What changes are occurring during your 5 weeks of pregnancy? Find out what changes happen in your body and how to protect and take care of your baby.
Mommies! Are you in the 5th week of your pregnancy now? Don’t you worry because this will be your ultimate guide! These are the important pieces of information you need to know when you are 5 weeks pregnant, and the signs and symptoms you may experience.
What are the signs and symptoms you can experience when your 5 weeks pregnant?
Even if your tummy does not grow in size yet, you can notice some changes happening in your body. Some of these noticeable changes are the following:
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The pregnant may experience episodes of morning sickness
It is a normal sign to have morning sickness in the first trimester of your pregnancy. You can often experience vomiting and nausea when you have morning sickness.
The frequent hormonal changes in women are one of the reasons why pregnant crave food. You can notice yourself rejecting a variety of foods yet crave a specific, uncommon food.
You may also experience fatigue or tiredness when you are 5 weeks pregnant. It is because of many factors, including the hormone progesterone, lower blood sugar levels inside the body, low blood pressure, and an increase in blood count of your body.
Fatigue and tiredness are often experienced not only in the earlier periods of pregnancy but also in the whole span of conceiving.
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Change in your breast size
Your breast will become swollen. You may also start to feel more tired. The hormones of the pregnant prepare their bodies for their breastfeeding. The blood flow in the breast area increases, indicating larger breasts.
There will also be a frequency of times that you will urinate because your uterus stretches. Always drink your water to prevent dehydration.
A pregnant woman may also experience mild cramping or bloating of the abdomen. It resulted from the stretching of the uterus. It is not alarming but if the pain is severe, consult the nearest doctor.
5 weeks pregnant symptoms and signs. | Image from Shutterstock
5th week of pregnancy: How big is your baby?
In this phase, it is possible to measure your baby’s size. But s/he is too small, her/his body is as tiny as a grain of sesame seed in the 5th week of pregnancy. In a 5 week span, the length of the baby can reach up to 1/17th inch or 1.5 mm.
The baby is continuing to grow and their major organ system is starting to develop, particularly the heart and the brain. You may also be amazed that the thing in your womb will be a baby because if you look closely, it resembles a tadpole!
In this phase, the embryo inside your womb starts to develop slowly. Inside the embryo, the cells separate into three layers to produce different body systems.
- The ectoderm or outer layer starts to develop the nervous system, including your baby’s brain and spinal cord. This layer is also responsible for the growth of your baby’s hair, skin, and nails.
- Mesoderm or mid-layer develops the circulatory system. Your baby’s heart and blood vessels also start to develop. The bones, muscles, and kidneys also start to grow in this layer.
- The endoderm or inner layer will be the baby’s lungs, intestines, and liver.
Week 5: Your baby’s development
- The development of your baby is relatively fast in this phase. Her/his internal organs like the kidney and liver start to develop.
- In the first 3 weeks, the fertilization of the baby takes place. Fertilization is the union between the sex cells of a man and a woman where the conception of a baby starts.
- The development of the baby’s heart also starts in this phase. The heart also develops chambers. This means you are near to hearing your baby’s heartbeats.
- Her/his intestines start to grow, and her/his appendix has already grown.
- The neural tube also starts to appear, or the soon-to-be brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone of your baby.
- In the 5th week of pregnancy, your baby also starts to grow her/his arms and limbs.
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Taking care of yourself
It is important that mothers know the whats of a healthy pregnancy and the development of their babies. Here are “the do’s” in your 5th-week pregnancy.
It is important that you take care of yourself during this phase. Make sure that you will not stress out yourself, and take a good rest.
Always take your prenatal vitamins. The prenatal vitamins help in the healthy development of the baby.
Prepare an exercise routine appropriate for pregnant women. According to experts, an exercise routine helps for reducing back pains, bloating, and swelling.
Eat healthy foods. It is not required to have a strict diet. What is important is to have the right diet to get the needed nutrients for both mom and baby.
You can talk over as wife and husband if it is the right time to spread the good news to your friends and relatives.
Tips for a healthy pregnancy
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Schedule your first prenatal check-up with your doctor
Visit your doctor immediately if you did not happen to yet. Getting to your checkups is important for a healthy pregnancy. Your doctor will give additional advice to keep you healthy for the span of 9 months.
For a healthy pregnancy, your doctor will possibly recommend that you should have your prenatal visits or tests starting week 4. One prenatal visit every month.
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Possible tests that will be administered in your prenatal visit
The doctor could also give a whole physical exam. It may include weight assessment, blood pressure check, and breast and pelvic examination.
Follow the right process in checkups and tests. Fetal Ultrasound and Maternal blood testing are usually done during the first trimester.
The fetal ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses sound waves to detect and to see the fetus in the uterus. Meanwhile, maternal blood testing is done to know the situation of the growing fetus.
These tests or screenings are done to prevent birth defects to a healthy pregnancy.
The prenatal vitamins contain folic acids that lower the chance of birth defects. More prenatal vitamins today have Omega 3 fatty acids. These nutrients are important for the brain and eye development of your baby.
If you are on a diet, make sure to include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, dairies, and lean proteins. Maintaining a healthy diet is good for your baby.
Make sure to have a balanced diet. You can still eat your favorite food but it is important to check them first if they are well-cooked, mainly the meats, poultry, and seafood.
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Avoid what is bad for your baby
Remember not to smoke cigarettes, don’t drink alcohol, and not to intake caffeine. The other prescriptions like over-the-counter medicines are sometimes bad. Always ask or tell your doctor about the medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you take.
Checklist for pregnancy
- Find out if there are chronic diseases in your family, and in your husband’s family. The doctor needs it to know the possible conditions your baby will get.
- Make sure that you have vaccination against rubella and chickenpox. Usually, your doctor will recommend it if you have not had any of these vaccinations.
- It is better to look for a doctor that can help you in your pregnancy. They can give you the right advice on taking care of yourself and your baby.
- This is also an important situation to check on your work and lifestyle. If you think that your recent lifestyle is not good for your baby.
Your next week: 6 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 4 weeks pregnant
Republished with permission from: theAsianparent Singapore
Additional information from Nathanielle Torre
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