• Gas and Bloating: The hormone progesterone relaxes muscles throughout the body, including the digestive tract. This relaxation slows digestion, leading to gas, bloating, and discomfort in the gut.
• Sore Breasts: Breast soreness in early pregnancy can feel like a more intense version of premenstrual tenderness. Breasts may become swollen, tender, or tingly, and nipples may feel extra sensitive or uncomfortable.
• Spotting: Light bleeding, known as implantation bleeding, may occur as the fertilized egg implants in the uterus. This spotting is much lighter than a period and typically lasts one to three days.
• Basal Body Temperature Remains High: For those tracking their temperature, basal body temperature typically remains elevated this week. Use a basal body thermometer to check temperature upon waking, before getting out of bed, to monitor this change.

Baby’s Growth in the Womb

• Organ Development: At this stage, organ development hasn’t begun, but every cell is setting the stage for it, arranging itself in ways that will shape organs and systems in the coming weeks.
• Physical Features: Physical features won’t be visible for a while, but genetic information is already present, determining everything unique about your baby.
• Weight of the Child: There’s still no measurable weight for your baby at Week 3, but the blastocyst is now growing rapidly, with cells dividing and preparing for future development.
• Baby Movement: Baby movement is still far off, but knowing these early days are setting the foundation made it easier to imagine the flutters and kicks that would come much later.

• Breasts: Tenderness might be one of the first signs you notice. My breasts felt slightly sore and sensitive to touch, like before a period, but a bit different.
• Skin, Hair, and Nails: While Week 3 changes are mostly hormonal, some people may feel their skin is clearer or more sensitive. I didn’t notice much in the beginning, but I knew changes would come soon.
• Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems: The cardiovascular system is getting ready to support increased blood flow, but I didn’t feel much of a change just yet.
• Uterus and Cervical Position: As implantation happens, your uterus and cervix might change slightly. I wasn’t fully aware of these shifts, but knowing my body was adjusting made me feel closer to the process.
• Vaginal Discharge: I noticed a slight increase in discharge that felt thicker than usual, which some say is a sign of implantation. It felt like my body was quietly giving clues about what was happening inside.

Ultrasound (First Trimester): A painless, non-invasive scan performed within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It confirms the number of babies and estimates the due date based on development.

Tests for Specific Medical Conditions in Pregnancy: Optional tests can screen for conditions like Down syndrome, neural tube defects (e.g., spina bifida), or genetic disorders present in the family.

Diagnostic Tests: Used when there's an increased chance of specific conditions due to factors like family history or maternal age. Examples include chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis.

Routine Blood Tests: Conducted to confirm pregnancy, check vitamin levels, screen for infections, and assess overall maternal health.