For those of you actively trying to have a baby, let us break the news! When you’re 2 weeks pregnant, there isn’t really a baby in your womb!
Surprised much?
Theoretically, pregnancy is calculated from Day 1 of your last period. However, it’s only after ovulation that fertilisation happens, provided you had sex. And ovulation occurs roughly on the 14th day of your last menstrual cycle.
And when this fertilised egg implants itself in your uterus, VOILA you’re pregnant! But again, the calculation of your pregnancy duration will begin from the last period date itself.
So a word of advice for you during the 2nd week is to MAKE IT COUNT! Keep reading as we elaborate on this further.
Your body produces high amounts of progesterone that prepare your uterus. Your body also secretes follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to mature the eggs for fertilisation. Your uterus lining (which nourishes the baby) starts to develop.
Even with all these busy activities, you won’t feel discomfort, not like how a pregnant mum feels at a later stage of pregnancy.
Like we said, there is no baby at 2 weeks in your womb. But your body is definitely geared to make one at this time.
At the end of week two, following the end of your menstrual cycle, the body gears up for ovulation to take place. Once your ovaries release the egg, it travels to your fallopian tubes. These tubes are the ‘fertilisation spots’ of your body where the sperm meets the egg.
And if you’re trying to conceive, it’s better that you have that sperm waiting to greet the egg. This means you need to actively start having intercourse right before the ovulation starts.
A sperm can survive for around 5 days inside the female body, while an egg lasts only 24 hours. This is another reason why it’s smart to have the sperm waiting inside your body before ovulation.
Conception chances are the highest when you have sex a couple of days before ovulation as well as when you’re ovulating.
Once you have conceived, you’re officially 2 weeks pregnant! And here’s one more surprise - the moment fertilisation occurs, your baby’s gender will also be determined.
The 2nd week pregnancy symptoms aren’t actually associated with pregnancy. But here are some symptoms of ovulation to look out for:
You might experience cramping near your abdomen or pelvic region. This particularly happens when your ovaries release an egg. Sometimes the pain might be accompanied by slight bleeding.
The hormonal fluctuations around this time cause your breasts to become tender & more sensitive. They might also appear a bit swollen or even fuller.
During ovulation, your vaginal discharge noticeably thickens. It becomes more slippery & stretchy, pretty much like an egg white. There is also a change in how the cervix feels, its position, etc.
Ever noticed an upward gear in your sex drive particularly around your mid-cycle? That’s because the hormones during your ovulatory phase rev up your attraction towards the opposite sex.
On your ovulation day, you might notice an increase in your basal body temperature. It usually stays elevated till your next cycle.
You might also sometimes notice that your sense of smell, taste & sight have suddenly moved up a notch.
While there isn’t a baby growing yet, your body is getting ready to nurture one.
So,
What you eat determines your health, your fertility & the health of your baby. So it’s wiser to start on a nutritious diet rich in fruits and vegetables & whole grains. Cut down on unhealthy fat & sugar. Additionally, consult your doctor to get started with prenatal vitamins such as folic acid & vitamin D.
This is to ensure that your body is ready to carry a baby. Not only can your doctor’s advice help in maintaining your health but also ensure that any pregnancy-related complications stay warded off. This is important even for ladies who have had babies in the past.
Well, this is quite obvious. The more the hits, the higher the chances of hitting the bull's eye. Simple maths!
This includes not just your physical health but also your mental health. Take utmost care to ensure that they both remain up to the mark.
You and your doctor need to work together to get your body pregnancy-ready. First, check with them about stopping birth control. Also, you need to ensure that every medicine you’re taking is pregnancy-safe. Your doctor will also conduct several tests to identify red flags if any. Moreover, they will recommend genetic screenings to check for possible inherited birth defects in the child.
So, mommies, that’s all about the 2nd week of pregnancy. See you next week as we bring more updates from the ‘baby town’.
Ideally, you should see a doctor as soon as you test positive for a home pregnancy test. But technically speaking, at two weeks, you’re not really pregnant.
At 2 weeks, you can have slight cramping in your belly that would coincide with the time you’re ovulating.
No. At two weeks of pregnancy, there’s no baby as such. So you can’t really tell if you’re pregnant.
Yes, if you miss a period or suspect that you might be pregnant, you must immediately take a pregnancy test.