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Week 40
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The umbilical cord and the placenta are both beginning to form.
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Congratulations! You have surpassed the first month of your pregnancy, and though your belly is not big enough for you to look pregnant just yet, your baby is well on its way to developing. By now, on week 5 of pregnancy baby development, you may be experiencing more symptoms and maybe feeling a bit more different now.
This guide will tell you what to expect in week 5 of pregnancy baby development.
Your baby is now the size of an orange seed, similar to a small tadpole. Think of what used to be the size of a poppy seed just a week ago—which was less than a millimeter long—is now approximately 0.05 to 0.10 inches long. Your baby may just be a tiny dot inside your womb, but it is going through rapid changes and development.
On week 5 of pregnancy baby development, the umbilical cord and the placenta are both beginning to form. These are necessary for your baby to absorb nutrients and oxygen from your body. Essential nutrients at this baby’s stage are folic acid and calcium, so your ob-gynecologist may prescribe a folic acid supplement and milk to help sustain your baby’s development.
This week is the time to look forward to your baby’s neural tube developing as well. This tube eventually becomes the spinal column and the brain. To avoid the risk of acquiring a neural tube disorder, you may be advised by your doctor to take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily.
The most exciting part awaits you and your baby on its 6th week, where the heartbeat can finally be detected.
As mentioned, you may not look the part of a pregnant woman just yet, but there are a lot of changes that your body is going through at this time. Do not be surprised if you finally feel the following symptoms:
Fatigue. You may be feeling a lot more sleepy and sluggish these days. If you have not been to your doctor to confirm your pregnancy, or if you have not taken a pregnancy test yet, chances are you are already past the 4-week mark of your pregnancy. On week 5 of pregnancy baby development, your body is producing more progesterone, which may leave you feeling extra tired and lethargic.
Morning sickness. Those who have had a baby and who have experienced morning sickness understand that “morning sickness” does not just happen during the day. This feeling may persist throughout the day. To help alleviate nausea, you may try eating small frequent meals and stay hydrated. Avoid oily and fatty foods as these may aggravate the feeling further.
Frequent urination. On week 5 of pregnancy baby development, you may start to notice that you are peeing more frequently. This is because your kidneys are starting to process extra fluids.
Spotting. Do not be alarmed when you see a few light drops of blood, but not enough to cover an entire liner. This is the stage for when implantation bleeding happens, this type of spotting is normal.
If the bleeding persists for more than 48 hours, and if it is coupled with abdominal pain, consult your doctor immediately.
Mood swings. If your husband or partner starts to notice that you are happy one minute and are crying the next, this is completely normal. Mood swings are part of the whole journey, and your feelings may be due to your body adjusting to the flush of hormones.
No symptoms. If you are lucky, you could be some of the women who do not experience any symptoms. Not all pregnancies are the same, and not experiencing any symptoms is considered also normal, too.
This is the best time to request for your very first prenatal appointment. If you have any health coverage from well-known HMOs such as Maxicare, Medicard, or Intellicare, check with them if your doctor’s visits and ultrasound costs are covered.
Since you are on week 5 of pregnancy baby development, the frequency of your visits to the doctor may be determined by the following:
Before heading out to see your doctor, prepare medical papers (if necessary) and be ready to share your medical history. Do not forget to mention any previous operations, underlying medical conditions, and family history of diabetes or other illnesses that can potentially affect your pregnancy. And if you have had a miscarriage in the past, it is best to disclose this as well to your doctor so that he/ she may consider extra precautions in your pregnancy plan.
Now, as much as your mom or your grandparents offer well-intentioned advice, be prepared that some of these may be old wives’ tales or “pamahiins.” These are long-held beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation. And the effectiveness of these pamahiins is more anecdotal than scientifically based. The more common ones are:
While amusing, these pamahiins have no scientific basis whatsoever.
On the other side, there are effective and practical tips mothers may follow to help them in their week 5 of pregnancy baby development:
Week 5 of pregnancy baby development is an exciting stage because your baby is now steadily growing and developing just as much as your body is adjusting to the changes. If you have questions about your pregnancy, list them down, research, and consult your physician.
Hello Health Group does not offer any advice, diagnosis, or medical treatment.
Use this calculator to find your due date. This is just an estimate – not a guarantee! Most women, but not all, will deliver their babies within a week before or after this date range.
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Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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