2 Weeks Pregnant: Am I Pregnant Yet?
Lucy Woodbridge
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As we already know, although this is called the “second week of pregnancy”, there’s no baby to speak of yet, as doctors calculate pregnancy starting from the first day of your last menstrual period. They do this because it’s very difficult to determine the exact point at which fertilisation occurs. Therefore, during week 2, you’re likely in the midst of your menstrual cycle, and ovulation is just around the corner. It’s worth noting here that ovulation can happen at any point, and week 2 is only an estimated time.
Your body at week 2 of pregnancy
Your ovaries could release an egg at week 2, which travels down the fallopian tube, waiting to be fertilised. Hormonal changes are preparing your body for pregnancy. These changes include increased oestrogen levels, which thicken the uterus lining, creating a nurturing environment for embryo implantation. Fertilisation of your egg by the sperm will take place near the end of this week.
Your body produces the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which encourages the maturation of an egg. If your menstrual cycle is a 28-day one, you’ll reach the midpoint of your cycle by the end of this week. This is when ovulation occurs for some, meaning an egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube.
This is when you have the highest chance of conception, so this is an excellent time to get intimate with your partner! During ejaculation, millions of sperm are released into the vagina, but only a few hundred make their way to the fallopian tube where the egg is located. Typically, just one sperm manages to penetrate and fertilise the egg. Once fertilisation happens, pregnancy begins, although you may not notice any physical changes immediately.
Did you know that you can tell when you are ovulating by keeping track of your discharge? When your discharge turns egg white or almost clear, it’s likely that it’s prime ‘getting pregnant’ time!
Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 2 of Pregnancy
At week 2, you will not be experiencing any traditional pregnancy symptoms since you’re not technically pregnant yet. However, you might notice signs of ovulation, such as a slight increase in basal body temperature, a thicker vaginal discharge, and possibly mild abdominal discomfort. Any bloating you experience is likely due to the ovulation process, not pregnancy.
Fun Facts:
The determination of a baby’s gender occurs at the moment of conception. Among the 46 chromosomes that constitute a baby’s genetic makeup, two specific chromosomes – one contributed by the sperm and one by the egg – are responsible for determining your baby’s gender. These chromosomes are called the sex chromosomes. Each egg possesses an X chromosome, while a sperm may carry either an X or a Y chromosome. A baby will be female if the fertilising sperm contains an X chromosome and male if it contains a Y chromosome.
Whether your baby is a boy or a girl is purely down to luck. There are no known natural circumstances that can reliably influence whether an X or Y chromosome from the father’s sperm will fertilise the egg, and there is nothing you can do to manipulate this. Some unproven theories suggest that the timing of sexual intercourse, various sexual positions, or dietary factors might be able to influence the sex of your baby, but there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support these claims.