What’s going on?
On the 5-week mark, you might be feeling a few signs of early pregnancy. Soon enough, your baby’s heart will also start beating and you will be able to see it on the monitor if you have scheduled for an early scan in the weeks ahead.
Baby at Week 5
From being a mass of cells, your baby’s development is progressing swiftly from this point forward. Measuring around 5mm long, your baby’s heart and spine will be developing progressively. Your baby’s head is also starting to take shape, starting with the development of the neural tube. This marks the start of the connection between your baby’s spinal cord and brain, and will help to regulate your baby’s vital functions, heart rate and blood supply.
Although your baby looks very much like a tiny tadpole now, his/her limbs are starting to develop with the nubs turning into small limp flippers. Soon enough, his/her arms and legs will start to form.
What is mum up to?
If you have found out that you are pregnant, you might be feeling anxious about how things are progressing in the womb. Do try your best to relax, maintain a healthy meal plan and get lots of rest. By now, the early pregnancy symptoms that you are experiencing will go in full swing and you might have the urge to pee more frequently than before, due to your expanding kidneys.
For some expectant mums, they might spot or bleed in early pregnancy. It is best to get this checked by your gynaecologist to ensure that your pregnancy is progressing smoothly and to rule out the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
Top tips for Week 5
It is important to keep tabs on nutrition during pregnancy, and this includes steering clear to certain foods that are deemed to be unsafe for both you and your baby. Here are some foods to avoid while eating for two to keep both of you safe from food borne illnesses such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis:
- Soft, unpasteurised cheeses such as feta, goat’s cheese, Brie, Camembert and blue cheese
- Unpasteurised milk, juices and apple cider
- Raw eggs or foods which contain raw eggs, such as mousse and tiramisu
- Soft-boiled eggs or eggs sunny side up
- Raw or undercooked meat, fish or shellfish
- Processed meat such as hot dogs and deli meats (Ideally, these should be well-cooked before consumption)
- Fish that have high mercury content, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish
Do note that toxoplasmosis can also spread through soiled cat litter boxes, so do assign your better half to help with the clean up during your pregnancy.
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