5 Weeks Pregnant
Here's what's happening during Week 5 of your pregnancy:
Your Growing Baby
The gastrointestinal tract, spinal cord, heart, brain, blood and blood vessels begin to form. The embryo is 1∕16 to 1∕8 inch long “crown to rump” (the measurement that’s used until week 13).
Your baby transforms into a bundle of cells organized in a C-shape with a top, bottom, front, and back. A groove has developed on the embryo's back, which will seal and develop into the neural tube (which later will become the spinal cord). At this point, the tube already has a wider, flatter top that will grow into your baby's brain. A bulge has developed in the center of the embryo, which will soon become a tiny U-Shaped tube which will form the heart. Your embryo is encased in protective membranes and attached to a yolk sac, which manufactures the embryo's unique blood cells.
Your Growing Belly
In a lot of ways, pregnancy is like standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon. On one hand, it’s the most breathtaking and majestic thing you’ve ever experienced. On the other, it’s a long way to the bottom—and you can’t help but feel a little anxious about taking a wrong step. Chances are everything will be just fine, and you should take comfort in the fact that statistics are in your favor. So we do want you to embrace the beautiful experience of pregnancy, but we also want you—as your child’s biological suit of armor—to do a few things that can help improve those odds. Keeping yourself healthy will protect both of you at the same time. Here are 11 tips from Mehmet Oz, M.D., and Michael Roizen, M.D. that will help you do just that >>
Tips & To-Do's
Stress Less
Many pregnant women fret too much about the wrong things, and pay too little attention to issues that can genuinely harm their pregnancy and baby. See how your concerns compare to other women’s, then learn whether or not your fears are well-founded and—the bottom line—what you can do to have a healthy and happy pregnancy. The truth about your top 10 pregnancy worries >>
Things to think about this week
Call your doctor for an appointment as soon as you believe you are pregnant. Some will want to see you right away, others not until you are eight weeks pregnant. What you need to do before baby, broken down by trimesters and weeks >>
