- Since doctors count weeks of pregnancy starting from your last menstrual period, you’re not actually pregnant right now. In fact, you probably have your period; the symptoms you’re experiencing are a result of PMS, not pregnancy.
- Now is the time to start prepping for pregnancy: Track your days to chart your cycle, begin taking a prenatal vitamin and make lifestyle changes to get ready for the long road ahead.
- Just got a positive pregnancy test? You’ll want to skip ahead. If you’ve tested around the time of a missed period, you’re probably actually about 4 weeks pregnant (congrats!).
Being 1 week pregnant means you’re on your period and not yet pregnant. (Remember, providers start counting weeks of pregnancy from the first day of your last period—so here we are!) If you’re hoping to get pregnant during this cycle, now is the time to prepare your mind and body for the journey ahead.
For me, this mindset shift meant prioritizing sleep, starting (yes, starting!) an exercise routine and making time for self-care. I scheduled a preconception appointment and started taking prenatal vitamins before I even purchased my first pregnancy test. I was fortunate to get a positive result a few cycles in, but I did experience many hiccups along the way (cue horrendous morning sickness and, later, a gestational diabetes diagnosis). Suffice it to say that being pregnant was not easy on my body or mind, but I truly believe that starting the journey feeling physically and mentally prepared helped me face unexpected challenges with positivity, clarity and confidence. As you start on your path to conception, I wish these three things for you too!
If you’ve just found out you’re expecting, you might think this is your first week of pregnancy, but you’re probably around 4 weeks pregnant. Yes, already! Your provider will give you a more accurate estimate when you go in for your first prenatal appointment, but in the meantime you can use The Bump Due Date Calculator to figure out how far along you are.
Of course, waiting on that positive line can leave you feeling restless and impatient. Take a deep breath and remember that the getting pregnant part of the journey can be fun too. (Truth: It can also be frustrating and disheartening.) Either way, understanding how your cycle works can help you know what to expect along the way.
Preconception appointment
There are a few things that happen at a preconception visit. For starters, this is a great chance to get to know a pregnancy care provider and start a relationship for the future. But it’s also a good opportunity to talk about your health going into pregnancy. That can mean discussing any medical conditions you have, medications you’re taking, your family history and genetic factors that may impact your experience. Your provider will also likely talk about your vaccination and nutritional status.
This is a great time to talk about conception and any concerns or questions you have. Your ob-gyn or midwife will want to understand your menstrual cycles and any variations you may have, too. If your healthcare provider thinks it’s necessary, they may recommend that you have lab testing done.
Understanding your cycle
Cycles can be tricky because they vary so much from person to person. But on average, a menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, with the first day being the start of your period. Your period helps shed the endometrium, also known as your uterine lining. Around day five of your cycle, your period will end and estrogen levels will rise, helping your endometrium to thicken once more. Around day 14, you’ll start ovulating, and an egg will be released from the ovary into one of your fallopian tubes to be fertilized. If the egg is fertilized, it will result in a pregnancy. If it’s not, your uterine lining will shed once again, resulting in your period around day 28 (also the start of your next menstrual cycle).
Chances of conceiving
If you’re actively thinking about getting pregnant, you’re probably wondering if the odds are in your favor. Per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), for healthy couples in their 20s and early 30s, around one in four women will get pregnant in any given cycle. By age 40, around one in 10 women will get pregnant in each menstrual cycle.
Getting pregnant isn't always as easy as your high school sex-ed teacher told you. For some of us it takes years. After three years of trying, several IUIs and IVF, we got to meet our beautiful daughter. IVF is a lot to wrap your head around, but the community of support continues to grow—and you're never alone!
Think you’re experiencing very early signs of pregnancy at 1 week? Spoiler alert: You’re not! Pregnancy symptoms at 1 week aren’t a thing. Why? Because, again, you’re not actually pregnant! At this early stage, the symptoms you're experiencing are those typical to your period. These symptoms may last from three to seven days and can include:
Spotting or bleeding
Spotting or bleeding may be par for the course (aka you’re on your period). Your body is shedding the uterine lining, which was plumped up just in case of a pregnancy.
Discharge
Your 1-week pregnancy discharge may be thin or thick in consistency and will likely be red in color as you move through your period. (Expect this to become stretchy, slimy and white in color as your cycle moves to ovulation.)
Lower back pain and cramps
To release that lining, your uterus contracts, causing your back and abdomen to ache.
Bloating
Fluctuating hormones can give you a bloated belly right before and during your period.
Mood swings
Those hormone surges can also cause irritability and wreak havoc on your emotions
Headache
Many women complain of menstrual migraines, which are also hormone-related. (Surprise, surprise!) Ice packs, OTC pain relievers and relaxation exercises may help ease the pain.
Stomach pain
Again, any 1-week stomach pain likely has more to do with period cramps than pregnancy. If you’re ovulating, discomfort could be the result of an ovary releasing an egg.
Inside your 1-week belly (you’re not actually pregnant at this point), your body is releasing last month’s uterine lining and starting to form a new one, which—with a bit of luck!—will hold next month’s fertilized egg.
Fun fact: Human eggs are the largest cells in the body. An egg is smaller than a fleck of pepper. Your body will release one (or in rare cases, two) eggs somewhere between day 10 and day 19 of your menstrual cycle—or about 14 days before your next period is expected. It can be fertilized for about 12 to 24 hours after that. Having sex even before then is helpful, since sperm can live in your body for up to five days.
You’re hoping to be pregnant soon, so you’re probably thinking about how you can prep your body to carry a baby. It’s a good idea to start pregnancy at a healthy weight and free of bad habits such as smoking and drinking. Reduce your caffeine intake to the equivalent of a cup of coffee or two (we’re talking 8-ounce cups—not the Venti!) per day.
The first thing you’ll want to do is start a prenatal vitamin. Prenatal vitamins contain important vitamins and minerals to help support a healthy pregnancy. Second, we want to optimize trying to conceive. You can start by tracking your menstrual cycle and learning your fertile window. You can try using ovulation predictor kits to have a better understanding of when you’re ovulating to time intercourse. Also, make sure to pay attention to your lifestyle habits. Stop smoking and keep alcohol and caffeine to moderate consumption or less!
If getting a positive pregnancy test is a priority for you, there are some active steps you can take to get your body and mind primed for the journey ahead.
Stop unhealthy habits
Are you still smoking, drinking and taking in excessive amounts of caffeine? You don’t want to reactively stop doing these things after a positive pregnancy test. You should curb bad habits now before you're expecting.
Try to relax
Pregnancy can be stressful. And trying to conceive may be stressful too. It’s easier said than done, but try not to sweat the small stuff while you’re getting started on this journey.
Start a prenatal vitamin
Getting on a prenatal-vitamin regimen is one of the best ways to start your conception journey. And the sooner you start taking one, the better. Prenatal vitamins have folic acid, which can help support your future baby’s health and development.
The path to pregnancy isn’t always a straight line. And whether you get pregnant right away or face hurdles along the way, it’s helpful to remember that you’re not the first or last person who’ll experience this roller coaster of emotions. Below, other moms-to-be in The Bump community share their moments of triumph and tribulation:.
- Win: “My husband and I have been talking about babies for so long now that we're finally trying this month! I went off my birth control at the beginning of June. We are so excited—I just can't believe I'm finally reaching this stage in my life!” - ChristianW88
- Challenge: It seems like everyone I know is getting pregnant so easily… I try to be happy for everyone else, but I'm only human. - imhiswifey2626
- Wisdom: “The signs of pregnancy overlap with symptoms of PMS, which makes it confusing. Trust your instincts; you know your body best! If you feel ready, you can take a test for more clarity. Either way, be kind to yourself. You’re not overanalyzing, you’re just hopeful—and that’s a perfectly human experience.” —nken20
Frequently Asked Questions
What is basal body temperature and how can it help me conceive?
You’re probably used to taking your temperature when you feel feverish, but your basal body temperature (BBT) is different. This is the temperature of your body at rest. For most women, the body’s temperature increases slightly during ovulation (like, half a degree to a full degree), and then stays high until the end of your period. Your most fertile days are two to three days before your temperature increases.
To use this method to conceive, take your temperature every morning when you wake up and before you do anything, like get out of bed or have something to eat or drink. Write down your daily temperatures and look for a pattern in your cycle. This can help you plan out when to have strategic baby-making sex.
What should I look for in a prenatal vitamin?
Prenatal vitamins help ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need during this time to support your health and baby’s development. It’s best to get these ingredients in your prenatal vitamins:
- Folic acid (600 micrograms)
- Iron (27 milligrams)
- Calcium (1,000 milligrams over the age of 19+)
- Vitamin D (600 international units)
- Choline (450 milligrams)
- Vitamin B6 (1.9 milligrams)
- Vitamin B12 (2.6 micrograms)
- Vitamin C (85 milligrams over the age of 19+)
- Vitamin A (750 micrograms for ages 14 to 18; 770 micrograms for ages 19+)
- Iodine (220 micrograms)
Will you get a 1-week ultrasound?
You’re not likely to have a 1-week pregnant ultrasound. But if you’ve been trying for a while to get pregnant and have seen a fertility specialist, you may have had an ultrasound to check for fibroids, to see how many follicles (which grow into eggs) are in your ovaries and/or to gauge the thickness of your uterine lining. If there are any problems, your doctor may prescribe a fertility treatment that can help you conceive. Now, get ready to have some sex. You’ve got a baby to make!
What is an ovulation predictor kit?
An ovulation predictor kit is a handy tool that can help tell you when you’re ovulating—so you can try to increase the odds you’ll become pregnant during any given cycle. An ovulation predictor kit helps project the timing of ovulation by detecting a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) that happens before you ovulate (i.e. when an egg is released from your ovaries). LH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, and its levels rise sharply about 24 to 36 hours before you ovulate. By detecting the LH surge, ovulation predictor kits can help determine when ovulation is likely to happen, allowing you to time sex to have the best chance of conceiving.
How can I distinguish between my period and implantation bleeding?
It can be tough to distinguish between your period and implantation bleeding, which is thought to happen when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Still, there are some clues you might be dealing with one over the other. Implantation bleeding tends to be lighter and shorter than your usual period. It might look like light spotting or a pink/brown discharge, and it usually happens six to 12 days after you ovulate. Of course, if you’re not sure what’s going on down there, it’s worth taking a pregnancy test.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Contributing writer: Korin Miller, a mom to four kids, is a freelance writer who’s written dozens of health features for The Bump. She specializes in parenting, wellness and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Women’s Health, Forbes, Self and more. Korin holds a master’s degree from American University and lives by the beach with her family.
Sherry Ross, MD, is an ob-gyn, women’s sexual health expert, co-founder of Oneself, Intimate Skin Care of All and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women’s Intimate Health. Period. and She-ology, The She-quel. She earned her medical degree from New York Medical College.
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