5 Weeks Pregnant
5 Weeks Pregnant
When you are 5 weeks pregnant, the changes to your body will still be very subtle – both on the inside and out. Yet, some structures are starting to form, and your body will still be adapting as you enter your second month of pregnancy.
It’s common for women to start noticing the early signs of pregnancy at week 5, but don’t worry if you don’t, every women experiences pregnancy symptoms in different patterns and frequencies.
You might only have discovered your pregnancy due to a missed period and, if this is this case, don’t panic. This article aims to provide you with some information on the changes in your body and baby, and what symptoms of pregnancy at week 5 you can expect.
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5 Weeks Pregnancy Symptoms
Early signs of pregnancy at week 5 are very similar to the symptoms you may or may not have been experiencing in the first month. Here are the most common symptoms that you should look out for:
- Missed period
This month is the most likely month to notice a missed period. If you have missed your regular cycle, it is still not a certainty that you are pregnant, and you will want to take a pregnancy test to make sure. - Urinating more frequently
This is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy, and at week 5 many women start experiencing this. The main cause of this is the increased blood flow to your kidneys and pelvic region caused by the hormonal changes of pregnancy. - Nausea and vomiting
Otherwise known as morning sickness, though it can actually occur at any time of the day when you are pregnant. Feeling nauseated is more common in the first trimester than in the second and third, and you should make sure you stay well hydrated in order to replace any fluids lost from vomiting. - Fatigue
Tiredness is another common pregnancy symptom at week 5. A lot of energy will be spent on your body’s adaptation to the pregnancy, leaving you feeling tired and sleepy. Getting plenty of rest is a good way to counter this. - Tender breasts
Having sore and/or swollen breasts is a common early sign of pregnancy at week 5 and, despite being painful, you can take comfort in the fact that many women experience this. - Implantation bleeding
Just like in the previous week, light bleeding, also called spotting, can occur when you are 5 weeks pregnant. Don’t be alarmed if this happens to you, this is a fairly common symptom and happens to around a third of pregnant women. - Food cravings
If you’ve gotten a sudden craving for certain foods, and can’t stand the sight of others, you may have entered the crazy world of pregnancy food cravings. As with most early pregnancy symptoms, hormones are the reason that your taste buds are functioning in an unpredictable fashion.
Your Body at Week 5
If you usually have a regular menstrual cycle, you will have noticed a missed period by now. This could be a good time to take a pregnancy test, as the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is normally high enough to be traceable in your urine when you are 5 weeks pregnant.
Many things will be happening to your body at five weeks pregnant, and symptoms will begin to manifest in a variety of ways. You may have wild mood swings, going from end-of-the-world dread to over-the-moon euphoria within the space of a minute.
Your pregnancy hormones are being produced on a large scale at this stage. The corpus luteum (the body of cells that replaced your fertilized egg in the follicle) emits plenty of estrogen, progesterone, and hCG in preparation of the nourishment of your 5-week embryo.
Baby Size at Week 5
If you’ve been asking yourself the question – how big is a baby at 5 weeks pregnant? You might be surprised to find out that it is not very big at all. In fact, it is tiny. The size of the fetus at 5 weeks pregnant is the same size as a sesame seed and won’t be visible from the outside yet.
Photo by Andrea Riezzo on Unsplash
Week 5 Pregnant Ultrasound
Although it is not common to have an ultrasound when you’re 5 weeks pregnant. Your doctor may schedule one if there any risks associated with your pregnancy. At week 5, a specialist will be able to detect the zygote from an ultrasound, and by the following week, they can even hear the heartbeat of your baby at week 5 in the womb.
This is not common, though, and most ultrasounds are scheduled around weeks 8 or 9 of the pregnancy.
FAQs
You may start experiencing morning sickness at this stage, meaning you could get some feelings of discomfort in your stomach. You may also feel pressure around the abdomen region due to an increase in blood flow.
For most women, one of the most common five weeks pregnancy symptoms is a missed period. Along with this, you should expect the possibility of more frequent urination and feelings of nausea.
It’s possible that you will feel tired at 5 weeks pregnant, as lots of things are happening inside your body to prepare it for the pregnancy.
Your stomach will not look any different at this stage, and a baby bump is not an early sign of pregnancy at 5 weeks.
Tips for Week 5 of Pregnancy
- Take a pregnancy test
This is the week that you are most likely to notice a missed period. If this is the case, it is a good idea to take a pregnancy test, as missing a period alone does not necessarily mean you are pregnant, and there are plenty of reasons that your cycle can arrive late. - Eat healthily
If you suspect that you are experiencing the first signs of pregnancy by week 5, it is a good time to clean up your diet. Pregnant women should avoid raw meat and eggs, processed foods, and types of fish that have high levels of mercury. - Exercise
It might not seem feasible if you are experiencing some of the early symptoms of pregnancy at week 5, such as nausea or vomiting, but a brisk walk or other light exercise can lift your mode and make you feel better. Remember, though, to stay well hydrated throughout.
