What is happening in week 5
Doctors count pregnancy weeks from the first day of your last period, so week 5 sits in the first trimester (up to the end of week 13). That is about 35 weeks to go until week 40, and about 1.1 months by a rough conversion. At about 2mm long, the embryo’s face, brain and heart are starting to take shape this week.
Your baby
The NHS guide describes the face beginning to form, with tiny eyes and a nose, while the brain, spinal cord and heart start to develop. The first blood vessels that will make up the umbilical cord are forming and the placenta is being created.
Your body
Many people find out they are pregnant around now. A late period or feeling under the weather may be the first clue. Tiredness, sore breasts, nausea and a stronger sense of smell are common. Light bleeding can look like a period or may be implantation bleeding, so mention it to a doctor.
This week’s to-do
- Book a first check-up so your dates and care plan can be confirmed.
- Rest when you can and eat small, regular meals if you feel sick.
- Share worries with your partner, family or doctor; the NHS notes about 1 in 5 mothers feel anxious or stressed in pregnancy.
When to call
Call your doctor or hospital if you have bleeding, including light spotting, or if you crave non-food items such as dirt, which can be linked to low iron.
Chaitanya Hospital in Kadapa, near RTC Bus Stand, Simhapuri Colony, provides delivery and emergency care 24/7. Our antenatal check-ups team can answer questions about your own pregnancy.
Use the week-by-week guide to jump to your week, or the due date calculator to work out your dates. Timings for scans and tests come from NHS guidance in the UK and can differ from your doctor’s schedule, so always follow your own doctor’s advice. This page is educational and not a substitute for a doctor.
Sources
Text on this page is paraphrased from the sources above. Sizes are averages and vary between babies.