Pregnancy Week 5

What does my baby look like?

This tadpole-like appearance of the embryo is a normal part of development and changes rapidly over the coming weeks.

The face is beginning to take shape. A tiny nose structure and small formations that will later become the eyes are starting to appear.

How is your baby developing this week?

The building blocks needed for your baby's major organs are beginning to fall into place. The tiny heart forms and, during this stage, starts to pump early blood and make its first beats.

The brain and spinal cord are developing quickly. The embryo's outer cell layer forms a hollow structure called the neural tube, which will later become your baby's brain and spinal cord.

This is why folic acid is especially important during this period. Taking it from the moment you learn you're pregnant until week 12 helps support the development of the baby's brain, skull, and spinal cord.

Some of the baby's own blood vessels are also starting to form. A portion of these will later become part of the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord carries the substances the baby needs from the placenta. The placenta, which is forming now, will supply your baby with nutrients and oxygen and help remove waste products.

The cell layers are forming

The embryo is now an embryonic disc made up of three cell layers that will, over time, form the entire body:

• The endoderm forms the foundation of the digestive system, liver, pancreas, and respiratory system.
• The ectoderm contributes to the nervous system as well as the formation of skin, nails, and hair.
• The third layer, the mesoderm, forms most of the skeletal structure, the heart, the urinary tract, and the reproductive organs.

The notochord in the middle is a temporary structure that plays a role in the development of the central nervous system, brain, and head.

What's happening in my body?

Many women realize they are pregnant this week. A missed period may become more apparent, and you may feel different than usual.

Pregnancy tests become more reliable during this period. The hCG level in your urine may have risen to a measurable level, and the test may be high enough to confirm the pregnancy.

Learning that you're pregnant can be exciting, but it's also normal to feel anxious. Try not to bottle up your worries. Talking with your doctor can help.

Breast tenderness

Breast tenderness is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Rising hormone levels increase blood flow, which can cause swelling, aching, tingling, and tenderness in the breasts.

Fatigue

The reason for the pronounced fatigue seen in early pregnancy isn't fully understood, but hormonal changes are thought to play a role. Most women notice their energy increases in the second trimester. During this period, it's important to try to rest more, lighten your load, and ask for help.

Frequent urination

Pregnancy hormones and increased blood volume can lead to a more frequent need to urinate; the urge to go to the bathroom often is common in pregnancy. Staying hydrated is important, but if you're waking up very often at night, you may want to cut back a little on fluids later in the day.

Bloating and belly appearance

Your belly may have started to look a little different during this period. This is usually due to hormone-related bloating rather than a growing uterus.

For some women, clothes start to feel tighter around the waist. For others, no change is noticeable yet. When a pregnancy starts to show on the outside varies from person to person.

Weight changes

In the first trimester, nausea and vomiting can reduce your appetite. Since your baby is still very small during this period, you don't need to take in a lot of extra calories. Gaining about 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms in the first trimester is considered typical; however, gaining no weight at all doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong on its own.

Some women may even lose weight in early pregnancy. If there is very noticeable weight loss, or severe nausea and vomiting that suggests hyperemesis gravidarum, you should see a healthcare professional.

Pregnancy hormones

In early pregnancy, the levels of the hormones progesterone and hCG rise.

• Progesterone helps sustain the pregnancy until the placenta takes over its function, reduces contractions of the uterine muscles, and supports changes in the breast tissue.
• hCG supports the corpus luteum and helps maintain the hormonal environment needed for the pregnancy to continue.

The rise in these hormones can play a role in symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, mood changes, and breast tenderness.

Early pregnancy symptoms

Many women are just finding out they're pregnant during this period, while some may not have noticed yet. Not everyone has a regular menstrual cycle, so a missed period isn't always noticed right away. Someone who has light bleeding might mistake it for a period; however, this can sometimes be implantation bleeding.

Extreme fatigue is very common in the first trimester. Along with it, the following early signs may appear:

• a metallic taste in the mouth,
• tender breasts,
• nausea,
• fatigue,
• a frequent need to urinate,
• mood changes,
• bloating,
• food cravings or aversions,
• a heightened sensitivity to smell,
• light spotting,
• period-like cramps.

Morning sickness

Morning sickness, meaning nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, usually starts around week 5 or 6. Some women notice it earlier, while others never experience it. It can be managed with diet and lifestyle changes, natural remedies, and, if needed, medication. If your symptoms are very severe, you should speak with a healthcare professional.

Food aversions

Food aversions may also begin during this period. Meat, coffee, eggs, dairy products, and very spicy or greasy foods, in particular, may feel more unpleasant. In that case:

• You can try blander foods.
• Cold foods may be better tolerated.
• If cooking smells bother you, you can ask someone else for help.

Food cravings

Some women develop food cravings, while others have none at all. Cravings can start at any time, but they most often become noticeable in the first trimester. They may be linked to hormonal changes that affect your sense of taste and smell; even so, try to eat a balanced and healthy diet.

If you have unusual cravings, such as an urge to eat dirt, share this with your doctor. This may be related to a condition called pica and can sometimes accompany an iron deficiency.

Spotting or light bleeding

In the first trimester, about 1 in every 4 women may experience spotting or light bleeding. Most of the time it doesn't indicate anything serious; however, it should be evaluated because of possibilities such as miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

If you have active bleeding or it's accompanied by severe pain, contact your doctor. If you can't reach them, urgent evaluation may be needed.

Faint line, blood test, and hCG levels

Seeing a faint line on a home pregnancy test may suggest that the pregnancy hormone level has just started to rise.

If your doctor orders a blood test to confirm the pregnancy, your hCG level can be evaluated. However, hCG levels can vary greatly from person to person. The overall clinical picture matters more than a single number on its own.

Balanced nutrition

Eating for two in pregnancy doesn't mean eating more; it means eating better and more balanced.

Healthy fats

Omega-3 fatty acids are important for your baby's developing brain. Sources of omega-3 can include:

• certain fish considered safe during pregnancy,
• eggs,
• yogurt,
• milk,
• some fortified products,
• an appropriate prenatal vitamin and supplements.

Exercise

Exercise can be beneficial during pregnancy, but you shouldn't overdo it at this stage. The goal isn't to boost performance but to safely maintain your current fitness. After exercising, you should feel more energized rather than exhausted.

Plan your prenatal care

If you have an OB-GYN you trust, you can plan your prenatal care with them. If you don't have such a doctor, this is a good time to start looking.

Sharing the pregnancy

When to share your pregnancy is entirely a personal decision. Some women want to share the news right away, while others prefer to wait until the end of the first trimester. There's no single right time for this; the decision is yours.

Could it be twins?

It's still too early to know for sure. Twin pregnancies are most often detected during the first-trimester ultrasound. Still, some women wonder about it when they experience more pronounced nausea, fatigue, or increased appetite. These symptoms alone don't prove a twin pregnancy.