For a woman who is anticipating getting pregnant this is a period of great importance which she will know by calculating from the date of her last period. The fetus has started growing in the womb though the mother may not realize this as yet. Sometimes there be some slight bleeding when the fertilized egg gets embedded in the lining of the uterus. What is a sure indicator however, and a pregnancy symptom is the pain like a cramp in the side of the abdomen. There will also be a lot of vaginal discharge like a clear fluid during the third week after conception. The egg has been fertilized by this time, and in case there are two eggs fertilized by two sperms then there will be fraternal twins; identical twins are born when a single egg divides into two. Identical twins from a single egg which has divided into two will be similar to each other in appearance and the genetic make up.

The size of the fetus at three weeks is about the size of a pin head. The amniotic fluid collects round the embryo and this is like a cushion which protects it during its development for the rest of the gestation period. This same fluid later develops into an amniotic sac which holds the baby until it is ready to be born. The placenta has not been developed as yet, but the baby is getting its nutrients from tubes which are attached to the wall of the uterus and this is where the baby draws its nourishment from. There will be slight bloating at this time and the woman should by now be very careful with her health care and with the restrictions which are recommended during pregnancy. A pregnancy test can be done only a week or ten days after missing the first period, until then there is no use doing the test as it cannot be definite.

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