The fifth week of pregnancy is usually the time when you have just discovered that you are pregnant.
The fifth week of pregnancy is usually the time when you have just discovered that you are pregnant. This is the time when you have missed your periods, and you take a urine pregnancy test that turns out to be positive. You go through a lot of physical and emotional changes beginning from this stage, which is known as the first trimester of pregnancy. You must visit an obstetrician who will conduct a blood human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; hormone) test and sonography to confirm the normal pregnancy.
Here are 13 changes in your body that you should expect at 5 weeks pregnant:
- Morning sickness: Morning sickness is the most common symptom during pregnancy. It refers to nausea with or without vomiting. Although typical during the first 3 months, the symptoms can extend beyond in some women. Despite the name, morning sickness can come at any time of the day.
- Tip: Stick to several smaller meals instead of few larger meals. Having ginger tea with a piece of toast may help.
- Food cravings and aversions: More than half of the expectant women may have a sudden craving for a particular food, whereas many others are suddenly turned off by their once-upon-a-time (before pregnancy) favorite foods.
- Need to pee often: The growing womb puts pressure on your bladder and causes you to take frequent bathroom trips.
- Tip: Do not hold urine for long; pee as soon as you get the urge to avoid urine infections. Drink plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrated.
- Fatigue: Your body is working hard to take care of you and growing a new life in your womb. It is OK to feel tired even after getting adequate rest and sleep.
- Breast changes: You may experience breast fullness, soreness, and tenderness as soon as you miss your periods.
- A range of emotions: You may go through mood swings frequently. It is not unusual to feel suddenly anxious, worried, excited, and depressed.
- Tip: If feelings of depression hamper your daily routine severely, talk to a friend or your partner or seek medical help.
Other signs and symptoms at 5 weeks pregnant include:
- Dizziness
- Abdominal cramps
- A heightened sense of smell
- Light spotting
- Constipation
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Chloasma or the mask of pregnancy (brown patches on your face)
Every woman may experience her own share of changes in the pregnancy. Some women experience a particular symptom more intensely than others, and some may not experience the same symptom in their next pregnancy.
The increasing hormonal levels are believed to be responsible for many of the changes experienced during pregnancy. Fortunately, all these symptoms usually subside or disappear completely as the pregnancy progresses. Do not hesitate to consult your doctor for any of the additional concerns you may have.
What about the baby at 5 weeks pregnant?
At 5 weeks pregnant, your baby, or embryo, is about the size of a sesame seed (around 1.5-2 mm long). Your baby's fingers and toes begin to take shape. Their heart, brain, and spinal cord are also beginning to form at this time.
Your baby also gets some of its blood vessels that make up the umbilical cord that supplies the baby all its nutrients. A small fluid-filled bag-like structure (placenta) begins to form around the baby that acts as the storage of food and baby’s waste material. You may be able to see the gestational sac but not your baby on an ultrasound. The baby’s heart is beating, but the ultrasound cannot detect the heartbeats during this week.
Once you know you are pregnant, schedule an appointment with your doctor to begin prenatal care and be regular with your follow-ups. They will guide you on how to best take care of yourself and your baby in this beautiful journey of pregnancy. Make sure you stay hydrated and have a diet balanced in complex carbs, proteins, and good fats.