Pregnancy

Fifth week of pregnancy

By the 5th week of pregnancy, you may feel more tired than usual: the culprit is the hormones that start to increase rapidly. If you haven’t taken a pregnancy test yet, now is the best time to do it!

Weight and length at 5th week

Month 1st month
Gestational age from 4+0 to 4+6
Length of the fetus (*) 0.5-1.5mm
Moms group November 2023

How many months is 5 weeks pregnant?

The fifth week marks the transition between the first and second month of gestation. To know the exact correspondence between months and weeks of pregnancy, you can use our conversion table .

How your body changes

I’m so sleepy!

The beta HCG hormone continues to increase and begins to produce its first effects, along with progesterone and estrogen . In particular, you may feel very tired and sleepy : try to indulge in the need for rest to regain some energy. Don’t forget that your body is currently going through an overworked condition to welcome your baby and support his development!

Other early symptoms

In addition to tiredness, the most common symptoms of the first weeks of pregnancy are:

  • breast tenderness and pain
  • small cramps similar to menstrual cramps
  • frequent urge to urinate
  • metallic taste in the mouth
  • increased salivation 
  • increased sensitivity to odors
  • cravings or aversion to certain foods

But be careful: not all expectant mothers experience these symptoms and for some, the only sign of the beginning of pregnancy is the absence of menstruation. Always remember that every woman is different and no one will have a pregnancy like yours .

How the child grows

It measures about 0.5-1.5 millimeters , the size of an apple seed .

Rapidly developing

Your baby grows very quickly and the external characteristics are also starting to take shape: now he is starting to look like a tadpole and, where he will develop a head, the first traces that will give rise to the eyes and ears are appearing .

Here comes the little heart!

About two weeks have passed since conception and the germ layers that we learned about in the fourth week continue to differentiate. At this stage, the most important structures and organs are starting to form: the neural tube (from which the brain will develop ), the heart and the blood vessel system , in which blood will begin to circulate at the end of the week.

Do you know that…

During these days, the development of the placenta and umbilical cord begins , which connect your baby to the uterine wall, ensuring an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients. This week therefore marks the origin of the connection between you and your baby: it will be you, through your blood, who will provide him with everything he needs to grow healthy and strong!

For the dad

Some couples decide to share the news of pregnancy right away, while others prefer to wait until the end of the first trimester , when the risk of miscarriage decreases dramatically. There is no rule, so do what you feel like: the important thing, of course, is that you agree among yourselves!

Checks and exams to do

Have you decided whether to be followed up privately or whether to go to the National Health Service ( in hospital or a family counseling office)? In any case, tell your gynecologist or midwife that you are pregnant, to schedule the first appointments, exams and ultrasounds: in particular, the first ultrasound (also called  dating ultrasound ) is usually performed around the 8th week of gestation .

Advice from the 5th week of pregnancy

Get used to having a healthy and nutritious breakfast , in order to have the energy to face the day well:

  1. choose light and wholesome foods, such as partially skimmed milk or yoghurt , fruit and whole grains (toast, rusks, biscuits);
  2. if you prefer a savory breakfast , try pairing a cup of tea with toast with two slices of cooked ham and a thin layer of spreadable cheese ;
  3. try not to overdo it with refined sugars and fats (contained in fruit juices and industrial snacks ) to limit the risk of pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes ;
  4. moderate the consumption of drinks containing caffeine: this stimulating substance is not filtered by the placenta and is therefore able to reach the baby ;
  5. eat calmly, chewing slowly . Haste at the table can cause or accentuate some typical ailments of expectant mothers, such as indigestion and heartburn . To have all the time you need, wake up a little early or prepare everything you need for the next day the night before.

To know more

Dr Kathryn Barlow

Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.

Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.

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