Pregnancy - Week 5

You are 4 weeks pregnant or in your 5th week of pregnancy (counting from the first day of your Last Menstrual Period).  You would have conceived about 2 weeks back.

Keep in mind that this information is approximate. Each pregnancy is different and growth rates vary.  For variations and details, please talk to your doctor.

Week 1,2,3,4

Week 6

What’s happening to the baby?

• Your baby is called an embryo at this stage and is as tiny as a small dot.  Basically, at this stage your body is creating a home for your growing baby.
• Your baby is starting to develop some shape now but is more like a little tadpole.
• Baby's tiny heart has also started beating by now. Blood circulation has begun.
• The first signs of the spinal cord have appeared.
• Prior to this week, the amnion and yolk sac would also have started to develop. The amnion will fill up with amniotic fluid. The embryo will be enveloped by the amnion. The yolk sac is the first source of nutrition for the baby and will continue to nourish the baby till the placenta is in place (approximately the 10th week).
• Your baby is about 2 millimetres long.

What’s happening to mom?

• Before this week, the embryo has tried to implant itself in the lining of your uterus. This is continuing this week. This gets your body to start producing the pregnancy hormone hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin ). hCG is what tells your body that you are pregnant and to stop ovulating.
• By now, you might have missed your period and you might suspect that you are pregnant.  This is usually the earliest most women realise they might be pregnant.
• If you've had some minor spotting in the past week, it may be implantation bleeding, which is not a cause for concern. But if you have very heavy and bright red bleeding, then you should call your doctor immediately - it could be signs of an early miscarriage. 
• Some women have no symptoms at all and feel absolutely wonderful. This, too, is perfectly normal.
• Morning sickness is actually a misnomer and can occur any time of the day--morning, evening and night--not just the morning. It’s a good idea to start educating yourself about how to tackle nausea so when it strikes you are ready. 
• Your pregnancy hormones are raging and causing many changes inside your body. You might need to go to the bathroom more often, feel very tired, your breasts might feel very tender and swollen (sport bras help here) and other discomforts might bother you. You may also experience headache, backache, or fatigue.  Read more about the pregnancy symptoms that might bother you at this time.

Create your own customized week-by-week pregnancy calendar

Checklist for mom

• If you have missed a period or suspect that you are pregnant, do a Home Pregnancy Test to confirm that you are pregnant. A top-selling home pregnancy testing brand in India is Velocit (manufactured by Dr. Reddy).  Some other reliable brands are ClearView, Acutest and Pregcolor.  These kits are inexpensive (around Rs 45-50). Then follow the instructions in these kits.
• If you have not already, select a good doctor or Obstetrician/Gynaecologist. Get referrals from friends and family and then start interviewing them. Read Parentree's article on how to select a good doctor or ObGyn.
• Schedule your first pregnancy appointment with your doctor. It is important that you call a doctor immediately and talk to them.
• Get ready for the first appointment.  Start jotting questions. The doctor will do blood and urine tests to confirm your pregnancy.  There will be internal examination (pap smear etc.) and the doctor will talk to you about your diet and other medical conditions. Here is what you can expect in your first prenatal doctor's visit.
• Continue/Start taking folic acid tablets (400 micrograms). Folic acid can prevent serious birth defects in your baby like Spina Bifida (a defect of the spine). Folic acid is a B vitamin that is found in food grains and green vegetables as well but you will need to take the tablets to ensure you get an adequate amount of it. Learn more about folic acid.
• Continue to eat healthy. Read Parentree's articles on healthy foods and meal planning. 10-14 kilograms is the recommended weight gain during pregnancy for Indian mothers, with 1 - 2 kilograms in the first trimester. Remember, the extra energy that is required is only 300 kcal/day and any consumption above this will only add empty calories and weight to the mother.   The usual Indian advice is to eat for you and for the little growing baby and not necessarily for two adults.  Focus on nutrition and not the quantity of food.
• BIG NO to toxics like smoking and alcohol
• Read about what is safe and what is not during pregnancy. Clarify with your doctor when in doubt.
• You could continue with what your regular exercise but do not start a new exercise regimen (check with your doctor about this). Walking is always a safe exercise and can help in some of the pregnancy symptoms like nausea etc.
• If you are taking any strong prescription medicines (like for example for diabetes, epilepsy etc.), then you might need modified treatment. Check with your doctor about this.
• When in doubt, it is best to check with your doctor.

Ideas for dad

• You must be on top of the world and also a little anxious, especially if you are going to be a dad for the first time.
• Read up about pregnancy and participate in your wife’s pregnancy and your growing baby.
• This can be an emotional time for your spouse so be there for her. Talk to each other about your anxieties.
• If your wife is feeling fine then this might be a time to celebrate together--before nausea and other pregnancy woes start.
• As your wife interviews doctors to select a good doctor, go for as many appointments as possible to decide on a good doctor.
• It may also be a good time to start a photo diary of your wife's pregnancy.

Other tidbits

• Remember that pregnancy is a time when you will have many questions and need a lot of support. With today’s nuclear families and being away from the extended family, many new Indian parents find themselves struggling for information and support. That is why they say that 'it takes a village to bring up a child'.  It always helps to have a community of parents to ask questions of, share and vent.
• Join your Parentree due date club and share information with other parents.
• Should you tell others or not and when?
  • Some Indian couples can’t wait and like to share the news right away, while others prefer to wait until they have had their first prenatal appointment. Some even wait until the delicate first trimester is over.  Of course there is no right or wrong answer. Typically, folks can’t resist telling their immediate families (parents, siblings) right away after doing a home pregnancy test and then tell others once they have seen a doctor. Many who have a delicate pregnancy prefer to tell after the first trimester is over. You have to discuss this together with your spouse and decide who to tell and when.
• When should you tell people at work that you are pregnant?
  • It’s too early to tell people at work that you are pregnant.  A good rule of thumb to decide when to tell folks at work is a little before you start showing, typically after the first trimester is over. Or if you are suffering major pregnancy discomforts like nausea etc. and it gets in the way of your work, it’s a good idea to let people (especially your boss and colleagues) know that you are pregnant.

Useful Parentree articles for this stage of pregnancy

• Expected due date calculator
• Common pregnancy discomforts
• Signs of pregnancy
• Miscarriage
• Folic acid
• Pregnant Indian women - Healthy foods
• Pregnant Indian women - Meal planning
• How to select a good doctor (gynaecologist)
• Pregnancy - Visits to the doctor
• Importance of prenatal tests
• Is it safe? - Common questions during pregnancy
• Parentree's collection of pregnancy articles

Week 1,2,3,4

Week 6