1 week pregnant

The first week of pregnancy occurs before you actually conceive your new baby. It’s a little confusing – doctors begin counting the weeks of your pregnancy from the date your last menstrual bleeding started, not from the date you conceived. Conception, that very important moment at which your partner’s sperm fertilises your egg, does not occur until approximately two weeks after the start of your last period. However, your body is already preparing itself for pregnancy, should conception occur, so this week officially marks the beginning of the pregnancy.

You’ll be amazed at all the work your body needs to do to produce the hormones which signal your body to prepare for pregnancy in Week 1. Even though you are not yet pregnant, your body is working hard to prepare an egg for fertilisation, and to prepare your womb to nourish the egg should it be fertilised. Find out all about how your body is changing this week.

Changes to mum and baby this week

You can optimise your chance of a healthy pregnancy by visiting the doctor for screening tests, immunisations and supplements before you get pregnant. Find out more about the different tests which can be performed to check you are healthy and the ways in which a doctor can assist you to improve your health pre-pregnancy.

Doctor appointments and tests this week

Your health at the time of conception has a remarkable influence on the health of your pregnancy and baby. Avoiding substances which might harm your foetus and ensuring you’re eating all the right foods and getting enough exercise are the key measures. Find out more about what you should and should not eat when preparing to get pregnant.

Women’s health and lifestyle tips for getting pregnant this week

Did you know dad’s lifestyle can also influence your chance of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy and baby? Find out all about lifestyle measures men can use to improve the chances of getting their partner pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy.

Men’s health and lifestyle tips to boost fertility and sperm health this week

A quick summary of the changes to mum’s body, the baby to be, medical appointments and lifestyle information for both mum and dad.

Key points this week

References

1. Moore KL, Persaud TVN. The Developing Human: Clinically oriented embryology (7th edition). Philadelphia: Saunders; 2003. (Book)
2. Mayo Clinic. Guide to a healthy Pregnancy. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 2011. Pp 17-32, 83-94. (Book)
3. Hill M. Oogenesis. UNSW Embryology. 2010. [cited 10 May 2012]. Available from: URL Link
4. Pre-pregnancy counselling and routine antenatal assessment in the absence of pregnancy complications: College statement (online). East Melbourne, VIC: Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; November 2009 (cited 10 May 2012). Available from: URL link
5. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Exercise during pregnancy [online]. ACOG 2003 [cited 10 May 2012]. Available from: URL Link
6. Davies GAL, Wolfe LA, Mottola MF, MacKinnon C. Exercise in pregnancy and the postpartum period. Joint SOGC/CSEP Clinical Practice Guideline. 2003; 129: 1 – 7. (Full Text)
7. Ochsendorf, F.R. Sexually Transmitted Infections: impact on male fertility. Andrologia. 2008;40(2):72-5. (Abstract)
8. Thonneua, P. Bujan, L. Multigner, L. Mieusett, R. Occupational Heat Exposure and Male Fertility: A Review. Human Reprod, 1998;13(8):2122-5. (Abstract)
9. Alvarez, J.G. Nurture vs Nature: how can we optimise sperm quality. J Andrology, 2003;24(5):640-8. (Full Text)
10. Hirsch, A. Male Subfertility [Clinical Review]. BMJ. 2003;327:669-72. (Abstract)
11. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Clinical Guideline: Fertility: Assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems [online]. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. 23 February 2004 [cited 15 June 2012]. Available from URL: URL Link
12. NHMRC. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults; 2003. [cited 15 June 2012] Available from URL Link
13. Derbyshire E. Nutrition and Fertility. Chapter 1 inNutrition in the childbearing years. Wiley-Blackwell. 2011. (Book)
14. Hammiche F, Laven JSE, Twigt JM, et al. Body mass index and central adiposity are associated with sperm quality in men of subfertile couples. Human Reprod. 2012; epub ahead of print. (Abstract)
15. Sigman M, Medications that impair male fertility. Sexuality Reproduction Menopause. 2007; 5(2): 11-16. (Full Text)
16. Sheynkin Y, Jung M, Yoo P et al. Increase in scrotal temperature in laptop computer users. Human Reprod. 2005; 20(2): 452-55. (Full Text)