5 Weeks Pregnant
What’s happening this week?
You’re now 5 weeks pregnant. Read about an important milestone in your pregnancy this week your baby’s heart starts beating!
How is my baby developing?
At 5 weeks pregnant, your baby’s needs are still being met by the yolk sac, but a basic umbilical cord is forming. Most importantly this week, your baby’s heart begins to beat at twice your own rate.
Also, the nervous system, nose, eyes, and hands are starting to form as well as intestines, pancreas, lungs, thyroid, liver, and urinary system.
By the end of the week, the neural tube folds begin to fuse to form the spinal cord. It’s now possible to differentiate between head and tail.. Your baby is the size of a grain of rice (1.5-2.5 mm).
How is my body changing?
You’re only 5 weeks pregnant and it won’t be noticeable that you’re pregnant for a few months yet. If this is your second child, you may start showing a little earlier.
The main 5 weeks pregnant symptoms that you probably start feeling is morning sickness, although the name can be misleading, as you can experience it at any time of the day.
You should exercise regularly during your pregnancy unless you’re a high-risk case. It’s good for you and the baby and you’ll be grateful for the strength and stamina when it comes to labor.
It will also help maintain a healthy weight. Not putting too much extra weight on will also helps you with easier labor.
You may read about a long list of pregnancy symptoms, and yet you don’t have any of them. This is perfectly normal, and you should only worry if you suddenly lose your pregnancy symptoms.
When pregnancies go wrong
Sometimes problems can develop during pregnancy. As the baby develops, it will become more resilient to difficulties, but unfortunately, at this early stage, any issues that arise are usually terminal.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. You may be at risk if you have a history of infections in your fallopian tubes or had a previous ectopic pregnancy.
Symptoms include vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, and nausea. Ectopic pregnancies can be diagnosed by measuring HCG. Levels of this hormone should rise every 2 days, however, if they don’t, it may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.
This may be confirmed by an ultrasound. If you suspect that you have an ectopic pregnancy, consult your doctor immediately as you may need surgical treatment. If not treated in time, it may affect your future fertility.
