Week 3
(counting from
first day of last menstrual period)
Around 1 Week
After Conception
 Fetal
Development:
Sperm meets egg within the
fallopian tube and the miracle of life begins. Although
several sperm may penetrate the egg's outer layer, only
one sperm will enter the ovum and fertilize it. In the
middle of the ovum, the chromosomes of mother and father
splash about and bits of information from both begin to
form the chromosomes of your baby. At the moment of
conception, your baby's gender is determined thanks to
the sex chromosomes in the father's sperm. If you don't
like the gender of your baby, blame dad.
Multiples: If two eggs are released from the
ovary (or one egg from each ovary) and are fertilized by
two separate sperm, fraternal twins (dizygotic) have
been conceived. Fraternal twins can be the same sex or
boy/girl, and will look as much alike or as different as
any siblings. If one egg is fertilized and later divides
in two, identical twins will develop (or divides into
three, identical triplets will develop, etc).
Identical multiples have the same chromosomal makeup so
will be the same gender, and have the same hair and eye
color, blood type, etc. Only one-third of all twins are
identical (monozygotic).
In the case of triplets
or quadruplets, etc., any combination is possible. Three
(or four or more) eggs can be fertilized creating
fraternal triplets, etc. One fertilized egg can split
into identical twins with another fertilized egg making
it a triplet pregnancy (two identical babies and one
fraternal). Or one egg can split into three creating
identical triplets, etc.
Maternal
Changes:
Around the 14th day from the start
of your last menstrual cycle, one of the ripened eggs is
released from your ovary and is drawn into your
fallopian tube where conception occurs.
You may
experience some spotting or bleeding at the time the
blastocyst implants into your uterus. Don't be alarmed ~
it's normal, but not all women will experience this.
Most women are unaware of the exact moment of
conception.
Multiples: Same as
for singletons except times two (or three or four . . .)
Ideas for Dad:
You may still be
making regular deposits in the conception effort. Enjoy
because your life is about to change dramatically!
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