3 weeks
Hi mom,
By now, I’ve developed into a ball of cells that are dividing and growing like crazy. I’m not an embryo quite yet – I’m actually something called a blastocyst. Once I’ve made my way down from your fallopian tubes to your uterus, my cells will start producing a hormone called hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which is what turns a pregnancy test positive. That’s right, by the end of this week, you might be able to tell that I’m here. Of course, not all babies are the same – if you take a test and get a negative result, wait a few days and try again. As you probably know, it’s hard work growing into a person. To take one thing off my plate, amniotic fluid is starting to build up around my cells and will eventually become the amniotic sac that cushions and protects me for the next 37 weeks. For now, I’m just busy growing as much as I can, although I’m still really small – about the size of a pen tip.
Even if you haven’t taken a pregnancy test, there may be a few really early signs to let you know I’ve arrived. Some moms experience a bit of spotting, which people think comes from the blastocyst getting nice and cozy while burrowing into the uterine lining. Other moms will start seeing the hallmarks of pregnancy – from tender breasts and fatigue to being turned off by certain foods and a heightened sense of smell. You probably aren’t experiencing anything like full-blown morning sickness just yet, but it’s entirely possible you’ve started feeling just a little different, or queasy, at this point.
If you’re planning to break out a pregnancy test, make sure you buy one with multiple tests so you can confirm your results. Also, take your test first thing in the morning – it’s the most accurate time to check out whether I’m here!
I can’t wait for you to discover that you’re pregnant with me. As I like to say, “A baby fills a place in your heart that you never knew was empty.” – Anonymous
Love,
Baby
