Fertilization.

  Fertilization: your pregnancy week by                                   week.

Fertilization of the egg with sperm generally occurs during the two weeks following the first day of your last menstrual period.

The week of pregnancy that you are entering is dated from the first day of your last period. This means that in the first two weeks or so, you are not actually pThe zygote's journey has only just begun, It will spend several days making its way down the fallopian tube, at which time it will develop into a morula, a ball of 12 to 15 cells and then into a blastocyst.1,2,4regnant - your body will be preparing for ovulation as normal.

This MNT Knowledge Center feature is part of a series of articles on pregnancy. It provides a summary of each stage of pregnancy, what to expect, and insights into how your baby is developing. Take a look at the other articles in the series:

First trimester: fertilization, implantation, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12.

Second trimester: week 13, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17, week 18, week 19, week 20, week 21, week 22, week 23, week 24, week 25, week 26.

Week 3: fertilization

You will ovulate (release an egg) around two weeks after the first day of your period (depending on the length of your menstrual cycle).

In order for fertilization to occur, sperm must be ejaculated into the vagina through sexual intercourse or otherwise be inserted through the opening of the cervix to travel into the fallopian tubes.

Once in the fallopian tubes, the sperm will penetrate and fertilize the egg. During the third week after the first day of your last period, your fertilized egg moves along the fallopian tube towards your womb.

Once united, the egg and sperm form a zygote, which contains 46 chromosomes - 23 from the female and 23 from the male, which will ultimately determine the genetic make-up of your child.

These chromosomes will determine the sex and physical characteristics of the fetus, and influence personality and intelligence.

Chromosomes are tiny threadlike structures that each carry around 2,000 genes. Genes determine a baby's inherited characteristics, such as hair and eye color, blood group, height and build.

A fertilized egg contains one sex chromosome from its mother and one from its father. The sex chromosome from the egg is always the same and is known as the X chromosome, but the sex chromosome from the sperm may be an X or a Y chromosome.

If the egg is fertilized by a sperm containing an X chromosome, the fetus will be female (XX). If the sperm contains a Y chromosome, the fetus will be male (XY).

At 3 weeks pregnant, the fetus is the size of a pin head.

The zygote's journey has only just begun, It will spend several days making its way down the fallopian tube, at which time it will develop into a morula, a ball of 12 to 15 cells and then into a blastocyst.

The blastocyst, which at this point is rapidly multiplying, is a grouping of cells that contains an inner collection of cells. This blastocyst will ultimately develop into the embryo and an outer shell whose purpose is to provide protection and nourishment to the growing embryo.

At this point, your future baby is still a cluster of cells measuring approximately .0019 inches, which is approximately the size of a pin head.

During this time, it is important to speak with your health care provider regarding your current or desired exercise routine and your nutritional status. Increasing your consumption of folic acid and other vitamins may be recommended.

Substances that can harm your growing baby and should be avoided include alcohol, illegal drugs, certain medications and foods. Caffeine and smoking should be discussed with your health care provider.

At this stage of pregnancy, there are very few expected symptoms however some women may have mild cramping and an increase in vaginal discharge during the ovulatory stage.

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