5 Weeks Pregnant

By the time you are 5 weeks pregnant, you may be getting very suspicious there is something going on. Your period hasn’t come when you expected it and is at least a week overdue. You may even be starting to feel distinctly different but could be thinking it’s in your imagination.

If you haven’t already confirmed you’re pregnant with a urine test, week 5 is the time to do it. Remember, the best time to check is with your first urine in the morning, when your levels of pregnancy hormone (HCG) will be at their highest. Home pregnancy tests are up to 97% accurate if you follow the instructions exactly.

Should I see my health care provider at 5 weeks pregnant?

If you do go to your pregnancy care provider now, they will be able to counsel you about any medication you’re taking, prescribe prenatal vitamins, order the initial prenatal labs and ultrasound, and help estimate your baby's due date. You can check with one of the online calculators to estimate this date. These calculators ask you to type in the first day of your last period and then estimate your EDD (Estimated Date of Delivery). The countdown has officially begun! Although early pregnancy symptoms are fairly classic, e.g. nausea and wanting to pee a lot more frequently, many women describe a sensation of feeling strange, as if they aren’t quite "with it". Even your partner may have noticed you being a bit more sensitive and moodier than normal. Although you don’t look any different, you’re officially starting your 2nd month of pregnancy, with only 7 more to go!You may be feeling very similar to how you did last week with no changes at all. Don’t worry. Every woman is different and will have her own unique experience of pregnancy. You could be feeling some morning sickness, especially when you first wake up in the morning or when it's been a while since you've eaten. You may even get to the point of vomiting or feeling on the verge of it at various times through the day. You may be feeling faint or lightheaded and need to sit down more. This may be worse if your blood sugar level is low, and it has been some time since you’ve had a meal. Your sense of smell may be very sensitive and odors you're usually not aware of can have a powerful effect on your nostrils. Perfumes, food, car fumes, or someone else's body odor can really be enough to make you feel physically ill. You may feel a heavy, full sensation in your uterus, similar to the week when your period is due. This is because of pelvic engorgement and increased blood supply to your uterus. The placenta and amniotic sac are still forming when you’re 5 weeks pregnant. They will help to protect, feed, nourish and provide all the essential factors which help support your baby to term. This is all going on in your uterus and will account for the sensation of fullness you could be feeling. You may be feeling a bit teary and prone to emotional meltdowns this week. You could be feeling a whole range of emotions, many of them at the same time. Excitement, joy, worry, guilt. This is a big week emotionally, especially if you have been planning to conceive and you find out you’re pregnant. Conversely, you may not be feeling all that joyful. Not every woman is delighted to find out she is pregnant, and this may be a week of disappointment for you. It can be challenging for many women to have a pregnancy confirmed and it can take a while to come to terms with a positive result. You may start to worry if everything is alright with the baby and with your own health. This is a challenging time because much of what you’re going through may be new and unfamiliar. You may even be worried about how your partner is feeling or how your pregnancy may affect your relationship.

Baby changes at 5 weeks pregnant

This week your little embryo is the size of an orange seed or a nail head and can just be seen on an ultrasound. The baby looks like a tadpole and has a primitive heart which has already started beating and circulating blood around its little body. It is sometimes possible to see the heartbeat on an ultrasound when you are 5 weeks pregnant. Vaginal ultrasounds pick up more detail than abdominal ones at this stage. Although the heart doesn’t look like it eventually will with its 4 chambers, the tube-like channels which are present now are doing a perfect job. Your baby's brain and spinal cord are forming but are still open. They are yet to close.

Tips for 5 weeks pregnant

Remember to take your prenatal vitamins with folic acid every day. Week 5 is when your baby's neural tube (brain and spinal cord) is open but by next week will be closed. Avoid taking any medication unless they’re absolutely necessary and your provider has given you the ok. Some drugs are harmful to embryonic development. Try to rest when you can. You may be feeling extremely tired and the best way to deal with this is to sleep and take it easy if possible.

FAQ: Is it too early to tell people I’m pregnant?

It's up to you whether to tell your family and friends you are pregnant. The first 12 weeks of pregnancy can be a risky time and not all pregnancies continue to term. It is a very personal decision for couples as to when to share the news they are expecting a baby. Some wait until after the 12th week when the risk of miscarrying is reduced, but some people share their news immediately.

FAQ: The only symptom I have is my breasts are sore. Is that normal?

It's normal at 5 weeks pregnant for breasts to feel heavier and more sensitive. You might not be able to lie on your tummy like you usually do to go to sleep because your breasts are so tender.