Take your time with this information
Week 1
Week 1 is the week of your menstrual period. Although there's no baby yet, this is where your first week of pregnancy begins because your body is preparing for conception this cycle.1
Your body
During your menstrual cycle, the body naturally expels the build-up of tissue that lines the uterus, and this is what we know as a period. However, if you’re trying to conceive, this is a critical period known as the follicular phase, that prepares for ovulation.2
During the week of your menstrual cycle, a hormone known as the follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) rises and stimulates ovarian follicles for ovulation. Another hormone, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is believed to play a crucial role in the selection of the dominant follicle that will subsequently release the egg for that cycle.2 Additionally, you will also start producing higher levels of oestrogen, the primary culprit for the breast tenderness, fatigue, and bloating you may feel during your period. Although the side effects aren’t enjoyable, oestrogen has an important role in supporting the thickening of the uterine lining ready to support pregnancy!1 Oestrogen also stimulates the production of luteinising hormone (LH), the trigger for ovulation.1,2
Things to do this week
Although there is no baby (yet!) there are a number of things you can do to best support conception and early pregnancy:
- Try to take folic acid consistently to support conception and reduce the risk of brain and neural tube defects in the early stages of foetal development3
- Staying active and keeping a healthy weight can help support fertility and overall health4
- Try to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking – both are known to affect sperm and egg quality and may reduce your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy5,6