1 Week Pregnant

Planning for a family can become a time consuming and exhausting experience for some. When you realize that you are pregnant, however, it is a powerful moment. It is an exciting, joyful and often fearful time for couples as they plan for the arrival of a new member of their family.

Fertilization

The process of getting pregnant happens without you even realizing it. Maybe you have taken the time to chart out your fertile days and maximize your chances of getting pregnant, but there are no guarantees. Your missed period may be your first sign of pregnancy, but that isn't for another two weeks. It only takes one out of 300 million sperm to fertilize an egg. This begins the germinal stage of development. The cells are now referred to as the zygote.

Determining the Sex of Your Baby

The characteristics of the sperm that reaches the egg will affect your baby's gender. Therefore, the sex of your baby is determined at conception even though you won't be able to tell until around 20 weeks by ultrasound.

Healthy Mom, Healthy Pregnancy

Now, more than ever, it is imperative that you take care of your body. It is important to avoid smoking, alcohol and over-the-counter drugs. If possible, it is best to see your doctor during the planning stages and adapt a healthy lifestyle at that point, especially since you won’t even know for sure for several weeks if you are pregnant or not. A home urine test is often the first proof a mother-to-be has and the doctor can confirm a positive test with a blood sample.

It is equally important to make healthy food choices and develop an appropriate exercise routine. This will help control your weight throughout your pregnancy, create a healthy and safe environment for your baby and allow for an easier delivery in the end.