- Check your cervical mucus, and when it becomes thin means that you are ovulating.
- You would feel an increase in your libido or sexual appetite. It happens due to the changes happening in your hormones.
- During ovulation, you would have a better sense of smell.
- Another sign is light spottings that you can notice in your underwear.
week
2
2 Weeks Pregnant
Similar to the first week, you have not yet conceived your baby. However, your body is getting ready for the big-O, and it's time to start preparing yourself for this exciting journey. During this time, your periods would have ended, and your body is about to release a dominant egg that could be responsible for a life-changing event.
As you reach the last days of your second week of pregnancy, there is a chance that you might conceive. However, in most cases, it occurs during the third week of pregnancy. Even if you get pregnant, you can't identify if you are pregnant or not by the fourth week, and it could even take up to six weeks for you to confirm.
Here, we will walk you through the different changes that happen during the second week of pregnancy. We will also look into some tips that can assist you in staying prepared for the conception.
What Happens During the Second Week of Pregnancy?
After your periods and as you enter the second week, some changes are happening within you. It could be hormonal, and there can be other noticeable bodily changes too. They include:
Hormonal Changes
The hypothalamus present in your brain plays a pivotal role in controlling the hormones. Along with the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland also helps in the production of necessary hormones. They lead to the formation of Follicle Stimulating Hormone(FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone(LH). Due to this, a dominant egg gets released from your ovaries. It would result in the production of estrogen and progesterone.
When there is an increase in the level of estrogen, it will result in uterine wall thickening. It helps in the creation of a favorable environment for fertilization. Besides that, the increase in estrogen level leads to a change in the cervical mucus. It would help you identify if you are ovulating or not.
Bodily Changes
Your body may or might not show any specific changes during the second week of pregnancy. It is subjective and would vary from one person to another. However, since your body is preparing for ovulation, there can be signs that show you are ovulating.
Here, your cervix would open and become soft. The cervical mucus would become similar to that of a raw egg white. It plays a crucial role in helping the sperm swim and reaching the dominant egg, which assists in fertilization. During this time, you might feel a slight lower abdominal pain. It is commonly known as ovulation pain or Mittelschmerz. Other than that, you might have symptoms similar to your periods, which include soreness of breasts.
As you ovulate, your uterus is ready to accept the egg and has thickened walls. After the release of the egg, it can stay alive for up to 24 hours. During this time, the sperm that reaches through the fallopian tube can fertilize the egg. The sperms can stay alive for five to six days. Hence, there is a chance of conception if you had sex before you started ovulating. Even if the nucleus of the sperm and the egg fuses, your body might not show pregnancy-related symptoms in the second week.
Fetal Development
As mentioned earlier, you might not be pregnant during the second week. Hence, there won't be any fetal developments happening in your body. During this time, you would be ovulating, or the zygote won't have attached to the uterine lining. However, if the fusion has happened, the genetic features would get determined.
During this time, your doctor won't suggest an ultrasound. It is best to take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health as you are getting ready to be pregnant. Speaking with your OB GYN or midwife can help you get a clear picture of your ovulation and pregnancy.
Here, you might have spotting, abdominal pain, a decrease in your basal body temperature, and other changes. Even though they are normal, you can always get assistance from your doctor if you have any concerns..4
Tips for the Second Week of Your Pregnancy
As you enter the second week of your pregnancy, you have to take care of yourself. It is the perfect time for you to prepare your body for conception. Here are some tips through which you can improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Personal Care
Similar to the first week of pregnancy, you have to take care of your health. Focusing on your diet and having fertility-boosting food items, such as leafy greens, figs, yams, berries, and salmon can be helpful. Ensure that you are having a balanced diet and receiving all the necessary nutrients required.
As a preparation for your pregnancy, you can start working on maintaining a healthy weight. Here, continuing the consumption of folic acid and prenatal vitamins are also beneficial. Apart from your diet, you have to take care of your body by exercising regularly. If you are someone who works out, you can continue it. If not, it is time for you to start exercising slowly.
Brisk walking, jogging, swimming are some exercises that you can perform. Ensure that you are getting quality sleep. For that purpose, you can maintain a sleep routine, which you can follow consistently. Here, you can use your smart gadgets to keep track of your sleep cycle. You can use the Women's Health Tracker to monitor your sleep and bring a balance to your life.
Keep Track of Your Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation
When you have a clear cut idea of your menstrual cycle, it will assist you in finding when you ovulate. You can use the traditional method of tracking your menstrual cycle and ovulation or rely on the Women's Health Tracker. Through this, it would be easy for you to know when to time sex for conception. It would also assist your doctor in figuring out your due date based on your ovulation.
Along with this, there are different ways by which you can understand when you ovulate. They include:
By keeping track of these signs, you can understand if you are ovulating or not. Nowadays, you can rely upon an ovulation test kit. The kit would look into the increase of Luteinizing hormone, which happens a day or two before ovulation. You can also find others that check the rise in your estrogen level.
When you have an idea of your ovulation dates, you can prepare yourself accordingly. Besides that, it is best to avoid the usage of a pregnancy test kit during this time. It is because you won't obtain a positive result as in most cases you might not have conceived yet.
Reduce Stress
When you are undergoing stress, it can impact your fertility. Sometimes you might be stressed because of the work pressure you are having. Some other times, it could be due to some personal issues or concerns. For others, it could be because of your physical, mental, or emotional health. Regardless of your situation, it is best to take the necessary measures to reduce stress.
Here are some ways by which you can overcome the stress you might be having during the second week of pregnancy.
- Try to bring in a work-life balance and ensure that you are not overloading yourself with a lot of work.
- Adopt relaxation techniques like meditation. You can try different forms of meditation, including walking meditation. It is best to opt for one that works best for you.
- Yoga and breathing exercises can also help keep your mind and body calm and composed.
- Reading a book, spending quality time with your loved ones and yourself, pampering, and taking care of yourself are other things you can do.
- If you are undergoing too much stress, it is best to communicate with your doctor. Your doctor can refer you to a therapist who can help you handle the situation.
Staying Connected with Your Partner and Having Sex
While you are in the second week of your pregnancy, it is time for you to conceive your baby. During this time, as you are more fertile, engaging in sexual activities with your partner can help you. Based on the approximate dates of your ovulation, you can time your sex. Since your libido is high, you would be having a sexual appetite as you ovulate.
Your chances of getting pregnant while you have sex during your time of ovulation are high. It is because the egg would be alive for 12 to 24 hours. Since the sperm can stay alive for five to six days, you have a chance of getting pregnant if you had sex before your ovulation starts as well. However, if you haven't, ovulation is the right time to have intercourse with your partner. If you prefer to use lubricants, ensure that you use a natural product that doesn't affect conception.
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