Welcome to week 3. This is the week of ovulation and fertilization.
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Baby
Week three is really when the journey of your baby starts. This is the week of ovulation and fertilization. Did you know that when a man ejaculates, an average of 250 million sperm is released? About 400 sperm survive the ten-hour swim to the egg in the fallopian tube. Only one lucky sperm will succeed in burrowing through the outer membrane of the egg, which takes about 20 minutes. The sperm’s nucleus merges with the egg’s genetic material, and the sex, eye color, and even the texture of your baby’s hair are determined. If you’re having twins, either one egg will split this week, creating identical twins, or two eggs will be fertilized separately, creating fraternal twins. Once fertilized, the egg begins to travel through the fallopian tube to implant into the uterus lining.
Mom
Chances are you probably don’t know you’re pregnant yet. You may notice a little spotting by the end of this week. This is called implantation spotting, caused by the egg burrowing into the uterus. The spotting is very light, and only a minority of pregnant women experience it, so don’t worry if you don’t see anything.
It may seem like nothing is happening on the outside. Soon enough, you will be able to see all kinds of physical evidence that you are pregnant. If you are really in tune with your body, you may know you are pregnant before you even pop positive on a test. Some early signs can be tenderness, swollen breasts, fatigue, frequent urination, heightened sense of smell, and nausea.
Remember that every woman’s pregnancy is different and not everyone enjoys being pregnant. Your body will undergo many changes, which can be challenging. See this article for an overview of everything to expect in the first trimester.
Start a prenatal vitamin right away. You should be taking a prenatal vitamin specifically, not just a multivitamin. Prenatal vitamins contain more folic acid and iron than standard multivitamins, which is critical for your baby’s growth and development.
Tip for Dads and Partners
Finding out that you will be a parent is exciting but can also be intimidating. Just know that you have a lot of time before your baby arrives, and you will be great. Get prepared a little bit at a time, and you will be as ready as possible when you become a parent.
Want more evidence-based information to navigate your pregnancy and birth?
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