and preparation for pregnancy require careful attention and a competent approach. The Women's Medical Center is pleased to offer you individual pregnancy planning and management programs at affordable prices.
Recommendations for pregnant women
To ensure a risk-free pregnancy, you need to avoid stressful situations from the first weeks after conception. This is an indispensable and most important condition for a successful future motherhood. In addition, the following recommendations must be observed:
- eat healthy;
- exclude alcohol and processed foods;
- take vitamin complexes for pregnant women;
- quit smoking or avoid the company of smokers (if you don’t smoke);
- avoid public places during acute respiratory infections epidemics;
- stick to a daily routine and sleep schedule;
- walk more in the fresh air and receive only positive emotions.
attitude to alcohol
Drinking alcohol to stimulate mood and relieve nervous tension can lead to dire consequences. Alcohol does not always interfere with the process of egg formation, but its effect is difficult to calculate and can cause irreparable harm to the unborn child. Even low-alcohol drinks should not be consumed during pregnancy and planning.
In France, children born with congenital deformities and mental pathologies in the last century were called “children of Sunday,” that is, the fruits of a drunken conception. In the USSR of the 60-70s, when abortion was not welcomed at the state level, to carry it out it was enough to say that pregnancy was the result of conception while intoxicated.
When will I ovulate?
The duration of the menstrual cycle for most women is 28–32 days, although a couple of days plus or minus is also normal. Ovulation occurs approximately 14 days after the first day of the last menstrual period. For women whose cycles are shorter or longer than the standard 28 days, the day of ovulation may shift earlier or later.
How does a woman feel after conception?
Immediately after conception, a woman may feel absolutely nothing. If she did not plan a pregnancy, then in the normal rhythm of life she may not detect changes in her condition. If a woman planned her pregnancy in advance, she is more attentive to changes in well-being. It is quite possible that a signal of the onset of ovulation will be increased libido and an increase in the volume of discharge, weakness and a slight deterioration in mood.
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Cystitis or early pregnancy?
Changes in hormonal levels affect all organs, including the bladder. At the same time, the amount of mucus produced in the vagina of the expectant mother increases, which is why bacteria can enter the urethra. The intensity of blood flow in the pelvic area increases, so the woman feels pain just above the pubis and frequent urges.
If other symptoms of cystitis - cloudy color, blood in the urine - are absent, discomfort may be a sign of pregnancy. Do a test to be sure.
