At 5 weeks pregnant, it may not seem like it, but there’s a lot going on! Your baby is developing rapidly at this stage, with the placenta and umbilical cord gradually forming. You may or may not be experiencing some of the common pregnancy symptoms, and perhaps you’re wondering if your pregnancy belly will start to show at 5 weeks. Keep reading to learn more about 5 weeks pregnant and how to prepare yourself for the weeks ahead.

5 Weeks Pregnant: Highlights

Check out what's going on and some exciting highlights at 5 weeks pregnant:

• At 5 weeks, the neural tube continues developing and will become your little one's spine and brain. The placenta and umbilical cord are also progressing in order to channel oxygen and nutrients to your baby.

• Your little one is still very tiny, just the size of a small orange seed or a grain of rice.

• You may experience no pregnancy symptoms at 5 weeks pregnant, but if you do, it’s common to experience fatigue, spotting, breast tenderness and even morning sickness at this stage.

• Consider adopting some lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, avoiding certain foods and reducing stress.

Confirming Your Pregnancy at 5 Weeks

It’s common to wonder if you can have a negative pregnancy test at 5 weeks pregnant, as you’re probably excited to confirm your pregnancy as soon as possible! Home pregnancy tests work by detecting levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, in your urine, which could be high enough at 5 weeks pregnant. If hCG levels at 5 weeks are not yet high enough, you could receive a false negative. Wait a few days and test again before confirming with your GP.

After confirming your pregnancy at 5 weeks pregnant, you might wonder when your due date is? Again, your GP is your go-to person during your pregnancy and can help you determine your due date, if not at 5 weeks pregnant, but during your first ultrasound scan at weeks 8 to 14. In the meantime, try our Due Date Calculator.

How Many Months Are 5 Weeks Pregnant?

Your GP will refer to your pregnancy in weeks, but it’s common to think in months, too. It gets a little tricky, as the 40 weeks of pregnancy don’t fit neatly into months; however, at 5 weeks pregnant, you’re usually considered to be in your second month of pregnancy.

Your Baby's Development at 5 Weeks Pregnant

There are important changes taking place at 5 weeks pregnant, helping to support your baby’s development. Here are some stages of development of an embryo during your fifth week of pregnancy:

• The placenta and the beginnings of the umbilical cord are forming. These channel essential nutrients (like calcium, folic acid, and other vitamins) and oxygen from your body to the embryo, playing a vital role in healthy development.

• The neural tube continues to develop. It will eventually become the spinal cord and the brain. At this point, taking at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day is a great way to support your baby’s healthy growth and development and reduce the risk of neural tube disorders.

• Your baby's heart will develop from what is now just a bulge in the middle of the embryo. But when does the heartbeat start? Cardiac activity itself may be detected as early as the sixth week of pregnancy.

Your Baby’s Size at 5 Weeks Pregnant

At five weeks pregnant, the embryo is still very small but growing quickly – imagine a small orange seed or a grain of rice. At this stage, your little one could be around 2 millimetres long.

Your Baby: What Does 5 Weeks Pregnant Look Like?

Check out the visual of your uterus and the gestational sac at 5 weeks for an idea of how your body is creating a cosy home for your baby during your pregnancy.

Your Symptoms at 5 Weeks Pregnant

Symptoms at 5 weeks pregnant may be very mild, come and go, or you may have no symptoms at all! Every pregnancy is different, but early signs that you’re pregnant could include both physical symptoms and emotional changes. Here are some common signs of pregnancy at 5 weeks:

• Morning sickness. It’s possible to experience morning sickness of varying levels at 5 weeks pregnant. This unpleasant nausea and vomiting can happen at any time of the day. To help ease these symptoms, drink plenty of fluids, especially if you’re vomiting, and avoid greasy, spicy or fatty foods that may upset your stomach and increase nausea. You could consider eating smaller meals and snacks throughout the day rather than bigger meals.

• Light bleeding or spotting. It’s not unusual to see some light bleeding or spotting at 5 weeks pregnant. If you see a lot of blood, if the spotting lasts longer than two days, or you have any concerns, consult your GP right away.

• Breast tenderness. Around five weeks pregnant, changes in your hormones might cause your breasts to ache as they continue to stretch and grow in preparation for breastfeeding. Frequent urination. The constant and urgent need to pee can strike any time. Although this symptom can be annoying, if you need to urinate frequently at 5 weeks pregnant, know it’s totally normal. Remember to stay hydrated throughout the day.

• Acne. Hormonal changes may be to blame for skin changes and pregnancy-related acne. Though there are ways to combat pregnancy acne, remember that it’s just one of those pesky symptoms that’s common in the first few months of pregnancy.

• Bloating and cramping. At 5 weeks pregnant, bloating, cramping and gas are quite normal. However, if you’re experiencing a lot of pain or severe cramping, bloating or bleeding, contact your GP as soon as possible.

• Fatigue. At 5 weeks pregnant, your body is dealing with a lot of hormonal changes, which can leave you feeling more tired than usual. Some things that may help include avoiding caffeine before bed, eating a healthy diet,

  keeping a consistent daily schedule and taking time to rest or nap when you need it. You'll be doing yourself and your little one a big favour by getting as much rest as you can now!

• Mood swings. Do your emotions feel like a rollercoaster? Mood swings are common when you're pregnant as you experience hormonal changes. To help you through those difficult times, try doing something relaxing that you enjoy, such as going for a walk, listening to music or chatting to a loved one.

• Mild or no symptoms. At 5 weeks pregnant, it’s not unusual to feel and look completely normal, or for certain symptoms to come and go. Be sure to consult your GP if you have questions about the changes that are taking place, or if the lack of any symptoms has you feeling uneasy.

What Size is a Pregnancy Belly at 5 Weeks?

Are you waiting to notice any signs of a pregnancy belly at 5 weeks? Well, you probably won’t have a baby bump just yet – remember, your little one is still teeny tiny at 5 weeks pregnant. Every pregnancy is different, but you might see a baby bump around 12 to 16 weeks.

What Does 5 Weeks Pregnant Look Like?

To help you get a better sense of what your pregnancy belly might look like at 5 weeks pregnant, check out the visual below:

Things to Consider at 5 Weeks Pregnant

It’s still early in your pregnancy journey, but there are plenty of important things to consider, from sharing the news with loved ones to getting into a healthy routine. Check out our list of helpful tips below.

Lifestyle Changes

Making some healthy adjustments to your lifestyle is very important during pregnancy. Here are some recommended changes to make to ensure you and your baby stay healthy and safe.

• Consume a variety of healthy foods. Pay attention to what you’re eating during your pregnancy. Avoid fish that could contain high levels of mercury – like shark, swordfish and mackerel – and skip any food that’s undercooked or unpasteurised. Foods to avoid when pregnant also includes things like sushi made with raw fish and oysters, as well as soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert. These items can cause food-borne illnesses that can affect you and your little one.

• Take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day until you are 12 weeks pregnant to support your baby's healthy growth and development and reduce the risk of neural tube defects. If you're not already taking a folic acid supplement chat to your doctor or midwife.

• Curious about other early signs and symptoms of pregnancy and how to cope? Check out our Early Signs of Pregnancy to learn more.

• Have a cat? Get someone else to clean out the litter box so that you can avoid

  toxoplasmosis, an infection that can harm unborn babies.

Sharing and Learning

Sharing the news with your partner and others is a fun part of being pregnant, and so is looking ahead and learning about pregnancy and parenting. Here are some ideas.

• If you haven’t yet told your partner you’re pregnant, and you’re looking for fun ways to surprise them, check out these cute and creative pregnancy announcements for partners. As for telling others, you may prefer to wait at least until the end of the first trimester when the risk of miscarriage drops significantly.

• Download our Pregnancy Guide to learn more about what to look forward to over the coming weeks and months. Our guide covers everything from nutrition and weight gain to all the questions you'll want to ask your GP.

• If this is your first pregnancy, you might want to read up on the second trimester of pregnancy so you know more about what to anticipate in the coming months.

• Start a journal. It’s normal to feel a range of different emotions as you adjust to pregnancy. Emotions can change from one day to the next and writing in a journal is one way to get your innermost thoughts and feelings out of your system. And as for those joyous moments, you may want to remember them!

• Although you won’t be showing just yet, you may want to start a month-by-month baby bump photo shoot. You can either save the photos as a private keepsake or share the images on social media (once you’re ready to share news of your pregnancy). In the years to come, you’ll love to look back on how your bump grew during your pregnancy, and your little one will also love to see their first ‘home’.

Questions for Your Doctor at 5 Weeks Pregnant

Have you visited your GP yet? Your first ultrasound scan is usually between weeks 8 and 14, so at week 5 pregnant it may still be too early. Your first appointment and your subsequent check-ups are the perfect time to raise any questions concerns you may have, such as the following:

• Are there any possible risks for my pregnancy based on my health, age or family history?

• What scans, tests and antenatal appointments can I expect in the coming months?

• What should I do if I notice slight bleeding at this stage of pregnancy?

• How far along am I and when is my due date?

• Are there any lifestyle changes that need to happen now that I know I’m pregnant?

• How do I do pelvic floor exercises?

5 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist

□ As you anticipate your pregnancy journey, consider the following to-dos:

□ Schedule your first appointment. Your GP or midwife will be able to fill you in on the specifics of your care.

□ Find out who to call if your GP or midwife is unavailable or if it’s after hours and you have a medical concern.

□ Save your GP and midwife’s number to your phone and have emergency contact numbers stuck on your fridge and saved to your contact list, too.

□ Prepare for a range of emotions during this exciting and nerve-wracking time– all normal reactions to becoming pregnant.

□ Soothe any cramps and backaches with a warm bath or a nap.

□ Cut out smoking and alcohol if you haven't already.

□ Although rare, it’s a good idea to read up on the signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy just in case.

□ If you’re curious as to what a mid-wife’s role is in comparison to that of your GP, feel free to read this guide to what mid-wives do.

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the National Health Service (NHS). You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}