It is my first month- Pregnancy Week 4

It is my first month, although I cannot not count, do not know what time is. Something within me knows  what I should be doing, and carries it out. I myself live in the darkness, feeling only hunger, the insatiable need to grow, and a simple warmth. Slowly though, another type of warmth is appearing. I wonder about it, but I know it will not harm me.

In the fourth week, one is sure of the pregnancy now. Changes that begun four weeks ago is now noticeable in the body. A little bloat, the fatigue may worsen, the breasts be more tender, sometimes regularity of the bowels may be interrupted.

None of the changes the embryo is going through itself are visible on the outside. He/she has grown heart, liver, lungs, kidneys and the head is becoming visible as a larger lump. This will show on some scans. He/she is beginning to excrete waste products produced by the growing. The amniotic sac is filling with fluid to support to embryo’s growth and enlarging to keep it safe and comfortable.

Some women begin tentatively talking to this part of them, making it a real thing to themselves. It often feels silly, but the embryo can often sense the emotion that goes with it. Emotions, being intangible, are only visible as expressions on a face or body language. No one can have the exact emotion as someone else at the same time. Like humans, the variety is endless.

Emotions are all over the place. A person who never cries may find himself or herself crying at odd times and places, and for no obvious reason. A person who has never had any interest in food may suddenly start to want to eat frequently, and it can be anything that comes to mind. These odd feelings of hunger are called cravings.

These cravings may strike at any time during night or day. Some of them may seem crazy, some just plain bad, such as, if one has quit smoking, the irresistible desire for a cigarette. Try to turn these cravings away from bad habits. Ice cream and pickles is not so bad, if one only has a little, but a huge cream cake is not so good.

The hormones also go out of kilter. The oestrogen level rises, to ensure the embryo is not rejected. Of course, sometimes it unfortunately happens that it is rejected, but this is usually programmed into the embryo, not the mother. It is a part of creation that is not understood.

If one feels something is not quite right, it is best to discuss it with the health professional or doctor as soon as is possible. Sometimes these feelings have a good reason for occurring, and are not just anxiety or hormones. Having one’s mind at rest is better than fretting, which is far worse for mother and baby. Some anxiety is normal, severe worrying is not.

All the mood swings may be very confusing to the partner, but hang in there. Be as supportive as one can. Respect the partner’s desire to sleep all day and night, should this happen, and try to take on some of the household chores. As the partner’s hormones swing, the unexpected results may be upsetting, but try to not to take them personally.