At weeks 1 to 3
In weeks 1 to 3 there is no baby to measure yet: pregnancy is counted from the first day of your last period, before conception has even happened. Once an egg is fertilised, it keeps dividing as it travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus, and it implants by the end of week 4. Most women notice no signs yet, although hormone levels begin to change as soon as conception happens.
Your Baby at Weeks 1 to 3
Your pregnancy begins when an egg is fertilised by sperm, yet your pregnancy and due date are usually calculated from the first day of your last period, a point before conception has happened (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
Over the 4 or 5 days after fertilisation, the egg keeps dividing as it moves down the fallopian tube towards your uterus. By the end of week 4 it implants into the uterus, where it is called a blastocyst and contains about 200 cells that continue to multiply (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
Even now its cells sit in layers with different futures: the outer layer will become the brain and nervous system, the middle layer the heart, blood vessels, muscles and bones, and the inner layer the breathing and digestive systems. Small projections called chorionic villi reach out towards your blood supply and will develop into the placenta (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
Your Body This Week
You probably won't notice any signs of pregnancy yet. For many women the first clue is a missed period at the end of week 4, and that moment can bring anything from happiness to worry; all of these feelings are valid and normal (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
Inside, things are already shifting. After conception your body makes more progesterone, which stops your period, and the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) rises; hCG is the hormone a pregnancy test detects (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
When to call your midwife or doctor: If you are planning a baby, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests seeing your doctor before you conceive to talk about genetic screening or testing for sexually transmitted infections. Speak to your doctor, midwife or obstetrician whenever you have questions.
Garbh Sanskar This Week
A small daily practice for this stage, from Mamta’s 1:1 sessions. It is tradition and gentle self-care, not medical advice, so keep every check-up and follow your doctor or midwife first.
- Mantra: The Santana Gopala Stotra is traditionally a prayer for a child, said by couples hoping to conceive rather than during pregnancy; one verse asks Krishna, son of Devaki, to grant a child. Recite it softly for a few minutes if it feels right, and read its source and meaning in our Garbh Sanskar mantras guide.
- Music: Give yourself ten quiet minutes in the evening with calm music or a bhajan you love. In these weeks the practice is for you: a settled mind as you prepare.
- Gentle movement: Mamta's teaching for this stage is simple: slow, even breathing in a comfortable seated position, plus a daily walk as part of regular exercise. Breathe naturally throughout, never holding your breath, and begin any new practice only with your doctor's or midwife's clearance.
- Food: Traditionally, Charaka's first month centres on plain cool milk in amounts that suit your digestion, with your usual wholesome vegetarian food, alongside the iron, calcium and folic acid your doctor recommends. For a fuller plan for the months before conception, see Garbh Sanskar before pregnancy.
- Garbh samvad (a line to say to your baby): We are getting ready for you, little one, with calm and loving hearts.
Questions About Weeks 1 to 3
When does pregnancy start if conception happens later?
Pregnancy, and your due date, are usually counted from the first day of your last period, which is before conception has even happened. The fertilised egg then spends 4 or 5 days travelling down the fallopian tube and implants into the uterus by the end of week 4.
Should I take folate while trying to conceive?
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby advises taking 400 micrograms of folate every day if you are trying for a baby, to help prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. It also recommends a healthy diet, regular exercise, no alcohol and giving up smoking.
Will I notice any signs in weeks 1 to 3?
Probably not. Hormone levels start to change as soon as you conceive, but for many women the first sign is a missed period at the end of week 4. A pregnancy test works by detecting the rising hormone hCG.
Practise With Mamta, Wherever You Are
Mamta guides expecting mothers through private 1:1 Garbh Sanskar sessions online, scheduled in your own time zone, from the first trimester to the last week. Start with a free conversation on WhatsApp or read how sessions work.
Sources
Mamta is not a doctor. Medical points on this page come from the sources below, checked in October 2026. Sizes are approximate and babies vary; your scan report is what matters.