Week 2 of pregnancy: No pregnancy symptoms just yet

Some women are lucky enough to know their bundle of joy’s exact conception date. However, that is more of an exception rather than the norm. In the weeks that follow, an ultrasound will give you a better idea of your embryo’s age.

As the second week of pregnancy progresses, you will approach ovulation. This is when you are most likely to conceive. You will not experience any pregnancy symptoms just yet. Instead, watch out for signs of this fertile period. These signs include:

•    Cervical mucus
As your body prepares for ovulation, it gets ready for any potential sperm. Your cervical mucus increases and changes. It starts to look like “egg-white” – clear, thin, and stringy. This helps the sperm to travel up to the cervix and egg more easily.

•    Abdominal pain 
Some women feel a slight discomfort in their abdomen when their body releases an egg. 

•    Spotting
As the egg ruptures, the follicle and bursts into the fallopian tube. When this happens, you might see some light spotting.

•    Heightened sense of smell
Due to the hormonal changes that trigger ovulation, some women notice a heightened sense of smell. You could become more sensitive to musky scents and male pheromones. That is nature’s way of encouraging reproduction.

•    Breast tenderness
Some women have sore breasts as they approach ovulation.

•    Heightened sex drive
The hormones associated with ovulation is said to be responsible for increasing your desire to have intercourse. 

Is there a foetus at week 2 of pregnancy?
During the early days of pregnancy, there is still no foetus yet. Conception might not happen on the same day of your ovulation. Doctors count your pregnancy weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period. So, by the time you find out that you’re pregnant, you could be around 4 to 6 weeks pregnant - even if there was no foetus during the first two weeks.

On week 2 of your pregnancy, one egg becomes dominant and it releases estrogen to stimulate the thickening of your uterine lining. Once your estrogen levels are high enough, they trigger a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH). This hormone causes the mature egg to burst from its follicle and into the fallopian tube. However, an unfertilised egg can only survive for about 24 hours after being released. 

Pregnancy symptoms at week 2
You are unlikely to experience any pregnancy symptoms from day 1. Some symptoms of ovulation, like breast tenderness, are identical to pregnancy symptoms during the first few days of pregnancy. 

These are some of the things you can do during week 2 of pregnancy:
•    Look out for ovulation signs: The changes in your cervical mucus are usually a tell-tale sign that your ovulation is coming.

•    Take an ovulation test: A home ovulation test can measure certain hormones and advise on when it’s time to try for a little one.

•    Track your cycle or fertile window: An app can provide lots of useful information. By the end of your second week of pregnancy, a menstrual calendar will be able to determine your fertile days and advise when to have intercourse.

•    Take prenatal supplements: Ideally, take prenatal supplements when you start trying to conceive. This can boost your fertility, and prevent neural tube defects. 

Your body is in full preparation mode for pregnancy during the second week of pregnancy. However, it’s unlikely to need an ultrasound at the second week of pregnancy unless your doctor is concerned you might not be ovulating. On average, it takes a fertilised egg about 6 to 10 days to travel from the Fallopian tube to your uterus. When implantation has occurred in the uterus, pregnancy has officially happened. Take care of your nutrition needs with pregnancy milk, like Frisomum Gold® to help your body prepare.