The first weeks of pregnancy are often the most invisible — yet this is when the greatest changes begin. The body works quietly, as if holding a secret. Hormones, blood flow, cells, and organs all begin to shift in harmony, following a rhythm older than time.

Once the embryo implants in the uterus, your body starts producing more of the hormone hCG. It signals the ovaries to keep releasing progesterone, which strengthens and stabilises the uterine lining. Your period stops. Blood volume increases, your temperature may rise slightly, and a deep fatigue can set in — your body is saving energy for the new life growing inside.

Inside the womb, the embryo develops quickly. The heart starts beating around week five or six. The nervous system, spine, and organs begin to form, and the placenta starts to grow, ready to deliver oxygen and nutrients.

Many people experience nausea, breast tenderness, a heightened sense of smell, or changes in appetite. These are signs that your hormones are doing their job. The body is adapting — sometimes awkwardly, but always with purpose.

The early weeks aren’t just waiting — they’re becoming. A quiet symphony of biology, where every signal, every hormone, every cell works together to create something new.

Alma’s advice:

• Rest more than you think you need — your body builds life in silence.

• Eat what you can, not just what you think you “should.”

• Remember: tiredness, wonder, and worry can coexist — and that’s okay.

Your body already knows what to do. Let it lead the way.