Pregnancy calendar

The 1st trimester: Week 1

You're about to embark upon one of life's greatest adventures and all of us here at YourParenting are thrilled to be able to shed some light on what's happening with you and your baby every single week.

Your baby

How your baby’s growing:

You're not pregnant yet! Week one in fact occurs during your menstrual period, as the way to determine a baby's due date is based on your monthly cycle. Thus a pregnancy is actually 40 weeks, counting from the first day of your last period. So, by the end of the first month the embryo is actually only 2 weeks old.

Have you worked out your possible due date – should you already be pregnant or fall pregnant when planned? Try our due date calculator.

Your body

How you may be feeling:

Excited and nervous at the same time? Many factors influence conception, in particular the timing,
as well as your current health and that of your partner.

There are many reasons why a couple may face infertility, but, you can be reassured that most infertility issues can be corrected or addressed successfully. The best thing to do is make sure you start preparing in advance.

For the guys

Guys remember that you are a major factor in the conception process – your baby’s gender is determined by whether your egg is fertilised with a sperm that carries an X chromosome (it’s a girl) or one with a Y (it’s a boy). That part is up to you!

Tip of the week

Now is a crucial time to pay special attention to your health. Cut out alcohol, any recreational drugs and smoking, speak to your doctor about any prescription drugs you're taking (they might affect your fertility or the development of your baby), and make sure that your diet includes enough vitamins, especially folic acid which your partner can take too.