Your baby

Although you still might be experiencing the signs of pregnancy, you have been carrying your baby for over four weeks. At this stage, the embryo is developing from two layers of cells to three.

Your baby will be less than 3mm long, but this is when part of the brain and the central nervous system begin to form.

You

You have been carrying your baby for two weeks by the time your period is due. But because pregnancy is calculated from the date of your last period, you are already one month pregnant!

At 4 weeks pregnant, your body will begin to change but it’s likely that this will only be noticeable by you. Some symptoms may be that your breasts are tender or you experience slight bleeding. For more on 4 weeks pregnant symptoms and bleeding 4 weeks pregnant, read more about the early signs of pregnancy.

What to think about

If you have taken a home pregnancy test, it’s time to book an appointment with your local GP. You might find that this initial appointment is like a normal check up. You may be weighed with a brief medical history taken. Some doctors might take a urine sample to check for urinary tract infections as well as anything else that may affect your pregnancy. During this initial appointment your doctor should explain about antenatal care and also give you lifestyle and nutritional advice.

If you’re not taking supplements, you should begin taking folic acid daily as this helps protect your baby from spinal cord defects. Why should you take folic acid supplements? If you are entitled to free prescriptions ask your doctor to prescribe it.

Smoking and drinking can affect your pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about help available.

You may feel anxious about telling people at work that you are pregnant. Read more about the best time to tell your employer that you are expecting.