1st trimester: Week 4

Your Baby

The uterus has formed a lush bed of tissue, and the production of estrogen and progesterone increases as the uterus decides to hold onto its precious cargo -- the cluster of cells that nests inside. Some of these cells become attached to the uterine wall and form the placenta, while others become the embryo. Implantation triggers the production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone that turns your pregnancy test positive and your whole world upside down. 

Your Body

This is very likely the week you experience your first missed period or see only some slight spotting, called implantation bleeding. You won't experience any visible signs of pregnancy, but your body is changing in amazing ways and you will feel exhausted. Your breasts become harder and more tender. If you don't know you are pregnant, you may unwittingly attribute this to PMS. In fact, you may attribute all of your pregnancy symptoms -- bloating, cramping, backache, mood swings -- to the period that is expected but will not arrive. 

Do's and Don'ts

Do stop smoking as soon as you suspect you are pregnant. When a pregnant woman smokes, it reduces the flow of oxygen to her baby, which can cause him to grow more slowly and gain less weight in the womb. Smoking during pregnancy has also been linked to miscarriage and preterm labor. 

Health

When you phone your doctor to make your first appointment, ask about taking a folate supplement if you haven't already started. Don't wait until you can get in for a visit. Weeks 5 through 10 are critical to neural development -- and so is the B vitamin folate, otherwise known as folic acid. 

Mom to Mom

Make time to put romance back in your relationship, before life gets a whole lot busier. "My husband and I make a date once a week for lunch. My favorite part is when I see him waiting for me in the lobby -- it feels like we're dating again!" - Nancy Carr, Baltimore, MD