5 Weeks Pregnant: Pregnancy Symptoms & Baby Development
5 Weeks Pregnant: Pregnancy Symptoms & Baby Development
Read time: 4 minutes
5 weeks pregnant is how many months?
Month 2 (Trimester 1)
Baby development at 5 weeks
Your baby’s vital organs are developing fast, including their heart.
Vitamin A
Discover the role Vitamin A plays in your baby’s development.
Keeping healthy
Learn how to stay active safely throughout your pregnancy.
Baby development at 5 weeks
What does my baby look like? And, what size is my baby?
In week 5 of pregnancy, your baby, technically called an embryo, measures a little over 1mm long – that’s roughly the size of a sesame seed. But already their brain, spinal cord and blood vessels are beginning to develop, albeit on a microscopic scale. Their circulatory system is also developing and it’s at around the end of week 5 that your baby’s heart starts to beat.
Meanwhile, the umbilical cord, which will deliver nutrients to your baby, is beginning to form. The amniotic sac, soon to be filled with a clear, pale fluid to cushion your baby, starts to take shape too.
Pregnancy at 5 weeks (first trimester)
What’s happening in my body?
This may be the week that you find out for certain that you’re pregnant. If you’re not convinced by the absence of your period or other symptoms such as tender breasts and tiredness, at 5 weeks your hormone levels should be high enough to confirm the news on a home pregnancy test.
Early pregnancy symptoms at 5 weeks
Early pregnancy symptoms vary from person to person. At 5 weeks, you may experience any of the following signs of pregnancy, or no symptoms at all:
What you need to be more aware of is not getting too much of this vital but potent nutrient, which in large amounts may cause development problems in your unborn baby.
It’s best to eat a balanced diet that includes the following sources of vitamin A:
- Cheese
- Some yogurts (those with a higher fat content)
- Eggs
- Fortified low-fat spreads
- Green, leafy vegetables, such as kale and spinach
- Cantaloupe melon, mangoes and apricots
- Orange and yellow vegetables, including carrots, peppers, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and pumpkin
The richest sources of vitamin A, including liver, liver pâté and non-pregnancy supplements that contain it, should be avoided. If you’re taking a multivitamin, switch to a prenatal multivitamin that’s tailored to the needs of you and your baby.
THE
SCIENCE
BEHIND
VITAMIN A
Powered by Nutricia
Vitamin A is essential to the development of cells, skin, healthy vision the immune system and fetal growth. It’s available in two forms: as retinol from animal products, and from carotenoids, a group of substances found in brightly coloured fruit and vegetables that the body can convert into vitamin A.
How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?
Weight gain during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy weight, and varies a great deal from mother to mother. Most women gain between 10kg and 12.5kg (22–28lb) while pregnant, some of which is the weight of the growing baby. Learn everything you need to know about weight gain in pregnancy.
If you haven’t been to see your GP yet, you should make an appointment so they can start planning your antenatal care, including your first ultrasound scan.
Your baby, this week
Discover the science behind your baby's developments, week-by-week
Read next:
Questions about feeding and nutrition?
Our nutritionists and feeding advisors are always on hand to talk about feeding your baby. So if you have a question, just get in touch.