Symptoms

The pregnancy signs you are experiencing in your fifth week are just the start of a lot of changes your body will undergo. You do not need to fear these changes for the remainder of your pregnancy because of the kind of discomfort you are facing right now. Many expectant mothers believe the first trimester is the most difficult but think of it as a way to get the difficult parts out of the way early. Meanwhile, look after yourself by getting lots of rest, eating well, and figuring out ways to make yourself feel better. If you are curious what to expect at five weeks pregnant, the following is a list of the most common symptoms:

• Sore breasts. In the fifth week of pregnancy, aching breasts may be the most frequent symptom. You will notice that your breasts will get tender and sore, and your areolas may start darkening. This is because your body will start preparing to make milk for the baby.
• Morning sickness. Nausea will strike at any time during early pregnancy, not just in the morning. Unfortunately, several pregnant women develop nausea during the day. If you are five weeks pregnant with twins, you might experience extreme morning sickness. Experiment with various methods to see what fits well for you in terms of settling the queasiness. One good way is eating short, regular meals. Also, you can try Vitamin B6, ginger tablets, nausea-relieving lozenges or lollipops, and acupressure wristbands to relieve nausea.
• It is natural to want to sleep in the middle of the day, or even after you just woke up from a deep sleep, or well, pretty much any time when you are five weeks along. Your energy reserves are zapped from nurturing a child in your belly, and the only thing you can do now is to get some extra rest, mild exercise, and eat every few hours.
• Frequent urination. Early on in your pregnancy, you will find that you need to pee more often. Part of the reason for this symptom at five weeks pregnant is that your kidneys are expanding.
• Cramping about 4 or 5 weeks may mean that the embryo has successfully implanted into the uterine lining. That may even be an indication that your uterus is stretching your ligaments as it expands. If you are experiencing serious or painful cramping at five weeks pregnant, contact the doctor to get it checked out and make sure it is not an indication of a problem.
• Spotting can be alarming when you are pregnant, but that little blood on your panties may also be a sign of implantation. Since your cervix is more responsive now that you are pregnant, you could spot a little after sex as well. This is completely natural, so if you are feeling anything that is more like bleeding than spotting in the fifth week or if you are worried about something, it is a good idea to see the doctor.

Some expectant mothers experience no signs at all when they are in their fifth week of pregnancy. Also, for some, the signs can appear and disappear. For both these cases, it is completely fine, and it is not an indicator that something is wrong with your pregnancy.

Things to Expect in The Fifth Week of Pregnancy

Since the experience and symptoms of pregnancy vary very much from person to person, it is best to plan for everything rather than some specific symptoms. For one, you are going to be more exhausted than normal, and your body is probably just started to feel wobbly. But it is due to your pregnancy hormones and the fact that your body is nurturing your baby. Also, there is no harm in being cautious and in contacting the doctor to check in if the symptoms are serious. 

Doctor Consultation in the Fifth Week of Pregnancy

There is no reason to visit a doctor just yet unless you have reason to think there is a problem with your pregnancy. Around week 8 or 9, the first prenatal consultation is normally planned. And though you may have to wait a little longer to have your pregnancy officially confirmed, now is the time to call and make an appointment for your first consultation and ultrasound. If you have any worries, let your doctor know when you call so that you can see him or her as soon as possible.

Changes in Your Body in the Fifth Week of Pregnancy

Your belly may look the same at five weeks pregnant, or you may be a little bloated or feel like you have gained a pound or two. Alternatively, you may be so sick that you cannot eat and are concerned that you have lost a pound. Both of those situations are completely reasonable and perfectly normal. All pregnancies are unique and pregnant women have distinctive experiences, so their bodies shift in different ways during the pregnancy.

You are going to have to put on weight during your pregnancy. So, you are probably wondering about how much weight you should gain during the pregnancy. At the same time, you do not need to be concerned about it quite yet. During the first trimester, doctors just advise gaining a few pounds, around 1 to 5 to be exact. Your first trimester ends after you complete the thirteenth week of pregnancy. And it will most likely happen without you even realizing it.

Since weight gain guidelines differ depending on body shape, the doctor will review them with you. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) proposes the following:

If you are under-weight with BMI under 18.5:

• You need to have a total pregnancy weight gain of 28 to 40 pounds.
• And in the second and third trimesters, your aim should be to gain around a pound per week. From 1 to 1.3 pounds, to be precise.

If you have a normal weight with a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9:

• You need to have a total pregnancy weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds.
• And in the second and third trimesters, your aim should be to gain around a pound or a little lesser than that per week. From 0.8 to 1 pound to be precise.

If you are overweight with a BMI of 25 to 29.9:

• You need to have a total pregnancy weight gain of 15 to 25 pounds.
• And in the second and third trimesters, your aim should be to gain around a half-pound per week. From 0.5 to 0.7 pounds, to be precise.

If you are obese with a BMI of 30 or over:

• You need to have a total pregnancy weight gain of 11 to 20 pounds.
• And in the second and third trimesters, your aim should be to gain about a half-pound per week. From 0.4 to 0.6 pounds, to be precise.

If you are in the Fifth Week of Pregnancy with Twins (and have a normal BMI):

• You need to have a total pregnancy weight gain of 37 to 54 pounds.
• And in the first half of pregnancy, you aim to gain around a pound per week. In the second half, you need to gain a little over one pound per week.

But finding out that you are having twins is difficult to detect in the fifth week. If you are, you certainly would not understand it just yet, but some twin moms appear to have had much worse morning sickness. They can also gain weight more quickly and “show” much earlier than women who are pregnant with only one child.

It is a smart idea to ask your spouse for a massage when you are in your fifth week pregnant. Even if you do not have a huge bump, your body is working hard to raise your baby at five weeks pregnant, so you need to take care of yourself properly.

Suggestions to Follow During the Fifth Week of Pregnancy 

• Skip certain harmful foods

You will have to stop eating certain foods now that you have figured out that you are expecting a little one. Some foods can pose a health danger to you and your developing child. Keep off things like beer, raw dough, and raw batter, hot dogs, cold cuts, all kinds of raw or undercooked meats, pâté as well as other refrigerated meat spreads. Also, the list includes raw, undercooked, or preserved seafood, uncooked eggs, or runny yolks. There are several fish in the market with elevated mercury levels. Also, avoid eating unwashed fruits and vegetables, raw bean sprouts, and unpasteurized dairy, milk, or juice before your child is born.

• Break your coffee habit

Since the consequences of having too much caffeine on a baby are unclear, it is a wise choice to decrease your caffeine consumption. Limit yourself to less than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day, roughly two small cups of coffee or less, no matter how tired you feel right now. The same general rules apply if you are a tea drinker.

• Stop Smoking.

If you smoke, quit immediately because it is toxic and can harm your developing child. If you are around people who smoke a lot, remind them to keep a safe distance away from you while they smoke so you do not inhale second-hand smoke and the smell does not make you sick. 

• Stay away from the litter box.

You should be nowhere near the litter box as there is a high risk of getting toxoplasmosis, which may be harmful to your growing baby. So, it is better to delegating this uncomfortable chore as it can cause you to vomit to someone else for a while. Since outdoor cats also use garden beds and sandboxes as their toilets, it is also a safe idea to avoid open sandboxes and gardening without gloves.

To-Do List in Your Fifth Week of Pregnancy.

• Create a balanced diet.
• Make a birth diary.
• Create a plan to save money for the baby.