Pregnancy Week 5

Growing, Growing, Growing

​Crazy, Crazy Growing is what’s taking place right now – and you may not even know if your pregnant! Although if you are reading this you may have a teeny, tiny suspicion!

Now about the size of a grain of rice (5mm) your good looking embryo is made up of 3 layers and, under microscope, looks more like a tadpole than a baby. Don’t worry all that will change in the coming weeks – you won’t be pushing a baby frog around in your state of the art pram!

You should have started taking your folic acid which protects the neural tube and prevents conditions like spina bifida. From the neural tube the brain, spinal cord, nerves and backbone will develop so make sure you take them right up to the second trimester!

This week is a busy one for the heart as it takes centre stage with divisions of the chambers and takes its first beats that will continue for at least the next 80 years.

The baby’s blood vessels are starting to form and blood is already circulating and helping with the development of the heart and nervous system. For the time being your baby is known as an embryo and all the nourishment comes from the yolk sac until the placenta takes over the important job later on at about week 12-14.

SYMPTOMS!!!

Your breasts may continue to be tender and may also feel a little bigger – not a bad thing if you’ve always wanted a slightly bigger cup! The mild period like cramps may also still be present as things get really settled in. Not to worry these symptoms should settle as they give way to nausea and tiredness. None to pleasant but it is true that these are signs of an active pregnancy so are not to be sniffed at!

If you have already taken on board from last week about the cigarettes and alcohol well done! If not, keep trying to cut down as it really makes a difference to your baby’s health – and yours!

You are OK to keep exercising as long as your not a bungi jumper or anything else major extreme. You may want to think about if you are likely to get bashed about in your sport but remember – your little on is like a grain of rice in a peanut butter sandwich at the moment so pretty well protected!