Pregnancy Guide for Couples: Week 4
Congratulations, you are expecting a baby! This is the beginning of a journey and whether you’ve been on this adventure before or this is your first rodeo, we’re here to walk with you each week of the way.
What’s Going on with Baby
At week 4, your baby is the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen. That’s tiny!
At this point, fertilization has occurred and a small ball of cells is slowly forming into what will be your baby and what will be the placenta. This tiny embryo of yours is called a blastocyst. At week 4, the blastocyst is busy burrowing itself into your uterine lining (implantation) and calling it home. Other things that are happening include:
Inner blastocyst cells form three layers called the ectoderm (skin and nervous system), endoderm (respiratory and digestive system), and mesoderm (muscle and skeletal system).
The outer cells develop in the placenta.
When implantation happens, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is released, which is the hormone that results in positive pregnancy tests.
What’s Going on with Mom
When hCG starts coursing through your body, you will start experiencing mild symptoms like breast tenderness and bloating. You may also start feeling nausea and fatigue but this may not hit until later weeks. While feeling decent, why not start thinking about what type of birth provider you prefer? To get you started, we’ve provided some differences of a Midwife vs OB:
Midwives are trained to assist and care for women through pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. OBs are medical doctors specializing in the medical and surgical care of women’s reproductive health.
Most midwives lean towards a holistic approach to care and can assist with births in the home, hospital, or birthing center. OBs may support natural childbirth and are experts in handling high-risk pregnancies and surgical interventions.
Midwives focus on providing low-intervention and personalized care, whereas OBs cover a broader scope of pregnancies.
There is no right or wrong answer here, but it’s worth considering each option thoroughly. Your choice mainly depends on your preferences, medical history, and desired care.
What’s going on with Partner
Congratulations Dad! We are just as excited for you as you embark on this journey with Mom. How are you feeling? Nervous? Thrilled? A little of both? Totally okay! If you’re wondering what you can do this early in the game, here are our suggestions:
Check out the book A Dude’s Guide to Baby Size. Not only does this book compare your unborn child to various objects like a guitar pick, but it also offers plenty of advice, ideas, and encouragement for each week of pregnancy.
Mom may be feeling nervous, too! This is a beautiful time to communicate all the feelings and bond over this exciting news.
You and Mom are a team, so talking about whether to walk with an OB or Midwife during this pregnancy is for both of you.
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK
Want more information about your provider options? Click the link below to learn about all the types of providers that can attend your birth and the pros and cons.
