Around the 4 week mark is when your period is due – or late.

By now, you might have begun to wonder if, or suspect, you might be pregnant.

Most women will opt to use a home pregnancy test around this time. If you’ve already had a positive test, congratulations!

Some women opt for a blood test to confirm their 4 weeks pregnant. But rest assured, when done as per the instructions, at-home urine tests have a very high accuracy rate of over 99%.

It’s normal to feel a combination of excitement and nervousness.

If you’re still waiting for a positive test, try not to stress too much.

Sometimes, if taken too early, a test can show as negative, even when you are actually pregnant.

This is because home pregnancy tests detect the level of hCG in your urine when you pee on the stick. A very early test might not detect enough hCG in your urine to turn your test positive.

If you believe you’re pregnant, but an early test has shown negative, repeat the test in a week or two. By then your hCG levels will have increased significantly and your test will show as positive.

Be sure to read When To Take A Pregnancy Test – For The Best Result for more information.

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4 weeks pregnant due date

Want to double-check your estimated due date? If you haven’t already used a pregnancy calendar, you might want to try BellyBelly’s due date calculator.

Remember, your estimated due date is not set in stone: it’s just an estimate.

You might like to read 40 Reasons To Give Your Baby 40+ Weeks Of Pregnancy to understand more.

Is 4 weeks pregnant actually 2 weeks?

Remember, when you calculate your estimated due date, you’ll need to know the first day of your last period. This is known as your last menstrual period or your LMP.

If your monthly period is usually irregular, and your due date is calculated from your LMP alone, it might not be entirely accurate.

The same also applies if you’re not very certain of your dates.

In that case, a first trimester ultrasound will be the most accurate way to date and measure your pregnancy.

If you’re not sure of your dates, talk it through with your doctor or midwife at your first prenatal appointment.

When do you start counting your pregnancy?

Your LMP date will effectively become day 1 of your pregnancy. Technically, though, you’re not actually pregnant at the time of your last period, which can make things a little confusing for some.

However, this has become the standardized way to measure a pregnancy.

At the time of your first missed period, you’re already considered to be 4 weeks pregnant.

Confused? Find out why in Estimated Due Dates And The Myth Of The 40 Week Pregnancy.

How many months is 4 weeks pregnant?

At 4 weeks pregnant you’re already one month into your journey – one down, eight to go!

It’s amazing to think how much is already happening in your body – even before you realize you’re pregnant. From the moment of conception, your baby begins to grow inside you.

Your baby might be only a tiny dot at this stage – no bigger than a poppy seed, in fact – but it’s most certainly alive and kicking. Well, not quite kicking yet, but it won’t be long.

4 weeks pregnant – what to expect

By week 4 of pregnancy, the fertilized egg has already attached to the uterine lining.

The egg, now a little embryo, is surrounded by the amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac.

The placenta is still developing but is sending out tiny, hair-like tendrils, which wrap around the abundant small blood vessels in the lining of your uterus.

Usually, the placenta takes over the role of sustaining your baby by around 12 weeks gestation.

Under normal circumstances, your blood and your baby’s blood don’t mix. You each have quite separate circulatory systems.

The closeness of your blood vessels to those of the placenta, however, allows the exchange of oxygen, nutrients and waste products.

4 weeks pregnant & bleeding when wiping

Implantation usually takes place 10-14 days after conception.

As your little embryo begins to bury itself into the lining of the uterus, you might experience some light bleeding. This occurs as little bits of the uterine lining come away as your little one secures her place.

It is known as implantation bleeding. You might only see it when wiping when you use the bathroom, but some women experience it as spotting. It might be necessary to wear a panty liner, but the bleeding shouldn’t be heavy.

If you experience heavier bleeding, contact your healthcare provider for advice.

4 weeks pregnant – signs & symptoms

Not all women experience early symptoms. Ironically, many of the early signs could be mistaken for the usual pre-menstrual symptoms you get before your period.

Things to look out for are:

Bloating. You might experience fluid retention around the beginning of your period
Mood swings. Fluctuating hormone levels are the cause of this and are most noticeable in the first trimester. You might experience moodiness in the week leading up to your period
Breast tenderness. Your breasts and nipples might feel sore or tender to touch
Cramping. Severe cramping should be investigated; mild cramping, however, is generally considered normal (especially if not associated with any bleeding)
Implantation bleeding. This can happen when the fertilized egg burrows into the uterus lining. A small amount of blood can appear.
Basal body temperature. If you’ve been tracking your temperature you’ll be aware that your temperature normally rises 1-2 days after ovulation. When you are pregnant, your temperature will remain raised, instead of dropping off once your period arrives.

Be sure to read Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period to learn more.

4 weeks pregnant – no symptoms

Don’t panic if you haven’t felt any of the above symptoms. Many women aren’t actually aware they’re pregnant because they feel just as usual.

If you have no symptoms at week 4 of pregnancy, it’s completely normal, and not an indication of the health of your pregnancy or your baby.

Most early pregnancy symptoms make their appearance around week 6.

Can you have morning sickness at 4 weeks pregnant?

Nausea, vomiting and food aversions aren’t usually a problem just yet; they often kick in by at least week 6.

It’s around this time when the pregnancy hormone hCG (short for human chorionic gonadotropin) rises.

Find out more in our article about morning sickness.

No one really knows why some women experience severe symptoms, while others have none at all.

Unfortunately, for some, morning sickness can start as early as week 4 of pregnancy.

For some women, nausea and vomiting might have been the first clue that prompted them to take a test at home.

Find out what other early symptoms you might experience.

Does morning sickness at 4 weeks pregnant mean twins?

The only definitive way to determine whether or not you’re carrying twins (or multiples) is by ultrasound.

Women who are carrying twins or multiples, however, will have higher levels of hCG. We know that changes in the levels of hCG can be a cause of pregnancy-related sickness.

Therefore if you’re experiencing nausea or vomiting from very early on, it could be an early sign that perhaps there’s more than one growing baby in there.

It’s impossible to guess just from what you’re experiencing, though, as every woman will experience their pregnancies differently.

Cramping at week 4 of pregnancy

If you’re experiencing cramping around pregnancy week 4, it can cause a great deal of anxiety. Fears of miscarriage or something going wrong can be nerve-racking. However, mild cramping is usually nothing serious.

When the fertilized egg implants, it can cause mild cramping, similar to mild menstrual cramps, in your lower pelvis or back.

Around pregnancy week 4, any cramping, especially if not accompanied by blood, is usually the result of implantation.

However, if you experience any pregnancy symptoms with severe pain or blood loss, be sure to seek professional medical advice.

Folate in early pregnancy

During this early stage, your baby’s nervous system is beginning to develop.

A layer of cells folds to form the neural tube that makes up your baby’s nervous system. This will become the baby’s brain and spinal cord.

You might have heard how important it is to get enough folate during pregnancy.

Folate should not be confused with folic acid. Although the two are often discussed interchangeably, they’re actually different.

Folate is the naturally occurring version of folic acid, found naturally in our foods. Folic acid is the synthetic version we find in supplements and fortified foods.

Find out what you need to know about folic acid vs folate in Folic Acid For Pregnancy – Facts You MUST Know.

Folate helps your baby’s neural tube to develop properly.

More specifically, folate helps prevent the occurrence of birth defects, such as spina bifida and other neural tube defects (NTDs), by up to 70%.

Above all, it’s important to make sure your dietary intake of folate is adequate for your baby’s development.

Dietary sources of folate include:

Dark leafy greens
Nuts
Eggs
Meat
Chicken.

Be sure to read Folate – 9 Top Foods Containing Folate For Pregnancy for more information.

The best supplement to take instead is folinic acid, especially if you’ve had problems with fertility, pregnancy complications, or miscarriage.

Prenatal vitamins at 4 weeks pregnant

You don’t have to wait to take a pregnancy test before considering whether or not to take prenatal vitamins. Your decision could be based on how varied your everyday diet is, or your current iron level.

Most healthcare providers will recommend a daily dose of folic acid as well as vitamin D to promote healthy fetal development.

Now is also a good time to address any unhealthy habits such as smoking, alcohol intake, poor sleep or lack of exercise. Addressing these early on will set you and your baby up for a healthier pregnancy.

Effects of cigarette smoke when you’re pregnant

Ideally, all women should quit smoking before becoming pregnant.

If you smoke cigarettes and have become pregnant, certainly now is a good time to quit.

Find out how in our article Smoking While Pregnant – Myths & How To Stop Smoking.

Even if you’re not a smoker, exposure to cigarette smoke has negative effects on the health of pregnant women and their unborn babies.

Exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of:

Miscarriage
Fetal growth restriction
Preterm birth
Low birth weight.

Your baby at week 4 of pregnancy

At week 4 of pregnancy, your baby is officially classed as an embryo.

A yolk sac that nourishes your developing baby is usually the first structure visible inside the gestational sac.

The yolk sac can usually be seen at week 5 of pregnancy and will disappear at the start of your second trimester when it will be absorbed into the gut of the embryo.

The embryo has made the journey to your uterus, and is now embedded in the rich lining of the uterine wall, dividing into two groups of cells.

One group of cells has become the embryo and the other has become the placenta.

The placenta is truly an impressive support system for your baby.

The heart and circulatory system form rapidly from this stage.