Learn what’s happening in week 5 of pregnancy and find out how your baby is developing.
The fifth week of pregnancy is the time of the first missed period when your baby takes on a more distinct form. This is the crucial stage of pregnancy and the time when most women are beginning to think they may be pregnant.
Your baby is now the size of an orange seed and could be visible on an ultrasound. The heart, nervous and circulatory system of the baby is developing, and the pregnancy hormone hCG levels are high enough to confirm that you’re expecting.
What Happens in Your Body in Pregnancy Week 5?
In week five you will begin to experience all the symptoms of pregnancy including extreme tiredness, nausea, breast tenderness, and morning sickness. Deep in your uterus, the embryo is around 2 mm long and is growing rapidly.
At this point, your embryo is made up of three layers: the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm, which will later form all of your baby’s organs.
Changes in Your Body at 5 Weeks Pregnant
You may notice some of the first pregnancy symptoms at 5 weeks. The positive pregnancy test is obviously one of the very first signs of being pregnant. You may feel bloated and experience frequent urination.
People won’t be able to notice that you’re pregnant, but you’ll know that there is a dramatic development taking place inside your body.
This is also the week when you’ll start noticing some of the first discomforts and signs of pregnancy. You may experience fatigue, tender breasts, nausea, and headaches.
Your Baby at 5 Week of Pregnancy
The embryo is around 1-5 mm long and all the major bodily systems (nervous, circulatory, nervous) and organs start developing. In week five of pregnancy, your baby’s heart is made up of two small channels called heart tubes and they are already working hard. When those tubes fuse together, your little one will have a fully functioning heart.
One of the first systems to be operational is the circulatory system. The baby now has its own blood vessels and blood begins to circulate. A string of the blood vessels connect the mother and the baby and will become the umbilical cord.
The nervous system, bones, and muscles will start developing quickly during the fifth week. The skeleton also begins to take shape and the neural tube begins to form. The placenta will start developing and through the placenta and the umbilical cord, your precious baby will receive nourishment.
Your baby’s mouth, eyes, nose, ears, fingers, and toes will begin to show. Some ultrasounds will be able to pick up on the heartbeat as early as five weeks.
Pregnancy Week 5 Tips
You’re five weeks pregnant and if you haven’t shared the happy news with your family, this is the perfect time to start discussing that. This is a crucial time in your life, so if you haven’t stopped your bad habits, now is the right time to do so.
The fifth week is a critical time for your baby’s development so you need to protect yours and your baby’s health. Good prenatal care is essential to your little one’s health, so if you haven’t set up an appointment, make it a priority now.
Take your prenatal supplements that contain folic acid, calcium, and iron. Taking prenatal vitamins is important because it reduces your baby’s risk of developing neural tube birth defects. Consult your doctor about the medications you’re taking, because there are many drugs that aren’t safe during pregnancy.
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol to reduce the risks of miscarriage or preterm birth. Keep in mind that pesticides and solvents can also be harmful to your baby.
