You have had a confirmed pregnancy test and you are going to be a mama! Congratulations. Now you can start to wrap your mind around what your baby is going to call you. Mom? Mommy? Mama? The choice is yours.
Some couples choose to share the news with the entire world, while others wait until they reach the second trimester mark. There is no right or wrong way to approach this, so you do you, mama.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Your hormone levels are changing from what is “normal” for you pre-pregnancy, and with that, your body may start to feel a little different. Know that this is totally normal and should not be alarming. With a little knowledge, you can combat some of these symptoms relatively easily at home.
Don’t plan on rushing to your doctor just yet. Most doctors do not schedule a prenatal visit until you are a bit further along unless you are experiencing a high-risk pregnancy. In the meantime, keep a list of questions running so you are prepared for your first appointment.
At this point, you have officially missed your period. If you haven’t taken a pregnancy test yet, now is the time.
Some symptoms you may experience this week include:
Your baby’s circulatory system is starting to develop. If you happen to have an ultrasound performed this week, you may even get to hear your little one’s little “thump-thump”.
Your baby’s neural tube is developing now as well. The neural tube is the start of what will be the spinal cord and brain. The tube should close later in this trimester. If it doesn’t close properly, your baby may have what is called spina bifida. One way to reduce the risk of this occurring is to make sure that you are taking at least 400 mcg of folic acid/folate every day.
Not every woman will undergo an ultrasound at 5 weeks of pregnancy. If she does, it will be conducted via a transvaginal ultrasound. This will involve a wand that will be inserted internally and images will appear on a screen.
During a 5 week ultrasound, a yolk sac will likely be seen. This sac provides all of the nutrients that your little one needs at this point. Your baby’s cells are not fully organized, so don’t expect to see your baby’s cute little fingers or toes just yet.
At week five, the cell ball, which will eventually become your baby, looks like a tadpole. Size wise, it is some 0.04 oz in weight and 0.05″ in length, the same size as a peppercorn. Thus, it has no effect yet on belly size. During this time, the cells are busy creating the blood vessels, heart, spinal cord, and brain. If you were to have an ultrasound at this point, you would be able to see the gestational sac, which will eventually be replaced with amniotic fluid. You may also be able to see the yolk sac, which is there until the placenta develops. If you look very carefully, you might be able to see a tiny smudge that is the embryo itself.
Continue taking your prenatal vitamins
Find a cute way to share your pregnancy news with your partner. If you choose to share this news with family and friends, have some fun with it!
Start journaling about your pregnancy experience.
Rest if your body needs it. No need to be a hero right now.
If you like taking a soak in the bathtub, a tub thermometer is a good investment to make sure that the water does not reach a temperature that is too high and that may cause harm to baby.
If you are vegan or avoid fish/seafood, invest in a vegan DHA supplement if your prenatal does not contain that nutrient already
Buy some lemon candies to suck on if nausea strikes
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