🌱First Trimester•Weeks 1-13

Week 5 of Pregnancy

Your baby is the size of sesame seed

📏

Length

0.13 inches

⚖️

Weight

Less than 1 gram

🍎

Size Comparison

Sesame seed

👶 Baby Development

•Your baby's heart begins beating at around 110-120 beats per minute, even though it's just a simple tube-like structure
•The neural tube continues developing and will close completely by the end of this week or early next week
•Tiny buds that will become arms and legs begin appearing on the sides of the embryo
•The umbilical cord forms, connecting your baby to the placenta for nutrient and oxygen delivery
•The beginnings of eyes, ears, and mouth start forming as facial features develop
•The brain is dividing into five distinct areas, and cranial nerves are becoming visible
•The gastrointestinal tract begins forming as the primitive gut develops

💭 Common Symptoms

•Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting) may begin, though it can occur at any time of day
•Increased urination frequency as pregnancy hormones increase blood flow to your pelvic region
•Extreme fatigue and exhaustion as your body works overtime to support the pregnancy
•Breast tenderness, swelling, and tingling as milk ducts begin developing
•Strong food aversions (especially to meat, fish, or strong-smelling foods) or sudden cravings
•Heightened sense of smell that can trigger nausea
•Mood swings and emotional sensitivity due to rapidly fluctuating hormones

🥗 Nutrition Tips

•Eat fresh ginger (in tea, candies, or grated in food) or use peppermint for natural nausea relief
•Keep plain crackers, dry toast, or pretzels by your bedside to eat before getting up in the morning
•Stay hydrated with at least 8-10 glasses of water, and try electrolyte drinks if vomiting occurs
•Eat protein-rich snacks every 2-3 hours like nuts, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, or Greek yogurt
•Try eating cold foods if hot food smells trigger nausea
•Take your prenatal vitamin with food or before bed to reduce nausea
•Eat small, frequent meals (5-6 mini meals) rather than 3 large meals to keep blood sugar stable

✅ To-Do This Week

•Confirm pregnancy with your doctor through blood test or ultrasound
•Begin tracking symptoms in a pregnancy journal or app to share with your healthcare provider
•Research and select a prenatal care provider (OB-GYN, midwife, or family doctor)
•Completely avoid cat litter boxes due to toxoplasmosis risk (have someone else change it)
•Stop eating raw or undercooked meat, fish, and eggs
•Start calculating your pregnancy week-by-week to track milestones
•Inform your employer if your job involves hazardous materials or strenuous physical labor

💡

Did You Know?

Your baby's heart begins beating around day 22-23 of development, pumping blood through a circulatory system that's already forming, even though the embryo is only about the size of a sesame seed!

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