Baby's Growth and Development When You're 4 Weeks Pregnant
This is it — the week you'll likely miss your period and find out you're pregnant! By your 4th week of pregnancy, your baby probably has embedded in your uterus and is growing at an amazing rate. Here's what's going on at 4 weeks pregnant:
- When you're 4 weeks pregnant, your baby's body now has three distinct layers from which all of his organs will develop.
- From the 3rd week of pregnancy to the end of the 4th week of pregnancy, your baby grows to the length of the head of a pin — about 1/25th of an inch long.
Your Placenta's Amazing RoleDuring the 4th week of pregnancy, the
placenta, which will carry nutrients from you to your baby, begins to form. It's made primarily from your baby's tissues, with the help of cells from your body. Here's a look at what it does:
- At 4 weeks pregnant, the placenta continues to thicken until the fourth month of pregnancy.
- The placenta actually matches the needs of your baby with the nutrients available from you to give him the specific nutrients he needs at the time.
- Although it's made up of shared tissue, the placenta does not allow blood from your body and your baby's to come in direct contact.