Pregnancy Week By Week - 5 Weeks Pregnant

Editorial Team

It’s the 5th week and by now you can’t deny the fact that you have missed your period and so you take that home pregnancy test and find out that what you were suspecting is actually true. You are pregnant. Welcome to the pregnancy/motherhood club.

By now your baby is now the size of a lemon seed. Very small I know.lol. Your baby’s head starts to develop more rapidly than the rest of the tiny body to allow rapid and critical development of the brain. Your baby’s heart is now made up of two tiny heart tubes, which are already beating.

At this stage, you would be experiencing more of the early pregnancy symptoms as stated under week 4. You will feel exhausted and tired as your body is working hard to build the placenta for your baby. Your breasts may feel firmer and have larger veins than usual and you may also notice changes on your areolas.

Pregnancy symptoms are unique and unpredictable. Two women can each have healthy pregnancies without any of the same symptoms. Some of the symptoms you will begin to experience are:

  • Morning sickness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Frequent urination
  • Abdominal cramp
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Fatigue
  • Breast changes
  • Food cravings and aversion
  • Increased vaginal discharge
  • Constipation
  • Mood swings

While morning sickness typically begins during the sixth week of pregnancy, some women experience it earlier. Eating several small meals throughout the day may help to relieve these symptoms. Go to the hospital if you can’t keep any food or liquid down. This may be a sign of hyperemesis gravidarum, which is an extreme form of morning sickness and sometimes requires in-patient treatment within a hospital setting.

At this stage, if you are pregnant with twins, you won’t be able to tell but a lot of women that have had multiple births always say that their morning sickness was more severe when they were pregnant with twins.

Keeping fit and active is really important in pregnancy, both for you and your baby's health and potential for an easier labor and delivery, too. The most common sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding. The bleeding tends to be heavier than spotting, and it may contain clots. You may also have abdominal or pelvic cramps and back pain. Call your doctor if you experience any bleeding during pregnancy.

An ectopic or “tubal” pregnancy is a pregnancy that grows outside of the uterus, most often in the fallopian tube.  This type of pregnancy is not viable and is life-threatening to the mother. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or cramping (possibly on one side), shoulder pain, and dizziness or fainting.

If you haven’t already done so, schedule your first prenatal doctor visit. Going to checkups is a must for a healthy pregnancy. Your doctor will let you know what actions to take to keep your baby healthy for nine months.

Take a prenatal vitamin. Prenatal vitamins that contain high levels of folic acid may lower the risk of some birth defects. Add healthy foods to your diet like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, beans, nuts, and dairy. Maintaining a healthy diet is important for your baby’s health.

Don’t smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or excessive caffeine, or use illegal drugs. These can harm your baby. Some prescription and over-the-counter medications also aren’t safe during pregnancy.

Let your doctor know about all medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbs you take.

Source: Healthline

 

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