The wonder of becoming a “mother” is a woman’s desire. Therefore, when having sex without contraception, it is very exciting to wonder how likely it is that you will get pregnant. What should you do to find out as soon as possible? If you are pregnant for 1 week, will you know? Can a pregnancy test detect it? And… what are the symptoms of being pregnant for 1 week ? Let’s find out together.
When do you count your pregnancy period?
The first fact that may be surprising but must be understood is that most obstetricians count pregnancy as “from the first day of your last menstrual period” because pinpointing the exact date, time of ovulation , and therefore conception, is more difficult than looking at physical signs during your menstrual cycle.
A woman’s body will release only 1 egg (or 2 eggs, which is quite rare) between days 10-19 of her menstrual cycle, or about 14 days before the next period begins. After ovulation, there will be 12-24 hours for fertilization. If you have sex before ovulation, it will increase the chances of getting pregnant because sperm can live in the body for up to 6 days.
Therefore, medically, the “1 week pregnancy” period is when a woman still has her period and is not yet pregnant. Only when entering the 2nd or 3rd week will she start carrying a baby.
This fact itself means that before a new mother knows she is pregnant, it may be as late as the 4th or 5th week. This may be due to the discovery of a missed period , along with other symptoms of pregnancy. The question is, is it possible to know from the very beginning? From the very first week? What are the symptoms of pregnancy in the first week?
What are the symptoms of being pregnant for 1 week?
Pregnancy symptoms at 1 week: Commonly found in the “first week after conception” may include breast congestion or pain, nausea , fatigue, and frequent urination. Additionally, the mother may still have her period and experience symptoms similar to those during a normal menstrual cycle, such as:
- There is vaginal bleeding because the original uterine lining that the body created to support pregnancy is shed.
- Lower back pain and abdominal pain due to contractions of the uterus causing the lining of the uterus to fall out.
- Swelling due to hormonal fluctuations can cause the abdomen to swell before and during menstruation.
- Mood swings due to hormonal imbalances, causing mothers to feel irritated and in a bad mood.
- Headache or migraine headache , which is also caused by hormones
How do you know if you are pregnant? Signs that indicate pregnancy
Because in the 1 week pregnancy period, the mother will not have any obvious symptoms until entering the 4th-5th week (the first 1-2 weeks after the missed period) then the symptoms of pregnancy will appear, which are:
- Missed period: If the mother has regular menstrual periods, this sign will be a better indicator than if the mother has irregular menstrual cycles.
- Nausea and vomiting are symptoms that usually occur about a month after conception, but some mothers may not experience these symptoms throughout their pregnancy.
- Breast engorgement due to increased blood flow to the breasts, causing swelling, tightness, and sensitivity similar to menstruation.
- Frequent urination: When the body produces more blood to different parts of the body, the kidneys excrete more waste products.
- Constipation is caused by hormonal changes, which slows down the digestive system, and the uterus expands, which presses on the intestines.
- Mood swings, anger, or irritability
1 week pregnant, can it be detected?
As I said, being 1 week pregnant is hardly considered a pregnancy in medical terms because it is still in the period of the last menstrual cycle. Therefore, mothers must ask themselves first that in reality, if they were still in the period (the last month), would they suspect that they were pregnant? … It is probably inferred that they would not suspect. Only when time passed until the next period came later than usual or did not come at all would they suspect, “Am I pregnant?” Therefore, using a pregnancy test kit with a pregnancy period of 1 week is very unlikely to happen.
But if you want to check your pregnancy yourself, you can buy a pregnancy test kit to test for HCG hormone or pregnancy hormone which is secreted from the placenta 6 days after conception and will peak 8-12 weeks after intercourse. The accuracy of this test method is up to 90%.
How to use a home pregnancy test kit
The first thing to recommend before using a pregnancy test is that you should wait about 7 days after your period (after finding out that your period is missing) because your period may be delayed from normal stress and anxiety.
- Read the instruction manual carefully and follow it strictly for accurate test results.
- Test after waking up in the morning with the first urine sample or before eating to avoid any contaminants in the urine that may cause inaccurate test results.
- Test within 1 hour after tearing open the envelope. If left for a long time, the test efficiency will decrease.
- It is recommended to test at least twice because the levels of HCG hormone will be different. Testing multiple times will give more accurate results, with a test interval of about 2-3 days.
However, self-pregnancy tests are not 100% accurate. Mothers who are still in doubt should see a doctor for a more accurate and certain pregnancy test.
Symptoms of pregnancy at 1 week, although it cannot be clearly indicated as a sign indicating pregnancy or not, for mothers who suspect that they are pregnant, they should prepare their bodies for pregnancy by starting from reducing, stopping or quitting risky behaviors such as drinking alcohol, smoking, including reducing caffeinated drinks. So that when it is confirmed that you are pregnant, you can receive prenatal care with peace of mind and without worry.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Thailand
