4 Weeks Pregnant
Everything you need to know and arrange when you’ve just found out you’re pregnant
If you’re 4 weeks pregnant, you’ve probably only just found out yourself. So it’s only natural that you’re full of questions! You might be wondering whether what you’re experiencing right now is normal, or whether everything’s going well. Know that you can already book an appointment with our midwifery practice in Amsterdam. We’ll see you very soon and discuss all your questions, as well as what you can expect over the coming months. In the meantime, you naturally want some answers already, so below we discuss a number of the most frequently asked questions we receive from women who have only just found out they’re pregnant.
Pregnancy symptoms in week 4
Even though you’ve only just become pregnant, you may already be experiencing certain pregnancy symptoms. Typical pregnancy symptoms associated with week 4 include fatigue, nausea, tender breasts, abdominal pain or bloating, headaches and frequent urination. Some women also notice mood swings. Many of these symptoms are caused by changes in your hormones. Don’t have any symptoms at all? That’s perfectly normal too, and it doesn’t mean anything about whether your pregnancy is going well or not. So enjoy it!
A baby bump at 4 weeks pregnant?
You may notice that you already have a bit of a baby bump, even though you really wouldn’t expect that at 4 weeks pregnant. And that’s correct; if you already have a bump now, it’s not because your baby has grown that much. Your bump is most likely caused by your bowels being upset. This gives you a bloated feeling and may also cause flatulence.
Embryo: the size of your baby
At this stage of your pregnancy, your baby is still called an embryo. At a size of 0.5 to 1 mm, your baby is now as small as a pinhead. Tiny indeed. But that won’t last long, your baby is now growing very fast and this week the first body parts are forming. In about a week or two, your baby will already be around 6 mm and will then grow 1 mm a day. That’s hard work, which is why it’s so important to take good care of yourself already.
4 weeks: how your baby is developing now
Every week of pregnancy is important, but the period from week 4 to week 12 is a truly crucial phase, during which your baby is formed. In weeks 4 and 5 of your pregnancy, the foundations of your child are laid: the neural tube closes, the nerve cells that regulate bodily functions form, and the brain and heart begin to develop.
Folic acid, especially at 4 weeks pregnant!
Once you know you’re pregnant, and you’re in this early stage such as week 4, it’s essential to live healthily. If you weren’t already taking folic acid, we recommend starting straight away. Folic acid plays an important role in the development of your baby’s nervous system, which, as you can read above, is currently in its crucial phase. 2
What you should and shouldn’t eat right now
Eating healthily and varied is of course also very important. We’ve already described elsewhere what you can and can’t eat during pregnancy. But we also know that, due to fatigue among other things, you may have no desire at all for elaborate cooking or healthy eating in these first weeks. So in these weeks, mostly just follow your gut feeling when it comes to food. And as soon as you have the energy for it, you’ll gradually start eating more healthily. Of course, it’s still important to avoid harmful things such as alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.
Bleeding at 4 weeks pregnant
Are you experiencing bleeding at 4 weeks pregnant? This can be caused by the cervix being very well supplied with blood, which means it can bleed easily. It could also be implantation bleeding, where the fertilised egg implants itself in the uterine wall, which can cause a small amount of bleeding. So even if this has given you a fright, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re having a miscarriage. It is important, however, that the bleeding isn’t accompanied by abdominal pain or cramps. If the bleeding is very light and you have no pain, you can safely wait and see. If the bleeding is heavier, so much so that you regularly need to change your sanitary pad, it’s wise to call us, either during the day or first thing the next day. This also applies if you’ve never been to see us before. Just let us know straight away that you’re bleeding. We’ll then ask you a few questions and tell you what to do next.
Frequently asked questions about being 4 weeks pregnant
What symptoms can you have at 4 weeks pregnant?
At 4 weeks pregnant you may experience fatigue, nausea, tender breasts, abdominal pain, bloating, headaches and/or frequent urination. It’s also perfectly normal if you don’t have any symptoms yet.
Can you already have a baby bump at 4 weeks pregnant?
Some women already notice a bit of a bump at this stage. This isn’t because your baby is already that big. It’s more likely that your bowels are upset, which can give you a bloated feeling and cause flatulence.
How big is your baby at 4 weeks pregnant?
At this stage, your baby is still called an embryo. The embryo is about 0.5 to 1 millimetre in size, roughly the size of a pinhead.
Why is folic acid so important at 4 weeks pregnant?
Folic acid plays an important role in the development of your baby’s nervous system. Because the first weeks of pregnancy are crucial for your baby’s development, it’s recommended to start taking folic acid straight away if you haven’t already.
Is bleeding at 4 weeks pregnant always a miscarriage?
No, not necessarily. Bleeding can also be caused by the cervix being very well supplied with blood, or by implantation bleeding. If you have heavy bleeding along with abdominal pain or cramps, contact your midwife.
4 weeks pregnant? Get to know your midwife in Amsterdam-Zuid!
Are you 4 weeks pregnant? Call or email us straight away to book your first appointment with your midwife in Amsterdam-Zuid. Or schedule your first appointment with the midwife yourself, via this sign-up form. Our practice has two locations: on the Churchilllaan and on the Willemsparkweg. We’ll arrange an appointment with you right away for your first consultation. See you soon!
