1 to 2 Weeks Pregnant

When you're 1 or 2 weeks pregnant, it might come as a surprise to learn that you're not actually pregnant yet. These early weeks are counted from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP), which is used to estimate your due date. During this time, your body is preparing for ovulation and potential conception. Understanding what happens during weeks 1 and 2 can help you optimize your chances of getting pregnant and support a healthy start.

Here’s what to expect at 1 to 2 weeks pregnant:

• Your body is not technically pregnant yet. This phase marks the start of your menstrual cycle

• Hormones begin preparing your ovaries to release an egg (ovulation usually happens around day 14)

• You might notice signs of ovulation, like stretchy cervical mucus or mild cramps

• This is a great time to start prenatal vitamins with folic acid (at least 400 mcg daily)

• Consider a preconception checkup to support a healthy start if you're trying to conceive.

Although there’s no baby yet, these weeks are crucial for laying the groundwork. Next, we’ll explore what happens during ovulation and how to recognize early pregnancy signs in the coming weeks. 

How Is Pregnancy Calculated?

Here’s the thing: Because of the way pregnancy is usually measured, you’re not actually pregnant during the first two weeks or so of your pregnancy. Healthcare providers calculate the length of an average pregnancy as 280 days, which is 40 weeks, starting from the first day of your last menstrual period—this is known as the LMP dating method. 

So, when you’re 1 week pregnant, you’re having your period. At 2 weeks pregnant, you’re probably ovulating. And since ovulation happens about 14 days after the start of your period (assuming you have a 28-day cycle), with fertilization and conception following, you can’t really become pregnant until around week 3 at the earliest.

But although at 1 and 2 weeks pregnant you may not notice any of those very early signs of pregnancy, there’s still a lot happening on the inside.

Highlights at 1 to 2 Weeks Pregnant

Before we get into all the details, here are a few highlights to look forward to during the first two weeks of pregnancy:

How to Calculate Due Date?

It's natural to wonder about your due date right away when you find out you’re pregnant, as you’re likely looking forward to meeting your new baby! So, how can you calculate your due date?

For an estimate, try our Due Date Calculator, where you can simply enter the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP) or the date of conception. 

Again, healthcare providers use the LMP method to determine your estimated due date. So once you start to notice those early pregnancy signs or have the feeling that you might be pregnant, take a pregnancy test at home or confirm your pregnancy with your healthcare provider so you can calculate your due date!

Body Changes at 1 and 2 Weeks Pregnant

Your journey through pregnancy has officially begun, but as mentioned above, you’re not actually pregnant yet. This is a difficult concept to grasp at first, and many people wonder what happens in the first week of pregnancy, or what it feels like to be 2 weeks pregnant. Again, because of the way pregnancy is calculated, you won’t feel any symptoms of being pregnant during those first days—or possibly first weeks. But after two weeks, an exciting series of events starts to take place inside your body: 

• Egg release. One of your ovaries will release an egg around 14 days after the first day of your last period (assuming you have a typical 28-day cycle). 

• Fertilization. The egg will travel down one of the fallopian tubes, where it may unite with sperm. If they find each other, they’ll join up in a fallopian tube to create a single cell called a zygote in a process called fertilization. This process determines the sex of a baby.

• First DNA. The zygote carries chromosomes from the egg and sperm and sets the first building blocks of your future baby’s genetic makeup. 

• Development. The zygote then moves down the fallopian tube and toward the uterus as it starts dividing into a larger group of cells. Cells will continue to divide as your baby develops over the course of your pregnancy.

What this all boils down to is that you won’t feel any of those very early signs of pregnancy in weeks 1 or 2. If you have yet to conceive, then it makes sense that you wouldn’t notice anything! Therefore, things like morning sickness can’t start at 1 week pregnant, and you won’t feel symptoms like pregnancy-related belly pain or discharge at 1 or 2 weeks pregnant.

Your Belly at 1 and 2 Weeks Pregnant

Wondering about your belly size at 1 week or how your tummy feels at 2 weeks pregnant?

Every person and every pregnancy is different, but it’s safe to say that you won’t see any difference in your pregnant belly’s size at 1 or 2 weeks. Remember that you’re not actually pregnant during those first two weeks. 

Here’s an idea of how your belly may progress throughout your pregnancy, and for more information, you can read our week-by-week baby bump guide. Remember, every bump is unique!

Your Baby at 1 to 2 Weeks Pregnant

Wondering “What does the baby look like at 2 weeks?” If you're 1 or 2 weeks pregnant according to your due date calculation, there's actually no baby at 2 weeks in the womb just yet. That might sound confusing, but as we mentioned earlier, providers start counting pregnancy from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP), not from the date of conception. This means that at 1 and 2 weeks pregnant, ovulation and fertilization have not occurred yet. Conception typically takes place around week 3 of your pregnancy.

At this early stage, your body is preparing for ovulation. Hormones are working behind the scenes to mature a follicle in your ovary, ready to release an egg. So while it's exciting to imagine a 1 or 2-week embryo, these terms aren’t medically accurate yet, because fertilization hasn’t happened.

But rest assured, your body is getting ready for the big moment. For a clear explanation of this timeline, check out our guide to fetal development week by week, and see how the embryo will begin to develop in the coming weeks.

How Do You Track Ovulation?

If you’re trying to get pregnant or just want to understand your body better, knowing the best way to track ovulation can really help. Ovulation is when your ovary releases an egg, usually about 2 weeks before your next period. This is the time when you're most likely to conceive.

Here are some simple and trusted ways to track ovulation:

• Take your temperature each morning. Your body temperature goes up slightly after ovulation. Use a basal thermometer and write it down every day to spot the change.

• Use ovulation test kits. These work like pregnancy tests but look for a hormone called LH that increases right before ovulation.

• Check your cervical mucus. Around ovulation, it becomes clear, stretchy, and slippery—kind of like raw egg whites.

• Track your cycle. If your period is regular, you can estimate ovulation by counting back about 14 days from when your next period is due.

• Try an app or fertility tracker. These tools help you log your cycle and give you ovulation predictions.

Many people find that combining a few of these is the best way to track ovulation accurately. It can take a little practice, but it’s worth it if you’re trying to conceive.

Ovulation Symptoms

Being able to recognize ovulation symptoms can also help pinpoint your fertile window. The most common symptoms of ovulation include:

• Changes in cervical mucus. It becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy (like raw egg whites).

• Mild pelvic or lower abdominal pain (also called mittelschmerz), usually on one side.

• Increased libido around the time of ovulation.

• Heightened sense of smell or taste in some people.

• Breast tenderness or mild bloating.

These ovulating symptoms vary from person to person, and some may not notice them at all. If you're wondering what ovulation signs and symptoms are, the combination of mucus changes and LH surge detection tends to be the most reliable.

When Do Pregnancy Symptoms Start?

During weeks 1 and 2, you may not realize you’re pregnant, and you probably won’t experience any pregnancy symptoms yet, as it is still very early. In fact, you might not have even conceived until you are about 3 weeks pregnant. So, how early do pregnancy symptoms start? There are several signs of pregnancy that you could experience in the following weeks:

Now that you know these early signs, take our Early Signs of Pregnancy Quiz to test your knowledge!

When to Take a Pregnancy Test?

When should you take a pregnancy test? The short answer: after your missed period. While it can be tempting to test early, the best time to take a pregnancy test is usually after your period is due. This gives your body enough time to produce detectable levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in your urine.

When is the earliest you can take a pregnancy test? Some highly sensitive home tests claim to detect hCG as early as 8–10 days after ovulation, around week 3 of your pregnancy. So yes, you can get a positive pregnancy test at 3 weeks, but the results are more reliable if you wait a few more days. Testing too early may lead to a false negative.

If you're wondering about a 1–2 week pregnant test, it’s important to remember that at this point, you’re not technically pregnant yet. You’ll likely need to wait until week 4 or later for a positive test result.

To understand more about how pregnancy tests work, check out our dedicated guide.

Think you might be pregnant? Take our Am I Pregnant quiz. It won’t tell you for sure, but it’s all good fun! 

1 to 2 Weeks Pregnant: Things to Consider

Even though you probably haven’t experienced any signs of pregnancy very early on in weeks 1 to 2, it’s best to do everything you can to stay healthy and safe. In fact, it’s always wise to take some precautions as soon as you start trying to conceive or learn that you’re pregnant.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Even simple adjustments can help support you as you start your pregnancy! Though you’ll want to consult your healthcare provider to determine what’s best for you, some worthwhile lifestyle changes and precautions include

• eating healthily

• staying hydrated

• reducing stress

• getting regular exercise. 

Folic Acid

When you start trying for a baby or learn that you’re pregnant, folic acid is essential, as it’s a B vitamin that helps reduce the risk of certain birth defects that affect the baby’s brain and spine. Your healthcare provider can recommend a prenatal vitamin that contains at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. 

Eliminating Bad Habits

Pregnancy is also a great time to eliminate some less healthy habits, too, including

• smoking

• exposure to secondhand smoke

• drinking alcohol.

In addition, your provider may recommend limiting your daily consumption of caffeine. Consult your healthcare provider to learn the best ways to stay healthy and safe when you’re pregnant. 

For more general advice, download our Go-To Pregnancy Guide!

1 to 2 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist

Yes, it’s early, but it’s also an exciting time! As you anticipate your new pregnancy, consider the following to-dos:

• Even if you’ve already taken one, you might want to complete another home pregnancy test after your missed period for the best results. 

• Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to confirm your pregnancy with a blood test.

• Check out our pregnancy calendar to know what to anticipate in the next few weeks.

• Though you can’t find out your baby’s gender just yet, have a little fun with our Chinese Gender Predictor!

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}